RISKY BUSINESS
Love Island 2019 stars ‘being paid just £250 a week this summer’
LOVE ISLAND 2019 stars will be paid £250 a week this summer - but some may think it's a small sum compared to the risks involved.
Despite the recent suicides of ex-contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon, thousands of young guys and girls have applied to be on the ITV2 show this year.
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According to the to “compensate” for giving up time to be on the show, ITV bosses have agreed to pay the islanders £250 a week.
That's £50 a week more than last year's, who accepted £200 a week to cover their bills, rent and utilities while appearing on the show.
If they are among the originals and last the full eight weeks, they will bag £2,000.
But since TV chiefs keep sending in new islanders to spice things up, the majority only last a matter of days.
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However, not only are the contestants hoping to find love and bag the £50,000 winners' cash prize, they will also have their sights set on making megabucks after they leave the Spanish villa.
Jonny Mitchell, one of the stars from Love Island 2017, says he made over £1m off the back of the show, and now he runs a talent agency, Syndicate Mgmt, to help other TV personalities do the same.
Last year's show was even more popular, pulling in a huge 3.9 average viewers compared to 2.5 the year before, and Jonny says the growing popularity of the series means the Islanders can now make more money.
"It's not out of the realms of possibility to make over a million if there's a long-term strategy involved," he told the Sun Online.
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Andrew Bloch of Frank PR agreed, saying: "In the short term, they should all be able to make six figures relatively easily.
"And there will be a handful who will go on and develop longer term careers and build themselves into personalities in their own right."
Love Islanders can expect to get paid for posting on social media - Kem Cetinay from Love Island 2017 can make up to £8,600 for a single sponsored post - and often secure lucrative clothing brand deals - Amber Davies's line with Model Rocks paid £500,000.
But past contestants have also spoken out about the negative side of appearing on the show, such as online trolling, possible depression and other health issues.
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After the recent death of Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon, some believe the weekly pay check is not enough.
A source told the Daily Star: “Everyone now knows that stepping into that villa brings good and bad things.
“They risk coming out and being trolled on Twitter, their dreams of being a big reality star dashed, work dries up and ending up feeling depressed and having issues.”
Some people, such as 2017 contestant Zara Holland, have called for the show to be axed.
It comes as we reveal boxing champ Tyson Fury's brother, 19 year old Tommy, and Strictly's AJ Pritchard's brother, Curtis, 23, are being lined up for the new show.
AJ Pritchard's younger brother, Curtis, rumoured for Love Island
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