Love Island’s new recruit Laura Whitmore has spoken out over concerns about the show’s diversity, after producers made the decision to replace Caroline Flack with another white presenter.
Last month, Laura was one of several celebrities rumoured to have been in the frame for Caroline’s job, when it was revealed that she would not be returning to present the upcoming series, after she was arrested and charged with assault.
Other rumoured names included Maya Jama, Rochelle Humes and Vick Hope, and when the job eventually went to Laura, several tabloid outlets claimed there had been a “race row” after the show chose not to recruit a presenter from a BAME background.
In a new interview with The Sun, Laura said: “I think all of them are brilliant hosts. And I’m friends with everyone.”
She continued: “I think the most important thing is for everyone to be in the room and everyone to have an opportunity.
“It’s the same when it comes to the gender pay gap. I just think it comes down to you should get paid what you’re worth.
“It doesn’t matter what your gender is, what your race is, everyone is equal and everyone should have equal opportunity.”
In the past few years, Love Island has faced criticism over its apparent lack of diversity, both in terms of body shape and LGBTQ representation.
There have also been some concerns regarding how BAME contestants’ journeys on the show have played out, with many pointing out that in the last few series, the last contestants selected to couple up have been either black or mixed race.
Love Island’s first ever winter series begins on Sunday night at 9pm on ITV2.