Love Island

“‘You’re only as good as your last cast’– that’s the mantra we use every year on Love Island,” said Lewis Evans, one of the series producers on the show, which is currently casting for its next run. He has been part of the Love Island casting team since the first series.

He added: “The key to working in casting is that you’ve got to like people… I love chatting and I am incredibly nosey – casting gives you the opportunity to go and talk to anyone.”

For decades, putting members of the public on screen was a win-win situation. From Blind Date to The Generation Game, from Survivor to Big Brother, there was always new fodder for the tabloids, huge audiences for advertisers – including that vital but hard to reach 16-24 demographic – and, for ordinary folk, the chance for a few dazzling moments to make their lives extraordinary. 

Here are some of our favourite reality TV moments. 

"What a sad little life Jane"

Come Dine With Me follows a group of strangers as they compete to be crowned the ultimate dinner party host, with each contestant creating their own version of the perfect dinner party, which will see them scored out of ten by each guest. 

The 29-year-old basketball player became a fan favourite with his witty, charming and laid-back personality in the 2019 series of Love Island, coming third with his ex-girlfriend India Reynolds.

Following the instant fame that the entertainment series brings, Soko finds himself at a turning point in his life where he must choose between exploring a career full of brand new opportunities or return to his former career as a basketball player.

Swapping the idyllic island of Fiji with the bright lights of Las Vegas, the new set of islanders will enter a villa on top of Caesars Entertainment’s boutique hotel, The Cromwell, in search for love (and the $50,000 prize).

Arielle Vandenberg will return as host and narrator Matthew Hoffman will be back to report on the latest gossip from inside the hotel villa 'bubble'.

“We’re thrilled that ITV2 can bring the latest US version of Love Island to viewers this year,” said Paul Mortimer, ITV’s Head of Digital Channels and Acquisitions.

Seven celebrities will kick off the proceedings at a karaoke bar, belting out their renditions in both solo performances and group battles.

In a provocative twist, their fellow competitors will judge them, with a focus on passion and stage presence over voice.

The list of those on the mic includes TV personalities Scarlett Moffat and Roman Kemp, Ibiza Weekender’s David Potts, comedians Joel Dommett, Judi Love, Melvin Odoom and Luke Kempner, and Love Island’s Samira Mighty.

Finding love can be hard at the best of times but finding love in the middle of a pandemic feels almost impossible, which is why celebrities Chloe Ferry, Pete Wicks, Levi Davis and Shaughna Phillips have turned to the Celebs Go Dating agents for professional help.

Dating agents Paul C Brunson and Anna Williamson will return, joined by their junior client coordinator Tom Read Wilson, ready to navigate the challenges of vetting love matches online and arranging exciting remote and socially distanced dates.

With everyone unable to leave the house to meet up with their latest dating app match, the only option is to live vicariously through others or brave a first date over FaceTime.

Here are some of the best dating shows to keep you company while social distancing.

Love Is Blind – Netflix

The social dating experiment, Love Is Blind, was a Netflix sensation and has already been renewed for two more series following its success.

Close the curtains, turn up the heating and settle on the sofa. Love Island is back with its first-ever winter edition, along with a new location and a new host.

If you haven’t got your fix from the daily episode, the Love Island: The Morning After podcast returns for a third series as the much-needed pick-me-up after the drama of the night before.

With a brand-new villa and Laura Whitmore taking over from Caroline Flack as the host, the most addictive reality show on TV is heading back to our screens.

From wealthy property heirs to troublesome twins, the new series is sure to provide the essential juicy drama needed to brighten up dreary January.

Here are the 12 new contestants hoping to find love in the villa.