Should reality TV stars plug Test and Trace for cash?

As the Government signs up the Love Island cast for its Covid campaign . . . YES

HoNESTLY, I adore Love Island. Unlike many of my pearlclutching colleagues in the chaste cloisters of journalism, I wasn’t scandalised that there were 85,000 applicants for the 2019 season of the reality show — more than twice the number of applicants to oxford and Cambridge combined.

In an age where social mobility has stalled and the dull spawn of the rich and famous nab the few enjoyable and wellpaid jobs once open to bright, workingclass kids — actor, pop star, model, journalist — it’s sort of a gap year in thongs, sped up into eight weeks.

The winners walk off with £50,000 in their hot little hands — but more importantly with a host of lucrative endorsement offers, flogging everything from toothpaste to tanning oil.

There’s a reason they’re called influencers — young people see them as peers who got lucky, and follow every move they make.

As such, the likes of Chris Hughes, Shaughna Phillips and Josh Denzel are followed on social media by millions of young people; so I won’t be one of the fussbudgets currently having a fainting fit because the Government has paid such ‘stars’ to promote NHS Test and Trace. No one has confirmed how much cash is involved, but I would bet it’s nearer the £200 fee minor personalities receive than the £10,000 figure being bandied about.

Nevertheless, John o’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, fumed: ‘Zlist celebrities should not be paid to push messages which plenty of people have been doing free of charge. If these influencers want to help with the Covid campaign, they should promote the message for free.’

Does he not receive a wage as chief ‘ Buffed boys and bombshells can better grab attention’ our executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance? Good on him!

As a Government spokesman quite rightly countered: ‘our use of social media influencers has meant more than seven million people have been reached. This is just one part of a wider campaign utilising TV, radio, social, print and other ads to ensure the public has the information it needs.’

It’s the implied snobbery of the moaners that grates most.

of course, Love Island houses the normal number of models and fitness instructors who are drawn to reality TV shows. But Camilla Thurlow was a bomb disposal expert just back from Afghanistan, other housemates have been doctors, lawyers and nuclear systems design engineers — whatever that is.

And, much as I admire Captain Tom Moore, this is probably one instance where the buffed boys and bombshells of Love Island have more chance of grabbing the attention of the nation than him setting off around his garden again.