Love Island star Jess Gale was told by producers to pursue a romance with Mike Boateng after they warned she had no chance of winning with ex-partner Luke M.

Bosses urged the twin to ditch Luke M, 24, in a bid to create drama ahead of Cape Town Casa Amor, resulting in brutal scenes for the Justin Bieber lookalike – and has resulted in trolls sending terrifying death threats to Jess, 20.

Insiders revealed to MailOnline: 'Producers are very keen on Mike and love what he brings to the villa – after he was dumped by Leanne they did everything in their power to guarantee his place in the competition.'

Setup?: Love Island star Jess Gale was told by producers to pursue a romance with Mike Boateng after they warned she had no chance of winning with ex-partner Luke M

A source continued: 'Producers saw an opportunity with Mike after Leanne was booted off the show, they wanted to build him up as a character and cause problems for Jess and Luke.

'Bosses told Jess to lean towards Mike and warned her she had no chance of winning in a couple with Luke M.

'They wanted Mike and Jess to be in a couple so they could be tested in Casa Amor, causing further drama for the Islanders.'

A Love Island spokeswoman said: 'The opinions the Islanders have, decisions they make and the relationships formed are completely within the control of the Islanders themselves.'

'That's savage': Bosses urged Jess to ditch Luke M in a bid to create drama in the villa ahead of Cape Town Casa Amor, resulting in brutal scenes for the Justin Bieber lookalike

On Sunday's episode of Love Island Jess ended her fling with Luke M before quickly sealing the deal with Mike, who had been chasing her for a number of days.

Mike's sudden interest in Jess came 24 hours after he was rejected by original partner Leanne Amaning, 22, which put him at risk in the villa.

The panicked ex-policeman, who's been branded a 'player' by his fellow Islanders, even attempted to instigate a romance with Sophie Piper, 21, before producers stepped in with a better plan.

He was saved after the boys were put in control of choosing who they wanted to couple up, giving him enough time in a friendship pairing with now-dumped Islander Sophie to pursue Jess.

Dumped: On Sunday's episode of Love Island Jess ended her fling with Luke M before quickly sealing the deal with Mike, who had been chasing her for a number of days

The twin gave Luke M the push by kissing Mike in front of him and the rest of the Islanders during a game of Snog, Marry, Pie.

Their kiss has sparked an onslaught of abuse from trolls who've sent Jess a barrage of horrifying insults and death threats.

Eve, who was previously dumped from Love Island, revealed her sister has been branded a 'sly, ugly, fat c***' and in one disturbing message was told to 'go die in a fire.'

She shared on her Instagram story on Sunday night: 'Although someone can appear to have themselves together you don't know what they are going through behind closed doors.

'Abuse like this can destroy a person. THINK BEFORE YOU TYPE.

'And these are the same people who would post about mental health and write RIP posts if anyone in the limelight was to commit suicide.

'Honestly it's disgusting. My sister has been sent 100s of death threats and abuse and it actually makes me sick. why are people so damn weird and nasty.'

'Kissing Mike, kill yourself in a fire': Jess' snog with Mike has sparked an onslaught of abuse from trolls who've sent her a barrage of horrifying insults and death threats

'It's disgusting': Jess' twin sister Eve shared the abuse on her Instagram story and warned users to 'think before you type' after reading 100s of cruel messages

Safe: An insider told MailOnline: 'Producers saw an opportunity with Mike after Leanne was booted off, they wanted to build him up as a character and cause problems for Jess and Luke'

Mike, who last night claimed he would leave the Love Island villa if Jess was dumped, is set to be tested by the arrival of six new single beauties at Cape Town Casa Amor.

Rochelle Humes' sister Sophie, who was dumped by her Islanders, said of Mike's game playing: 'I was so confused.

Callum said to me that Mike was weighing me up as an option, I was like "Are you actually winding me up?"

'From the get go, I was just friends with Mike and it wouldn't have changed.

'To hear him say that he wanted to get to know me, there was a question there whether he was playing a game.

'It was very awkward when he picked to recouple with me over Leanne.

'I feel like in his mind, he didn't want to go backwards. Picking her, he felt he would have been going back.'