The winter nights just got hotter as Love Island made a grand return to our screens. The winter edition of the ITV2 dating show made a comeback, three years after the programme last headed to South Africa for an extra series.
But fans admitted to feeling 'uneasy' as they were left unimpressed by a major change that became clear just seconds into the new series on Monday night (January 16). The opening episode saw Love Island's new host Maya Jama welcome viewers to the show from the stunning £1.2m villa.
And hinting at her own love life, the TV and radio presenter, 28, later told the 10 new contestants: "Don’t forget, finding your perfect match is never that simple – trust me, I know."
However, there was no time to waste as the islanders entered the villa. Kicking off the coupling was biomedical student Tanya Manhenga, who chose airport security officer Shaq Muhammad. Lana Jenkins, a make-up artist from Luton, chose to couple up with the show’s first visually impaired contestant, Ron Hall.
After coupling and recoupling a number of times, Kai Fagan, a PE and science teacher from Manchester, ended up with Tanyel Revan, a hairstylist from north London, Anna-May Robey, a payroll administrator from Swansea, was ultimately coupled with TV salesman Haris Namani, from Doncaster.
The two remaining islanders – actress Olivia Hawkins, who initially chose to couple up with Kai, and farmer and TikTok star Will Young – formed the final couple.
But fans couldn't help but comment on the fact that the boys were the first to arrive and make their entrances into the villa, with the girls entering one by one for the recoupling with the decision in their hands.
@acnehrry tweeted: "boys going first… feeling uneasy #LoveIsland." @Loveislechaos commented: "I hate that the boys are being introduced first, i feel like I’m being lied to, over here talking about 'I’m trying to find my wife' #LoveIsland." @arlened_ said: "Not the boys arriving first yuck. It’s giving patriarchy #LoveIsland."
@shewatchestrash posted: "It’s so jarring seeing the boys first #loveisland." @desnuif wrote: "Letting the men arrive first? Trash season #LoveIsland." @ilovechuggs typed "I dont like boys coming in first i dont want any of the girls to feel bad i like when the boys feel bad #loveisland." @alisonsmix added: "It’s really not sitting right with me bringing in the boys first! why are they making it like season 1 again! i cant deal #LoveIsland."
But @whxtebread said: "I like that they’re having the boys enter in first, letting the girls choose is a nice change of pace #LoveIsland." @theasophia_ shared: "It's weird seeing the boys in first, but I kinda like it #LoveIsland."
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