LOVE Island was accused of “crass insensitivity” after advertising for a new producer as hundreds gathered at Mike Thalassitis’ funeral.
Furious ITV2 show staff hit out at the “brain-heads” who sent out a job ad during the star’s emotional farewell.
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As Caroline Flack led mourners for a tearful farewell on Friday, show bosses were seeking a new senior employee.
An email detailing the job was delivered via TV production hub The Talent Manager.
One insider said: “Love Island has learned nothing from Mike’s death. It is extraordinary that this could be allowed to happen. It sends out a message that ‘the show must go on’.
“Bosses are furious at the crass insensitivity shown here – and dismayed at the sheer disrespect it sends to Mike’s family and friends.
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“Love Island has already been accused of abandoning contestants after the show, leaving them prone to suffer any health issues alone, and this adds to the theory bosses don’t care.”
The job description email said: “ITV Studios Entertainment Department are looking for an experienced Casting AP to join our Love Island team and hit the ground running.
“Ideally you would be available for 3 days for prep which would be Monday 13 th-15th May and then a proper start date of 27thMay.
“However, we could wait for someone to just start from 22nd May right through until 31st July.”
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The candidate will be tasked with finding the “best characters” to join the show, and expected to travel to Mallorca where the show is filmed.
Love Island narrator Iain Stirling, 31, was at Mike’s funeral alongside devastated presenter Caroline, 39.
They heard Mike’s older brother Nick pay a heartfelt tribute to the former footballer-turned-reality star.
He told the congregation: “He was supposed to be the best man at my wedding and the uncle to my kids.
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“And although he can’t be there for those moments now, I know he’ll be watching them from somewhere else with a bright smile on his face.
“Mike was introduced to the public as a Greek god and maybe the heavens needed you more than the Earth.”
Mike, who appeared in the 2017 series of Love Island, took his own life after a hidden mental health battle.
The death of the 26-year-old, who had Greek heritage, sparked a debate about reality stars struggling to cope with the pressures of fame.
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Mike’s co-stars, including Montana Brown Amber Davies, Georgia Harrison, Camilla Thurlow, Jamie Jewitt, Jonny Mitchell and Marcel Somerville, were among the mourners in Southgate, North London.
TV stars Rebekah Vardy and Joey Essex were also in attendance.
Last night Love Island did not comment. A show insider clarified The Talent Manager is not an ITV or ITV Studios website.
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