Love Island's no 'shagfest', says producer
Celebrity Love Island: producer Znak says it's not going to be a 'celebrity shagfest'
The producer of ITV1's Celebrity Love Island has hit back at claims that the show is a flop.
Natalka Znak said she was happy with the ratings and said the show was never going to be the "celebrity shagfest" the tabloids were hoping for.
"I find it astonishing that people are knocking it for the ratings, it's a 10 o'clock show with a couple of nine o'clock shows and ITV are pleased with the ratings so far," she said.
"We dropped a little bit but you know we've had four shows and it's a five-week run. I am really confident and happy about the direction the show is going in."
The show has dropped 2 million viewers since its launch on Monday and it has been slated by the tabloids who have written it off as "boring dross".
Ms Znak, who is in Fiji with the production team, said the overwhelmingly negative press was not troubling her.
"Maybe the tabloids are disappointed because they are looking for a shagfest. We haven't got tits, arse and shagging after two days but we were never going to have that and I don't want to have it," she said.
"It's a five-week show and who knows what will happen, but now that the honeymoon period is over it won't take long for the situation to unravel.
"What I am so amazed and delighted by is that these 12 celebrities are taking the programme so seriously in terms of relationships and how they feel about each other. At the moment we have Jayne who is upset about her relationship with Lee because she genuinely has feelings for him."
Last night saw former Clothes Show presenter Jayne Middlemiss demand to leave the show after Lee Sharpe, the contestant she had got closest to, upset her by flirting with a very willing Abi Titmuss.
"Things are happening on the island and tension is rising,"says Znak.
"I thought it was amazing and hilarious that Paul Danan declared undying love for Isabella Hervey - it's just pure comedy gold but at the same time there is a serious relationship developing between Lee and Jayne, and there's lots of other stuff bubbling under."
After yesterday's slating in the tabloids, the show's producer was adamant that it was better to be talked about than not at all.
"If the Mirror want to spend a double-page spread slagging us off then it's up to them," she said. "They want to write about the show which is great for us. They've been the anti-Big Brother paper, and anti-I'm a Celebrity... so none of this bothers me."
One of the criticisms of the show is that nothing happens but in fact, there is a task every day, and last night saw the celebrities having to stand in line in order of fame. Their daily tasks decide who gets a day trip.
"It was a simple task but hilarious. What was funny was the people most outraged were the ones who really care about fame, like Abi and Fran. It's just such a great snapshot of the celebrity world and the madness and self denial that goes with it."
She was also keen to point out that it takes time to get to know the contestants.
"I don't have a favourite couple but because we've only had four shows so far, we haven't had a chance to bring out the characters.
"I think Calum Best is fascinating - he's much more interesting that I thought he was going to be. And obviously Abi's a very strong character."
But with The Farm on Five and Big Brother due to start on Channel 4 next Friday, many people have questioned how the show will cope against such an established reality format.
"I'm not remotely worried about Big Brother... Obviously it's a big show but we've got a whole week to go, so you'll really get to know our characters.
"We've got a very strong show and the atmosphere here is great. It just seems that the reviewers are so impatient - they want the punch-up on day one but you know what, it will happen."
However, she admitted that the half-hour evening shows, which are fronted by Kelly Brook and Patrick Kielty, could do with being a bit longer.
"I think the shows are over a bit quick, you can't quite get into it... But there's the News at 10.30pm, that's the problem."
mrdiaguardian