ITV bosses have admitted using artificial intelligence as part of the casting process for reality series Love Island.
Fans of the dating show have long accused bosses of picking copycat Islanders, including this year’s Irish actress Megan Forte Clarke who was deemed a lookalike of show star Maura Higgins.
Irish model Maura, 34, appeared in series 5 in 2019 and has since gone on to appear in I’m a Celebrity.
Now ITV has revealed automated technology has been used to help whittle down the thousands of applications.
Boss Carolyn McCall said: “We will use AI in any way we can to make what we do more efficient. Studios used it for Love Island and casting this year, and the team rated it eight out of ten.”
An ITV production source said the tool was not used to make any final decisions — but that it assisted with handling audition footage.
The revelation comes amid viewer outcry over the shock return of Megan, 24, to the series on Wednesday, despite her being evicted three weeks in.
The musical theatre performer lost her place in the Mallorca villa after viewers voted her the least “favourite girl”.
One fan ranted on X: “The fact she’s on my TV when I voted her out? What happened to democracy?”
Another said they had lodged a complaint with Ofcom and said: “Megan has been out of that villa for weeks and had the chance to read all of the public’s opinions and it’s so close to the end, she’s pretty much guaranteed a spot in the final.”
She returned with Spanish lad Blu, who was also dumped earlier in the series.
Fans are not charged to take part in voting for Love Island on ITV’s dedicated mobile phone app.
But the voting terms and conditions state: “The producers of the programme may in their discretion introduce an Islander seen in earlier stages of the competition who was previously evicted.”
Meanwhile, broadcaster ITV has reported a 44 per cent drop in half-year pre-tax profits to £99million, down from £178million last year.
Advertising revenues have fallen by seven per cent.
Following swingeing cuts to its daytime shows GMB, Lorraine and Loose Women earlier this year, ITV now plans to cut an extra £15million in costs — on top of the £30million already outlined.
