How far can Love Island go?

Since debuting on Sunday 9GO!’s Love Island has generated comments and media articles that it exists purely to show Reality TV contestants having sex on TV.

But as Richard Lyle, Nine’s Chief Classification Officer tells TV Tonight, the show is under daily scrutiny to ensure it meets its MA classification. Execs view rushes from Spain every morning, just as they did for Big Brother, on a similar 24 hour turnaround.

“We met with the ITV guys and the brief was they wanted to be sexy not sleazy, racy not raunchy,” says Lyle.

“They are ‘coupled up’ but not hooking up.”

“The boys could have penis-shots but no erections which is seen as a sexual act”

In its MA classification the show can be more explicit than the teasing tone producers have set thus far. Technically, full frontal nudity is allowed in a non-sexual context.

“The girls could go topless, and skinny dipping. The boys could have penis-shots but no erections which is seen as a sexual act,” he explains of the MA limits.

“One thing leads to another, as your mother might have warned you.”

Adult language is also allowed, so far the show has freely used F-bombs.

“You could have c*** language but unless it was an unusual circumstance, such as in a humorous way, I can’t imagine them wanting to use it,” he continues.

“At first they were watching their Ps and Qs and Fs and Cs but once they got to know one another they became more relaxed, using it conversationally, as an adjective or an adverb.”

“It can be implied but not directly shown.”

So how far is too far?

Big Brother‘s infamous Turkey Slap (technically never broadcast at the time) is generally perceived as an example of the limits of acceptable content. David Mott was TEN’s programming boss at the time and is now the ITV Studios Australia boss responsible for Love Island, fully across how far the show can go. So far Lyle has had no cause to censor, with producers in Majorca, Spain, keeping the show above the hips.

Night cameras have filmed couples in bed kissing before some dive under the doona for privacy.

“It can be portrayed as low level as kissing and cuddling, but they might go under the doona covers getting more and more carried away, which is why you have a lot of shots of that big moon. The producers at their own discretion can choose to cutaway,” says Lyle.

“It can be implied but not directly shown.”

Coercing someone to do something sexuallly they didn’t want to do would also be problematic.

“If there was one person who was seen to be much weaker or was being bullied by the others it would be a real problem. But if you have seen the line-up they all come out of the gate with equal fighting weight and stature.”

Love Island, was commissioned for 9GO! to hit the younger demos. The show isn’t rating well in Total Viewers but is stronger in the demos. However Nine describes it as a multi-platform hit, with some YouTube clips at over 300,000 views and one at 1.4 million. OzTAM VPMs have shown up to a third of the audience is viewing through digital not broadcast.

But can a show with such an expensive production layout, including filming in Spain, succeed only on digital and not broadcast? Yesterday Nine moved Big Bang Theory repeats into 9GO!’s 7:30 slot to give the broadcast a fighting chance.

“I can’t believe how seriously they take this idea that they are couples.”

Lyle, who isn’t in the target demographic, still finds enjoyment from his daily viewings (including on Sunday).

“I can’t believe how seriously they take this idea that they are couples. They’ve only been there for 4 days and I’m sure the experience is intense, but you would think they were couples who had been dating for 6 months!

“So it’s much more about human relationships and how you are in your 20s with your emotions.

“Natasha was talking to Charlie in the hot tub and said, ‘What would happen if one of us had to go, what is your Plan B?’

“And the thought hadn’t even crossed Charlie’s mind bless his cotton sox!”

Given he is Nine’s longest-running full-time employee, such variety is the spice of a censor’s life.

“I came here thinking I would be here a few years and they put me on as a cadet in 1968 on a temporary basis. And I’m still here!” he recalls.

“My friends who have retired, even at executive levels all say their job became the same day after day. But I said ‘You ought to try working in commercial television, it’s not the same day after day!’ That’s the one thing I can certainly say about it. ”

But the brother of the late renowned producer David Lyle, hints at change.

“Sadly I thought when David retires properly I might do the same so we can do a couple of world travels. We used to do them a lot when we were much younger,” he reveals.

“I’m slow to make change. I know David has gone but I can’t quite get my head around it entirely. But I do have to start making other plans.”

He didn’t indicate whether a trip to Majorca was on the cards…

Love Island airs 8:30pm Sunday – Thursday on 9GO!