Love Island’s Dr Alex George has said it’s “for the best” that show bosses ditched the lie detector test task this year, labelling the devices “inaccurate”.
In previous series, the lie detector test episode has provided some of the show’s most dramatic moments and Alex himself was at the centre of it all in 2018, when was accused of lying about wanting then-girlfriend Alexandra Cane to meet his parents.
The revelation left Alexandra in tears but Alex has always maintained he was telling the truth.
Now, speaking to Racing Post, he’s praised the decision to ditch the controversial task.
“It is for the best they are not doing the lie detector test this year because it simply does not work,” he said. “It was so inaccurate. Some of the things they said were true and false didn’t match up with what we felt was happening on the inside.
“I can’t remember what it was but I answered a question truthfully and it said it was false. The more you protest, the more everyone thinks you’re definitely lying.”
The doctor added: “Detectors which measure pulse or respiratory rate aren’t that accurate quite frankly. I am glad it has gone, hopefully forever.”
The use of lie detector tests in TV shows was brought into question following the cancellation of the Jeremy Kyle Show, which frequently featured them.
The programme was axed after a participant, Steve Dymond, was found dead a week after failing one.
Speaking in front of a government committee in June, one of the show’s executive producers admitted it’s unclear how accurate lie detector tests are.
Jeremy Kyle Show producer, Tom McLennan, also claimed the show had always made it “very, very clear to the viewers and participants that the lie detector is not 100 per cent accurate”.
He added: “We have always felt that was incredibly important.”