Fake babies and horrible tweets: Where were these vital Love Island traditions in 2024?

Love Island 2024 was in a word, underwhelming, and the challenges were lacklustre to say the least. Fans of the show were thoroughly disappointed by the seemingly low budget, with some speculating that it was blown on celebrity contestant Joey Essex this year.

The show used to consist of elaborate dates, scandalous challenges and, well, just a lot more than sitting around the villa and talking to each other (although that is the show’s main premise). You might not have noticed what was missing this year, but after you read this list, you’ll realise just how much the show’s producers let us down.

The iconic baby challenge

via ITV

Remember Tommy Fury flipping his baby across the villa garden? I could never forget that. Stunned Molly-Mae could only watch on and say: “He flipped the baby around like a f*****g ball.”

The baby challenge was a pivotal moment in the show, where couples had to feed, change, and look after a pretend baby. It was always a great teller of which couples would make it work outside of the villa. Tommy and Molly-Mae actually have their own baby now, and I sure hope Tommy isn’t allowed to backflip Bambi that way.

The mean tweets challenge

via ITV

This was a challenge that ALWAYS started an argument, ended in tears, or permanently messed up tensions in the villa. I swear the producers would pick the meanest tweets they could find on Twitter (which is saying something) and wreak the most havoc on the Islanders. It was definitely entertaining, but perhaps it’s good for everyone’s sake that it’s been axed since 2019.

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PROPER final dates

via ITV

Come on, you can’t deny that this year’s final dates were bottom-of-the-barrel content. What happened to elaborate nights out, orchestras, rose gardens and private yachts? Very disappointed ITV.

The gross spitting challenges

via ITV

Who the hell thought this was a good idea in the first place? The challenge made Islanders transfer liquid by spitting it into each other’s mouths, which is actually gross when you think about it. Apparently, the challenge led to many Ofcom complaints.

It definitely doesn’t go down well in a post-Covid world either. Creative Director Mike Spencer decided before season 10 of the show last year that: ” I think we’ll leave it – I do miss it a little bit, but we decided to get rid of it. We’ll keep that not happening.”

Other versions of the gross game have emerged in recent years, such as Cocktail Mixup and Lip Service, however, rest assured that no more variations will be coming back.

The lie detector test

via ITV

The Lie Detector feature was the ultimate test of relationships on the show as it edged closer to the final. I really don’t understand why it was cut as it was always super popular, and never failed to cause drama.

It saw contestants being asked difficult questions by their partners whilst they were hooked up to a polygraph.

The test got scrapped in 2019 after appearing on the show in the four seasons before. Out of all the Love Island challenges, this would have fared well in 2024. Too bad!

For more like this look at the Love Island 2024 cast as meal deals and all the latest Love Island news and gossip, like The Holy Church of Love Island on Facebook.  

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