Ludicrously popular reality show Love Island has found itself the talking point in UK Parliament.
It seems as though everybody in 2017 was talking about the show and even though the last series ended three months ago, it was being discussed in the House of Lords.
Liberal Democrat, Lord Storey stood up to accuse ITV and the Love Island contestants of glamorising smoking, prompting the question of whether Ofcom should ‘take action’.
Lord Storey said:
I don’t know whether he’s a regular watcher of Love Island, but if he were to look at the ITV website, it describes Love Island as ‘an emotional feast of lust and passion in the sun’.
The same website says that this programme captures a 56% percent share of the 16-34-year-olds.
On this programme, those contestants are regularly smoking.
He added:
What message does that send to young people? That I can live a glamorous life if I smoke as well?
And I’m surprised that Ofcom’s broadcasting code says that smoking must not be glamorised in programmes likely to be seen widely, or heard by under 18-year-olds, unless there is editorial justification.
Doesn’t the minister think that Ofcom should really take action in this matter?.
Conservative Culture Minister Lord Ashton responded:
My Lords, I am not a regular watcher of Love Island.
Obviously it is a matter for Ofcom. The broadcasting code is there to be regulated by Ofcom and that’s what we put them there for. And of course it’s up to anyone who has complaints about smoking to complain.
To put this into perspective, Ofcom had just under 15,000 complaints last year and 75 related to smoking on Love Island.
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Since leaving the island, the contestants have been busy earning money via club appearances, promotions on social media – and even releasing music.
Chris and Kem fancy themselves as rappers these days and have released a single – which surprisingly, made it all the way to number one of the iTunes UK singles chart.
The track, titled Little Bit Leave It, is the most Chris and Kem thing ever and it’s exactly what you’d expect. We’ll leave it at that.
Chris and Kem are riding a high right now, after also smashing it with their new TV show Straight Outta Love Island.
Things weren’t all rosy in the run-up to their gig however, after Chris’ girlfriend from Love Island, Olivia, was seen to be putting Chris down.
She was moaning about Chris leaving wet towels on the floor and not tidying up properly, as well as not being best pleased about not being the first to hear about his upcoming meeting with a music label.
ITV are still accepting applications for Love Island series four – so if you fancy being on the next series, (if it goes ahead), you could be in with a chance?
The advert, from Motion Content Group says:
ITV2 are looking for vibrant singles from across the UK who want to head to the sun, in search of a summer of love.
The chosen cast will spend time in a luxury villa, getting to know one another – but to remain in paradise they must win the hearts of the public who ultimately decide who stays on Love Island.
Obviously, applicants must be over the age of 18, and interestingly cannot be someone who works for ITV or the production companies.
Applications don’t close until April 2018.
More details can be found here.
