Love Island reached peak popularity in 2018, when Molly-Mae and Tommy Fury came second in the reality dating show. Since then, applications have remained consistent despite a low chance of a lasting relationship.
The ITV dating show has formed some of our top reality TV couples, so it’s no wonder the percentage of Love Island applications have remained consistent for the last few seasons. Although there’s a low chance they’ll end up marrying and having babies with their on-screen partner, it’s not putting fans off giving it a go.
Love Island applications ‘remain consistent’
Potential Love Island contestants searching for applications online have plunged by 84 percent, as per a QR Code Generator study. That means it’s decreased by more than five times the top search volume in 2018.
However, a representative for Love Island said people apply to the show directly through ITV and Lifted Entertainment, maintaining application numbers have been consistent for the last five seasons.
The Love Island application is lengthy, and contracts are then given to successful Islanders in the weeks prior to flying out to the villa.
Contestants must fill out a form with their bad habits, likes and dislikes and about their taste in someone to date. They have to send in an audition video before 1,000 people get through to the final rounds.
Viewer search interest has gone down
Online searches forLove Island itself have also been rapidly declining since 2018, with an 82 percent drop in interest in the show. Some fans even blame the islanders for bringing the rates down.
Others are convinced the Euros being on at the same time has a huge effect. “It’s like love island ratings are only affected when England is playing in the euros,” guessed one fan.
However, there’s still been a rise this season. The first two weeks of averaged an official audience of 2.4 million viewers, which is up 200K year-on-year and up a massive 600k on January’s All Star series.
‘Fear of public scrutiny and trolling’
Over the last few years, viewers have often expressed how the contestants aren’t representative of typical body types, while others say they stopped watching because of “growing mental health concerns”.
Growing mental health concerns, fear of public scrutiny and online trolling, and the saturation of similar reality TV shows were what Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, claims is behind lower searches.
He puts it down to “increasing awareness of the behind-the-scenes realities, the potential negative impact on professional lives, and the low 7.4% chance contestants end up in a lasting relationship.”
Despite this, show representatives “can name numerous couples matched on the show, some who have gone on to get married and have children,” they added, attributing its success to 13 couples out 352 contestants, including Molly Mae and Tommy Fury.
However, ITV producers have protocol in place to prevent trolling. They told Reality Tidbit: “Islanders are asked to make their social media accounts dormant prior to going on the show. This has been in effect over the last three series and is to prevent trolling.”
They added, “With regards to ‘mental health concerns’ we are very explicit about the processes we have in place to support any programme contributors – a recent example is in our duty of care release.”
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