The Love Island contestants may be preparing to relax and enjoy the sun – and each other – in South Africa, but ITV was reportedly not willing to take any chances and hired “armed guards” to patrol the village.
ITV2’s beloved dating series is set to return in a few weeks, with Maya Jama making her hosting debut following Laura Whitmore’s departure.
While this year’s group of islanders has yet to be revealed, the luxurious £1.2m platform they’ll set foot on was recently unveiled.
But it has been reported that ITV was so concerned for the safety of the contestants that they took intense security measures, which included the security team patrolling Ludus Magnus’ villa non-stop using night vision CCTV and alarm beams.
The villa is protected by high voltage electric gates, which will be fully guarded by trained guards posted at all perimeters within the property for your protection, according to The Sun.
“The goal is to make Ludus as safe as possible, without terrifying the contestants,” a source also told the publication.
“We want them to feel relaxed and comfortable during the show.
“The beauty of Ludus as an option is that it is very far from the main road, so anyone arriving at the village will be detected or set off alarms and intercepted.”
The insider added that there is a hotline to the local police station and private armed response companies that would activate “heavy cavalry” that would be on their way in seconds if a threat was detected.
They added: ‘The safety of both the contestants and the crew is our utmost concern and must come first.
“Fortunately, the only thing security companies here know is how to keep people very safe.”
The production crew going in and out of the villa are also believed to have armed escorts, and will also receive safety briefings on what hazards to look for and what to do in the worst-case scenario.
Despite the measures, the islanders are likely to be more focused on enjoying their new digs, which include an Olympic-sized training pool, 400m running track, state-of-the-art rugby pitch and zip line.
However, they will also receive orientation and training on mutual respect in relationships, including how to understand the patterns associated with controlling and coercive behavior before entering the village.
The show’s stars will also continue to be offered video training and guidance covering inclusive language around disability, sexuality, race and ethnicity, and microaggressions.
Love Island returns to ITV2 in January 2023.
Metro.co.uk has contacted ITV for comment.
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