EXCLUSIVE Love Island has lost its mojo and should be rested, says super fan SARAH PACKER who outlines 10-point plan to restore dating show to past glories - and that includes axing narrator Iain Sterling

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

Love Island is one of Britain's most successful television reboots.
Returning nine years after its first celebrity-themed incarnation, the ITV2 dating show eclipsed its predecessor and became a cultural phenomenon.
The series invented its own language, made stars out of its contestants and frequently filled front pages. But now a decade into the show's second journey, Love Island is at a crossroads.
ITV will happily point out it's still a ratings hit with the 16-34 demographic, but there's no denying the show has lost its mojo and to put it simply, nobody is talking about it anymore outside of its own fandom.
Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies, Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer, Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey, Olivia Attwood and Chris Hughes, Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague, ask the man on the street seven years ago if they could name a Love Island couple, they would be able to roll off some of these pairs with ease.
Not now, Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan anyone? After becoming the first black couple to win the show last year, they split, and fans have heard very little from them since.
The same can be said for Jess Harding and Sammy Root who scooped the £50,000 prize in 2023, which is why even me, a diehard Love Island super fan who has reported on the series for a decade, feels ITV should make the tough decision and do the unthinkable – rest the show.
But that shouldn't be the death knell for Love Island, it has the potential to flourish again but only if bosses follow my 10-point plan to restore the show to its former glory.
Viewers couldn't get enough of the show in 2017 when Olivia Attwood and Chris Hughes starred on the series alongside winners Amber Davies and Kim Cetinay
1) Islanders With Substance
The rise of influencers has certainly impacted the show, as far too many contestants in recent years have been plucked from TikTok. Mindful of ratings, producers see Islanders with already substantial online followings as a handy way to boost viewer numbers.
However, it would not be unfair to point out the majority of these influencers lack the depth of former stars with far more interesting jobs.
In the 2017 series, the show featured a bomb disposal expert in Camilla Thurlow and the following year had a doctor, Alex George.
Their life experiences were far more interesting to hear than any of the current crop of Islanders populating the Majorcan villa, which included a DJ, ring girl, makeup artist and a personal trainer. So predictable, just like…
2) Format Change
Every year, viewers know what's going to happen. It's become so samey, all the series feel like they have blended into one. Casa Amor is the prime example.
The rival villa segment, where either the boys or girls are sent to meet a new batch of potential partners in a test of loyalty, always kicks in midway through the series.
We know it's coming, the Islanders know it's coming - even the garden bean bags knew when it was en route. I say keep the second villa, but introduce the segment closer to the end – and why not occasionally send a mix of boys and girls?
Will they behave differently if pals of their partners are in Casa Amor with them? It would sure make it more interesting, a bit like if they brought back…
3) Celebrity Islanders
Introducing Joey Essex to last year's line-up was a genius move by producers. It gave the show a new dynamic and instantly made it feel fresher with that added shock factor.
Despite the success of Joey's stint on the series, it was a surprise that producers didn't repeat the trick this year, meaning a return to the tried and tested format which had already become way too predictable.
Imagine if Maura Higgins was convinced to appear? That would have triggered endless talking points. Likewise, Sam Thompson, he would have been perfect, and he's already shown outside of the villa he has a penchant for Love Island girls.
Including at least one celebrity bombshell per series should be a given going forward, especially if they're willing to go all the way on camera, which leads us to…
4) Bring Back The Sex
When Love Island returned in 2015 it came back with a bang, quite literally, and footage of the new era of Islanders' antics between the sheets was a big part of the show.
But in recent years, Love Island has become increasingly PG, and the naughty stuff has been kept away from prying eyes, making the series far less juicy.
ITV wanted the show to shift attention to emotional relationships and 'situationships', and even conversations about sex have become increasingly rare.
But that's not what viewers want to see – or read about – which may explain the decrease of newsworthy Love Island articles during the series. That would all change if producers…
5) Introduce Bisexual Islanders
The UK version could learn from the US series, which has attracted some big numbers across the pond.
There has been the series' first girl-on-girl snog, between contestants Cierra and Chelley, which went viral online.
Bringing in bi-curious contestants would certainly add another fresh dynamo to the series and spark all sorts of conundrums.
Love Island has exclusively focused on heterosexual relationships but in 2025, with people of all ages increasingly experimental in their sexuality, it's high time more Megan Barton Hanson characters are given an opportunity to spice up the villa, just like…
6) Nepo Babies
Seeing privileged kids of the rich and famous vying for attention is understandably a big turn off.
But there's no such problem seeing nepo babies on Love Island. Indeed, viewers lap them up.
Dani Dyer and Gemma Owen are two of the most well-known contestants ever on the show, and that's all down to their famous fathers – and digesting just what they must be thinking seeing their beloved daughters snogging fellas on the UK's biggest TV dating show.
Each series should have at least one nepo baby if possible and the more uncomfortable they make their parents feel, the better. Speaking of awkwardness…
7) Employ A New Narrator
Iain Stirling has got to go. The Scottish comedian has been the voice of Love Island for every series since its return, featuring on all the summer, winter and All Stars instalments.
But in recent years, his commentary is becoming increasingly tiresome, and his gags simply don't hit how they used to.
He deserves some sympathy, mind. The repetitiveness of the show combined with the carbon copy Islanders every year must make coming up with new material tough.
But that's why a fresh face is needed, and you only need to turn over to E4 and watch Celebs Go Dating to see who should get the gig, fellow comedian Rob Beckett. Talking of upgrades…
8) Hotter Male Contestants
I'm sorry, it just needs to be said. The girls on Love Island are strikingly beautiful, with perfect tans, sexy outfits, and stunning looks, there's not been one Islander to walk into this year's villa who hasn't been blown away by Shakira Khan's beauty.
However, the lads, well, they're not quite at the same level. This year's series is evidence of that as none of the blokes have really got the girls in a spin and even producers must have quickly realised that postman Ryan Bannister, who only lasted 24 hours, didn't quite cut it, particularly given his lack of flirtatious chat.
The majority of Love Island's viewers are female so they should really be catered for too. There must be plenty of hunks out there for ITV to get their hands on because gone are the days of adonis Islanders Ovie Soko, Davide Sanclimenti, and Adam Collard.
After all, they don't seem to have any issues finding super attractive women. That said…
9) Diverse Body Types
The girls may be knockouts, but there's not much variety in that villa.
Indeed, to get on Love Island you need to have a slim body, it seems. What's wrong with throwing in women with different body types?
Have Love Island producers forgotten about their sexiest ever contestant, Jessica Shears?
When she entered the villa in 2017 her curvaceous figure had the guy's salivating – and the moment she was dumped her now husband Dom Lever didn't waste a minute before following her out of the door.
Anna Vakili and Alexandra Cane were equally stunning when they showcased their curves on the show. More of that please, likewise...
10) Maya Jama more say
As the glamorous host of Love Island, Maya Jama constantly causes both female and male Islanders' jaws to drop to the floor.
But she's not just a pretty face, as Maya is someone with opinions and those views are highly valued by the audience, who rejoice when she shares her thoughts on the villa drama, which are few and far between.
During Thursday night's episode, the star gave Islander, taxi driver Ben Holbrough, a dressing-down over his 'unnecessary' comments and she reminded air stewardess Helena Ford to have more respect for herself in her couple with Harry Cooksley.
And with reports that Maya has signed a 'mega deal' with Amazon Video to front a new TV show, ITV will want to give Maya more of a role if they want to keep her on screen.