LOVE ISLAND: Lurid tasks . . . and live sex

Love Island has attracted millions of fans who can’t bring themselves to switch off, despite – or because of – the swearing and explicit scenes. now in its third series, the ITv2 show sees a group of scantily dressed twentysomethings in a villa in Majorca pole-dancing, partying and, astonishingly, even having sex (on five occasions to date, all under the sheets). To stay in the competition, contestants must pair up to compete in explicit competitions. each week, a couple is voted off and the victors – to be decided in tomorrow night’s final in a public vote – will win £50,000. In one of the more lurid competitions, called Battle of The Bootie, the women were set a number of challenges, including performing lap dances for the men. In another, contestants had to demonstrate a series of sexual positions shouted out at random.

night-vision cameras capture every seedy moment of their bedroom antics, although the programmemakers are now reportedly editing down the surfeit of sex scenes.

Programme-makers have even complained when couples have failed to practise safe sex. While ofcom has received 30 complaints for displaying sex and the show’s general standards, more anger has been directed at the on-screen smoking. The audience watching live or on catch-up platforms totals 4.5 million, and, amazingly, 65,000 people applied to be on this year’s series – up from 16,000 last year.