Love Island says it will not air a Mike Thalassitis tribute in the new series

Mike Thalassitis will not be honoured on-screen in the upcoming series of Love Island when it airs on TV, ITV2 has said.

Instead, the late former contestant will be remembered in a tribute on channel's online player. "It felt more appropriate to do it there," a source told The Sun. The 2017 series of the reality show, which he appeared on, will also become available as a boxset on the player. Mike passed away in March of this year. It was confirmed by police that he died by suicide. ITV's chief executive has distanced his death from his Love Island stint.

"I don’t think anybody has made a direct link between what happened to Mike and ‘Love Island’ and that is very important to say," said Dame Carolyn McCall. "It would be an extremely tenuous thing to do given he was very happy on Love Island and all of his mates have actually said that, and he has done two other reality TV shows in the two-year gap."

New measures

In the wake of his death, however, ITV2 announced that it would be offering a new aftercare package to Love Island contestants. Those who appear on the show will now have access to therapy as well as financial advice and social media training.

"The key focus will be for us to no longer be reliant on the Islanders asking us for support but for us to proactively check in with them on a regular basis," said ITV's creative director Richard Cowles. "We work with an independent GP and a psychological consultant to provide an assessment of the physical and mental health of each of the shortlisted cast members and their suitability for inclusion."

Mike Thalasissits was the second former Love Island cast member to pass away. His death followed that of Sophie Gradon's who died aged 32 last year. This year's series of Love Island is set to kick off at the beginning of next month.