Love Island narrator Iain Stirling has defended the show against criticism over its lack of body diversity.
The ITV2 dating competition, which is set to return for a fifth series tonight, has come under fire after the latest cohort of singletons appeared to conform to a specific body type, despite previous hints that the new line-up would reflect the “experiences and diversity of [the] audience.”
Stirling, whose witty voiceover is a hit with fans, said that the show should be considered a “fantasy” - but conceded that the topic was a “tricky one” with “no correct answer.”
“I just feel like Love Island is a fantasy TV show,” he told Roman Kemp and Vick Hope on the Capital Breakfast Show. “We’re showing a - in my opinion - comedy ideal of what paradise is like.
“I think other shapes and sizes will fit into that narrative, but I just think it’s a case of finding the right people that fit the tone of the show. So it’s a tricky one, it is a tricky one and the reason it’s a hot topic is because there’s no correct answer.
“But I think sometimes when something like Love Island becomes such a significant cultural reference, a lot of pressure’s put on it that maybe could also be taken by society in general.”
The Scottish comedian’s comments come after Love Island bosses said that the series is “first and foremost an entertainment show” and contestants needed “to be attracted to one another.”
“We try and be as representative and diverse as possible but first and foremost it’s an entertainment show,” creative director Richard Cowles said ahead of the series launch.
“It’s about people want to watch and them reacting and falling in love with [one] another. Yes, we want them to be as representative as possible but we also want them to be attracted to one another.
“I’m not saying everyone that’s in there is how you’re supposed to look, what we’re saying is they are a group of people we want to watch for eight weeks and we want to watch them fall in love.”
Love Island begins tonight at 9pm on ITV2. Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp airs weekdays from 6am to 10am.
