Love Islander insists show "needs to change" to bring back "realness"
Love Island winner Jessica Hayes has spoken out about how the ITV dating show has changed since she and Max Morley won over the nation in 2015.
Now eight years later, Jessica has commented on how the show has changed, with 2023 winners Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan crowned just days ago.
Speaking to Fubar Radio's Access All Areas, Jessica said: "It's so different now. It isn't the same anymore. There's been so many series. I just feel like it doesn't have that realness anymore."
Related: Love Island's Jessie Wynter and Will Young discuss their sex life since leaving the villa
Speaking with hosts Bobby Norris and Stephen Leng, she said that the show's format needs to change: '"I feel like something needs to change because its the same every year."
With many of the show's former contenders securing brand endorsements and becoming social media Influencers, Jessica feels that contestants enter the show now with a business goal in mind, which takes away the its innocence.
"Now they go in, and they go: 'I'm going to get that Pretty Little Thing deal, I'm going to get this and that,'" she said. "It's more like a business plan or game plan really. You know you're going to get the followers. That's kind of taking away the whole innocence of it, the realness. It's just not the same anymore."
Related: Love Island's Casey reveals details of the group chat following the finale
The season 9 winners Kai and Sanam were crowned by host Maya Jama earlier this week (March 13), with the pair taking home the £50,000 cash prize and beating out competition from love hopefuls Tom and Samie, Ron and Lana and Shaq and Tanya.
ITV has opened up its application process for the summer season of Love Island, so fans will hopefully not have to wait too long to meet the next batch of romantics.
Love Island is available via catch up on ITVX and BritBox.
You Might Also Like
