ITV bosses have turned over the contracts Love Island contestants must sign before taking part in the dating show.
Senior executives at ITV appeared before the Commons culture select committee on Tuesday as part of an inquiry into reality TV on the channel.
Inside the 27-page documents ITV disclosed is the express warning to contestants that they will face ‘mental pressure’ they are unlikely to have experienced before, The Daily Mail reports
Among the other things they are allegedly told are the ‘potential downsides’ of resuming regular life, the fact that there are ‘no guarantees of fame,’ the potential for negative comments on social media, as well as the likelihood that the public ‘quickly loses interest’ in Love Island stars after the series ends.
It comes after the suicides of two former contestants Sophie Gradon, 32, who starred in the second series (2016), and Mike Thalassitis, 26, who appeared in the third series (2017), both in the last year.
The parliamentary inquiry was launched in May, following the decision to axe The Jeremy Kyle Show on ITV, following the death of participant Steve Dymond, who passed away days after he taking part.
A range of former participants and program-makers have been invited to give evidence over the coming months.
On Tuesday, the Jeremy Kyle show’s executive producer was branded ‘irresponsible’ over the use of lie-detector tests on the show.
The inquiry aims to address the wider issues facing reality TV shows, such as ITV’s Love Island, including the support offered during and after filming and how procedures are monitored.
As such, Love Island bosses have submitted the contract, containing an ‘aftercare’ form, that they give to each contestant.
It seems that letters are also sent to contestants’ GPs asking whether the patient ‘has a history of suicidal ideation’.
Among these issues, contestants are asked about their past sexual health, history of excessive weight gain and mental health issues like self-harm.
They must divulge any history of previous mental health problems including eating disorders, use of illicit drugs, diagnosis of Autism or a related disorder.
As such, they are warned that if they do not fully disclose any mental or psychological health conditions prior to or during filming they ‘waive any rights to bring a claim against us or claim damages’.
And as far as aftercare, in March Love Island bosses outlined the extensive duty of care processes they have in place for contributors, past and present.
Amid calls to cancel the show altogether, they said they would be reviewing their processes and promised to ‘actively’ extend their services to contestants after the show.
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