A former Love Island star has said that producers need to provide better care for contestants after leaving reality TV shows following the death of Sophie Gradon.
Malin Anderson, who appeared on the 2016 edition of the series alongside 31-year-old Gradon, claimed there is a “downside to reality TV” unseen to viewers.
Speaking to Newsbeat, she said: “There just needs to be more done about it and a lot more aftercare provided by certain reality TV shows.“
Gradon was found dead on Wednesday night (20 June). Anderson, who had remained friends with Gradon having forming a friendship during series two of the ITV2 reality show, revealed she last heard from her a few days ago.
“I thought it was a joke or something. It still hasn’t sunk in to be honest and I don’t think it will for a while.”
She hinted that Gradon had faced struggles after her time on the show drew to a close.
“She did talk to me a lot about personal situations quite close to when the show had finished,“ she said. ”It was a shock for both of us when we came out of the villa, and I completely understood where she was coming from because I felt the same.”
She made a swipe against reality TV branding it a “weird industry” explaining: “It’s like you’re constantly reaching for some kind of high and when work dies down and things go quiet you’re constantly trying to chase it - and that’s where depression can kick in.“
Anderson added: “A lot of fellow friends that have been on shows have said the same, and it’s something that’s not looked into as much. It’s really serious. I’ve been there myself and it’s horrible.”
Gradon made history on Love Island as one half of the show's first same-sex couple with contestant Katie Salmon. She was born in Newcastle and crowned Miss Great Britain in 2009.
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