The format has been tweaked a little since that first season (which culminated in a bizarre fake wedding ceremony, surely the kiss of death for any burgeoning relationship, that was mercifully ditched for future iterations of the show) but the Love Island blueprint remains simple, addictive and, as critics have pointed out, extremely heteronormative. A group of five girls and five guys choose to couple up with one another, aiming to work out whether or not they have a genuine connection; just when things seem to be going smoothly, a “bombshell” contestant arrives to stir things up. At stake is a £50,000 cash prize and, you know, the promise of long-lasting love.
The best Love Island season to date: all UK Love Island series ranked (2024)
