While Love Island became ITV2’s most-watched show of all time this summer, with record audiences of over 3 million viewers, it came in for criticism because of a lack of LGBT+ contestants.

Now, head of ITV’s Digital Channels, Paul Mortimer, says that lesbian and gay people will not be included in the show because he believes the format doesn’t allow for it.

As reported by Metro, Mortimer said: “The format doesn’t really allow it. If you’re familiar with the programme, it’s about coupling and recoupling.

“To complicate it with same-sex relationships is to take something away from the format.”

Mortimer, who was speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, also put paid to his colleague, Richard Cowle’s suggestion that there might be a gay Love Island spin-off.

“For the moment, we’re treading very carefully with Love Island, we don’t want to over egg the pudding,” he said.