Love Island star claims ‘nightmare’ heart rate challenge made her ‘feel sick’ with stress

Ex-Love Island star Priya Gopaldas, who appeared on the ITV series in 2021, has opened up about how the show’s iconic heart rate challenge had been a “nightmare” for her. 

The 25-year-old medical student described how there was a “sense of panic in the air” and admitted she was so nervous about her performance that she “felt sick”.

Last night’s episode of Love Island saw the return of the now hotly-anticipated challenge, which sees contestants strip off and dance seductively for their fellow islanders in sexy outfits in a bid to be the person to raise the most heart rates. 

Overall, the girls were more successful at raising the most heart rates, leaving the boys fuming after putting their all into their dance routines. 

In a new interview with OK! Magazine, former islander Priya has lifted the lid on what the challenge is really like behind the scenes. 

“As soon as I heard that we were doing the heart rate challenge, my heart was in my mouth and I felt sick,” she confessed. 

“There was a moment when I questioned whether I’d actually do it, but as a medical student I knew that nerves would get me nowhere so I took myself to the bedroom to calm down.”

Priya went on to reveal how some of the girls would be practising their dance moves in the villa before getting called out to dance.

"There was a sense of panic in the air, but everyone became each other’s cheerleader and you had to do your best to get through it,” she continued. 

Priya went on to explain how Love Island bosses wouldn’t let islanders know what they were wearing or when they were even performing until right before.

"One by one, the producers call your name and tell you it’s your turn to dance,” she said. “You aren’t given any warning when your turn is, so you’re constantly waiting to see if it’s you.”

She added: "As soon as your name’s called, you’re taken away and a producer hands you a bag with your outfit in it. It’s chosen for you, so you have no say in what you get to wear.”

Priya also admitted that not knowing what her costume would be was “very stressful” and suggested some contestants were “disappointed” with their outfits. 

She went on to reveal contestants didn’t even know what song they’d be dancing to until right before, lamenting that she had hoped for a Rihanna number but that “what I got was far from it”. 

"I’ve got two left feet, so the challenge was a nightmare,” she recalled. “I was given some high heels that were too high for me and I couldn’t walk properly when I went out to the fire pit.”

She also claimed that she still hasn’t watched her routine back two years later on account of being “too embarrassed”, although she did say watching the boys dance was “a lot less stressful” as she “couldn’t stop laughing”. 

Express.co.uk has contacted ITV for comment. 

Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.