Nearly eight years ago, I sat with Mike Thalassitis at an awards ceremony. He was one of the most charming men I’d ever met; we spoke about his family, his new restaurant, and his time on Love Island. One month later, I was reporting on his death at age 26. Mike had been in a ‘dark place’ leading up to his suicide, it was stated during the inquest. When Amazon Prime Video announced a two-part documentary exploring three deaths linked to the ITV dating show—Mike, Sophie Gradon, and Caroline Flack—I was apprehensive. The subject alone is sensitive to so many. How do you even begin to tackle so much sorrow in two episodes? I figured newer Love Island viewers might not know about the darker side, Sophie, Mike and Caroline’s individual stories, and how much reality TV has changed since.
Documentary reduces tragedy to blame game
But The Curse of Love Island, which promises to ‘reveal the pressures of fame, online abuse and the devastating impact they can have’, reduces three complex and devastating deaths to an outdated question: Who is to blame? ‘This isn’t about starting to point at a show, or a company, or a person,’ psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos reflects in the docu-series. ‘There are infinite reasons to create this perfect storm. It would be unfair to pick up one commonality and say that was that one thing.’ While many contributors agree that Love Island and ITV aren’t solely responsible, former contestants—who should be considered real experts—disagree.
Former contestants share harrowing experiences
Anton Danyluk, who appeared on series five in 2019 and the All Stars spinoff in 2024, declares ‘there’s no higher high than the summer you’re preparing for Love Island,’ before revealing how it all came crashing down. Anton says he began drinking and using drugs after his first stint, ultimately trying to take his own life. He argues that the long-term aftercare he needed wasn’t provided by ITV. Malin Andersson, who appeared on season two in 2016, recalls her stint as ‘quite toxic, so superficial and artificial,’ revealing financial struggles once fame disappeared. A childhood friend of Sophie Gradon, who died at 32 in 2018, adds: ‘I wish she never did that show.’
ITV defends duty of care improvements
The arguments are put to ITV, who said in a statement that their duty of care procedures have ‘evolved significantly’ over time. They now work with medical professionals when reviewing welfare procedures and maintain ‘proactive contact’ with islanders for 14 months after the show ends. The documentary includes a list of protocols: pre-filming psychological and medical assessments, a dedicated welfare team, eight therapy sessions post-show, and bespoke social media training. However, the film comes across as a blame game rather than an investigation into what happened and why, and, as the show continues to air, begs the question: What needs to change?
Missing context and newer voices
What it misses are newer contestants who have experienced the post-aftercare overhaul. Are things better now? What does support look like in 2026? What happens when work dries up? Without this, we’re left in a vicious cycle of debate about whether the show should be cancelled. Away from the three deaths, Love Island has faced accusations of racism, misogyny, and classism. These should have been woven into unravelling the complicated history of one of the UK’s most popular TV franchises, including mentions of similar scandals on shows like The Jeremy Kyle Show and Married at First Sight. Is there enough to corroborate claims of a ‘curse’ without a wider lens? Absolutely not. What it does get right is shining a light on the three people we’ve lost, who deserve to be remembered for more than just Love Island.
