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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

ITV Love Island fans 'disappointed' as Iain Stirling announces massive show change ahead of 'sexy' series

He's the voice Love Island viewers have come to very much appreciate over the years thanks to his expert - and hilarious - narration of everything that is going on the famous villa. And now Iain Stirling's revealed a massive change is being made to the ITV2 dating series.

Love Island is set to return to screens in a matter of days, on Monday, June 6, and this year's line-up of singletons - including Michael Owen's daughter and the first deaf contestant - has already been revealed. But the power the Islanders have to choose who they want to couple up with has been taken away.

Speaking to Christine Lampard on ITV's Lorraine as she filled in for Lorraine Kelly, comedian Iain Stirling, who is married to the show's host Laura Whitmore, revealed the plot twist for the eighth series, saying: "I’m coming at you now with a big fat exclusive. We’re mixing things up this year I can tell you.

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"This year, for the first year ever, we want you guys at home to play Cupid, and you will have your say which boy couples up with which girl. All you have to do is go over to the Love Island app right now and decide who you want to couple up with who.

"The poll is live right now, and the poll will close again tomorrow morning at 9am. It’s a fantastic poll, where you get to decide who’s being coupled up with who."

Responding to Iain, Christine asked: "So we hold all the power for this week at least?” to which he replied: "I feel like the viewers at home, yeah, you get to look at all the Islanders, get a vibe, see who you think suits who, or maybe who isn’t suited to who and put them together and we can watch the fireworks fly."

The 34-year-old presenter and comedian also suggested that the upcoming series would be the most “sexy” series yet. He remarked: "It’s sexy. Look at me, I’ve even got a white shirt on – I’m sexy this year, it’s unbelievable.

The 2022 Love Island contestants (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"I’d nearly undone this button but I was told I wasn’t allowed to, it was too early in the morning," he added as presenter Christine could be heard giggling.

Love Island also confirmed the news of its major shake-up on social media. A post on the show's official Facebook said: "For the first time ever, you get to have your say on who couples up on Day 1! Head to the app to play matchmaker and pick which boy you think should couple up with each girl. The polls will close at 9am Saturday." It also went on to reveal one Islander isn't included. It said: "Davide is not included in the polls."

But fans aren't all happy about it. Polly Welsh said: "Noooo the first couple up is always brutal. 'm sooo disappointed with this!" Josh Lowe wrote: "What’s the point? Stop changing things that don’t need to be changed.. keep it simple, they couple up, we vote out.."

@CardwellA92 commented: "But.. We literally have no idea who these people are. This would have made sense on day 2/3 to ruffle feathers." @JohnRowely shared: "Why are they doing this? The original format of them deciding is way better. So we put together a bunch of people who don't even want to be with their partners."

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