ITV bosses had decided not to mention the 26-year-old’s suspected suicide
following a fierce backlash against the show in the wake of his death.
But they have made a U-turn, accepting it is “the right thing” to acknowledge his passing.
Mike was found hanged near his home in March, less than a year after another former islander Sophie Gradon killed herself in June 2018.
The deaths – along with the suicide of Jeremy Kyle guest Steve Dymond – sparked a nationwide debate about how reality stars are cared for by telly bosses.
A Love Island insider revealed: “It is a really difficult subject but they wanted to address it rather than sweep it under the carpet or pretend it hasn’t happened.”
Show chiefs also insist that the islanders are supported and have introduced a raft of new measures for this series.
This year’s recruits will be given social-media training and financial management advice.
And the production team have been in touch with all the contestants’ GPs for beefed-up mental health checks ahead of filming.
The new measures, put in place this year, will also see a minimum of eight therapy sessions given to each Islander when they return home.
And bosses will stay in touch with islanders for 14 months after filming wraps – until the end of the following series.
Viewers will see the contestants enter the villa tonight.
Our exclusive first-look pictures show the five beauties looking to bag a bloke meet each other for the first time.
Lucie, Yewande, Anna, Amy and Amber all wore sexy bikinis as they were greeted by host Caroline Flack.
● Love Island airs on ITV2 at 9pm tonight.
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