“Twenty-four were found and cast by the programme’s casting team, six were put forward by professional agents and six came through the general application process.”
Only six of the contestants on this year's Love Island actually applied to be on the show.
Of the 36 islanders who entered the villa, 24 were found by the programme's casting team, while 6 were put forward by professional agents.
The figures have been revealed as part of an investigation into the show by MPs in the UK.
MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee investigating reality TV had queried how many of the show’s contestants had been approached by members of the casting team in relation to the number that had applied.
In written evidence, ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall said: “On series five of Love Island to date (July 15), there have been 36 contributors.
“Twenty-four were found and cast by the programme’s casting team, six were put forward by professional agents and six came through the general application process.”
Several contestants, like Molly-Mae Hague, already had significant followings on Instagram and had worked as influencers.
Dame Carolyn has previously told MPs ITV gets about 98,000 applications for Love Island and has denied that casting directors are given instructions about physical appearance when searching for contestants.
She said: “There’s a very rigorous application and casting process.
“We get about 98,000 applications for Love Island, they then take that down to about 90 to 100 as soon as they get a call back – at that stage they go through medical questionnaires, psychological questionnaires, assessments, that then goes down to about 30 or 40 who get selected to appear on Love Island.
“It’s a very rigorous process of screening that goes on before they actually get on to Love Island.”
