‘Decide what you want to do afterwards and play that game in there’ former Love Island star sends his advice to this year’s islanders

I’ve got a text! That’s right, it’s that time of the year again where ten singletons jet off with the hopes to find love and the return of Love Island is on the horizon as it is set to return on Monday June 3 for its eleventh season. 

As the nation gears up to welcome this year's new islanders to the villa, Frankie Foster, who appeared on season 4 of the series in 2018 when he entered as a bombshell, sits down with Betfred ahead of the new series to discuss his experience on the show, the casting process, and why the show may not be performing like it used to…

It’s no secret that Love Island has been declining in ratings and viewership in recent years. Why do you think this is, and do you expect this year to be the same?

“The simple answer to this is that there’s too much of it now; it’s relentless. When I was on the show, there was more anticipation because fans hadn’t watched it in a year. However, now it seems like there’s a summer one, a winter one—what’s next? A Christmas special? It’s no wonder people are starting to get bored; they’re just pumping out the same content. In my opinion, there’s no real difference and it’s like watching the same show over and over, several times a year."

Earlier this week, the cast for this year’s series was announced, and some stars are already under fire for having a large platform and online following. This seems to be a recurring trend every year. Do you think producers are now purposely targeting people with bigger platforms to improve ratings and viewership?

“Definitely, it’s the media game. If people follow someone they like on social media, and then that person announces they are going on a show, their fans are going to follow them to the show as well. It’s definitely an attempt to draw more viewers. I don’t agree with these stars coming under fire, though. I know the producers want to maintain that authentic, regular person feel to the show, but at the end of the day, it’s TV, and social media numbers usually lead the way."

From your personal time in the villa and from what you see now, how legitimate do you believe contestants' intentions are when participating in the show? Do you believe anyone still goes on with the sole intention of finding love, or do people now view it as a fast track to opportunities and fame?

“No one goes in there for love. Everyone knows the deal now. Back in the day, it was rough and ready, a bit wild, and quite good fun before the show got too big. But now, it’s a family show watched by millions, so it has to be more sensible. The contestants know they are there to make a show and are aware of the repercussions. So, I think everyone knows what they’re going in there for."

That being said, as someone who has been through the Love Island application process, take me through the stages of applying for the show. What do you believe are the core attributes producers look for in applicants?

“When I was there, there were only about 30 people on the show, and around 20 of them didn’t apply. They have a huge team that goes out to festivals and clubs to find good-looking people. So, most of the cast will likely have been approached by reps from the show rather than actually applying themselves."

Also, as someone who came into the villa halfway through the series, do you think the bombshells are at a disadvantage?

“Probably more of a disadvantage with the people already in there. Love Island is funny because the aim is to stay with someone, and you could be with someone as a kind of friendship. Why break that and take a risk because you might get kicked out? So if you go in halfway through, you’re fighting against established relationships, whether romantic or platonic. People have a certain level of trust within each other, and by working together, they almost protect each other, which isn’t talked about much.

"The aim is to stay in there, so even if you don’t really like someone but have a good thing going, you might just stay with them for the duration of the show. So someone’s got to like you enough to leave behind someone they already know, whether they like them or not, they’re probably still friends with them."

 How natural are the couplings? Do you think producers cast people with an inclination of who will go for whom, or are you left to gravitate towards people naturally?

“When casting, the process is actually quite scientific. Behind the scenes, at least when I was on the show, they have what is essentially a professional matchmaker. The team quizzes you on the type of people you like and tries to match you up with the other contestants. So it’s quite deliberate, really, and I think it’s either someone’s or a whole team’s job to make sure they get the right mix of people. It makes sense because if you just throw ten random people into a villa, the chances of any of them getting along are rather slim.

"So they do their best before you get into the villa to find someone you would match well with, but once you’re in the villa, you’re left to do what you want. There’s also the dynamic of the game that not everyone can couple up with everyone, so some people may end up liking the same person.”

Speaking of being natural, how easy is it to settle into villa life and be your true self? Do you believe it’s difficult to truly get to know someone in the villa?

“One thing about the show that I think is weird and that you may not expect is, obviously, there are cameras everywhere in the villa. You have a physical microphone on you that you can feel, and there are mics on the beds. You have to take your microphone off before you go to bed, but you actually get used to it and don’t realise it that much. You’re not sitting there thinking ‘oh my god, there’s a camera on me.’ So weirdly, as everyone is in the same boat, you just crack on as normal. It doesn’t feel like you’re in an interview the entire time, so you really can just chill out. And I guess it helps being in the sun, too.”

Finally, what advice would you give this year’s islanders?

“On one hand, just relax and enjoy it—that’s what I did. However, the less fun answer is to decide what you want to do afterwards and play that game in there. For example, if you want to be a personal trainer, be a fitness guy when you’re in there. If you’re a singer, go and sing and dance. Basically, just play the person you want to be when you get out.”