With Love Island 2022 just days away executive producer Mike Spencer has lifted the lid on what to expect this year along with some show secrets. Fans of the ITV2 dating show can't help wonder about what they don't get to see on our screens as Islands soak up the sun on Mallorca.
And as they quizzed Mike on what goes on behind the scenes on the popular reality series, which launched back in 2015, they demanded that the food passing challenge is dropped. Last year the Spit the Roast task, which saw Islanders pass the contents of a Sunday roast to each other using their mouths, prompted a flood of complaints.
Roxygen1 asked: "Please can you stop making people spit food into each others mouths?" And Shambean2 asked: "Why the spitting food challenges I beg youse to stop, such a waste of food! I really think doing challenges with incentives or couple building activities would be so much better."
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And Mike confirmed: "We are stepping away from the food challenges as we know them." greta_maya_storm replied: "Hi Mike, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions today! In regards to challenges, I'm happy to hear you're stepping away from food challenges because they're gross."
@GlNATONIC complained about the food passing challenge last year: "If I was on Love Island and they asked me to do a food spitting challenge I'd quit on the spot." @SaintLow_Rent And @roshdoll_ said about Spit the Roast: "Pls who’s going to help me sign the petition to stop this challenging of spitting food into each other’s mouth on #loveIsland."
@debbiebarnes66 said: "Just put ITV2 on and witnessed 2 minutes of guys spitting food in girls mouths. Dear god Love Island. Is this what counts as entertainment these days?" And @amythgtarrant tweeted: "Made me feel sooooo sick disgusting."
Speaking of food, we rarely get to see the Islanders sitting down and eating together. We regularly see the contestants gossiping in the morning over an iced coffee but fans are interested to know what they eat.
And Mike revealed that the Islanders actually get to enjoy a Sunday roast every week. He was asked: "We see the islanders having breakfast together and snacking throughout the day... what do they typically eat at mealtimes? I assume you have a team of chefs on-site for the islanders and production crew. Do you all eat together?"
And he replied: "Yes this is a super popular question. So the Islanders tend to make their own breakfast and we cater for them at lunch and dinner. They have a real mix of foods, everything from lovely fresh salads to roast dinners on a Sunday! Even in that heat they still have a roast dinner."
Mike was staying tight-lipped on whether the dreaded Casa Amor, the trouble-causing villa next door filled with new arrivals to tempt the Islanders, would be returning when the new series airs from Monday June 6. "I think every year we have lots of conversations with the channel and see what people liked and what they didn't. I couldn't confirm or deny whether Casa Amor will return!" he said.
And the show boss said he would love to make an ‘all stars’ show in the future with past Islanders across all series. "What do you think?" he asked fans.
