Love Island 2018 is set for huge changes – but will they actually work?

Love Island is 100% our type on paper. It's the main event on the reality TV calendar and we don't want it to change. Like, ever. So when rumours started sprouting across the grapevine about producers planning to make the 2018 series the "best ever" by introducing huge new twists, just three words sprung to mind – "You ok hun?"

Why would you mess with a flawless formula, ITV? If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?

While the mere suggestion of changing anything about our beloved Love Island definitely got our backs up, it's probably only fair to hear out the people who invented the show in the first place, which does make technically make them geniuses.

Here, we take a look at all the rumoured changes that ITV allegedly has in mind for Love Island 2018 and examine whether they'd actually be any good. Producers, we hope you're paying attention. This is ridiculously important and there's only a few weeks to go until the big launch. Argh!

1. Sex ban

According to reports, ITV want to introduce new rules which will stop islanders from having drunken sex. They'll have to wait until they sober up before jumping into bed with each other.

Our verdict? Well, although it's obviously good practice, how on Earth would they enforce this? Will members of security be hiding in the cupboard, ready to jump out with a breathalyser test any time producers spot a bit of hanky-panky?

It all sounds a bit like Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents to us. This is supposed to be Love Island!

2. Nudity ban

Rumour has it that islanders will be warned before entering the villa that they can never be fully naked on the show – even in the shower! This time around, it's been reported that everywhere in the house is going to be considered a public space, with cameras in every nook and cranny. So being totally starkers at any point is unacceptable.

This sounds fair enough to us. If the success of a show were dependent merely on nudity in the shower, Big Brother wouldn't be in the predicament it is now. So honestly, this proposed ban really won't make any difference to our daily Love Island fix.

3. Number of episodes

This rumour has pretty much been confirmed by ITV. Love Island 2018 is apparently going to be the longest series to date. We hear it's going to air for eight weeks this year – that's two weeks longer than usual.

Will this change work? Hell yeah! In fact, we hope Love Island 2019 is even longer.

Bring it on.

4. LGBTQ+ contestants

One of the changes Love Island fans want is to see is more LGBTQ+ contestants in the villa.

A Love Island spokesperson recently reiterated that the only stipulations for contestants are that they be over 18 and single, so that's not to say LGBTQ contestants can't apply. The show has, after all, had some LGBTQ representation in the past, with a love triangle having taken place during the 2016 series after the arrival of Katie Salmon, who identified as bisexual.

We'd love to see more LGBTQ islanders, though the show's format might need to change to accommodate them. Executive producer Richard Cowles has expressed an interest in introducing a same-sex version of Love Island, too, so watch this space!

5. More contestants

Not only is this series set to be the longest to date, ITV bosses are apparently also planning to bring more islanders into the villa than ever before.

This sounds great to us. Some of the late arrivals last year went on to become our favourites – we're looking at you, Chris Hughes.

If you ask us, the more the merrier.

6. New contracts

In another surprise move, ITV are reportedly planning to introduce a new clause to the islanders' contracts, which states that it's entitled to 10% of their future earnings. Digital Spy reached out to ITV for clarification on the matter, but a spokesperson declined to comment.

Although we're not sure how accurate this claim is, if the money would be used to make the next series of Love Island even better, we probably wouldn't mind too much. We're not too sure how this suits the islanders though, or whether it would put people off applying to be on the show.

Is it worth the risk?

7. Two villas

This one probably comes as no surprise considering producers are planning to recruit a lot more islanders this year. They're all going to need somewhere to sleep, we guess, so apparently there are going to be two villas.

Hmm. We're not sure on this one. We don't mind some of the islanders being sent away to another villa for a short spell – as they were last year – but two permanent different residencies? Not feeling it.

Love Island 2018 is expected to launch in June on ITV2.

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