Love Island fans have claimed they were left 'in shock' minutes before the second episode of the new series came to end. The hit ITV2 dating show returned to screens on Monday (January 16) with a brand new host at the helm.
Maya Jama has taken over the role from former presenter Laura Whitmore who announced her decision to leave the show back in August following the conclusion of the eighth series. But 28-year-old Maya was soon announced as her replacement and jetted off to South Africa to welcome a bunch of new singletons hoping to find love.
The ninth run, which is only the second-ever winter series, started with viewers being introduced to the 10 new islanders which include a James Bond actress, a farmer, and the show’s first partially blind contestant all entering the new plush villa that boasts an Olympic-sized swimming pool and new treehouse.
READ MORE: ITV Love Island fans know who's going to leave first after dumping confirmed
But as fans of the show know, there's always a bombshell ready to go and the first, Tom Clare, arrived on Monday night. During Tuesday night's trip to South Africa, viewers got to see the Islanders wake up for their first proper day in their new £1.2m abode and footballer Tom making sure he got a chat with all of the girls before making a decision on who he wanted to couple up with.
Before revealing his choice, Tom said: "Its been a very tough decision for me and what’s made it so hard is that all the girls have such different personalities and I find them all attractive. It’s been a very tough decision.
"But I’ve decided to couple up with this girl because I definitely think she’ll keep me on my toes, I think she’s absolutely stunning and I know it’s only early days but I do genuinely think there’s probably something there with this girl." He then added: "The girl I’d like to couple up with is Olivia."
Tom’s decision has left actress Olivia’s former partner Will, a farmer and TikTok star, vulnerable to dumping. Will, 23, later received a text which informed the islanders of an upcoming dumping.
The text said: "Will you are now single, at the end of the week all islanders will take part in a recoupling, the islander not picked to be in a couple will be dumped from the island." To shake things up further, viewers were told to expect two new bombshells in Wednesday evening's episode.
But despite the double announcement of a dumping and two new arrivals, Love Island fans were distracted by the show's huge change. They praied ITV for not leaving the re-coupling on a cliffhanger - a pet hate among fans - despite expecting it in the lead up to Tom's decision.
@Carlyellisx cheered: "NO CLIFFHANGER THEY’VE OUTDONE THEMSELVES THIS YEAR #LoveIsland." @burnt_macarons tweeted: "Me shocked and proud love island actually didn’t leave us on a cliffhanger #LoveIsland." @allycakesxo said: "Love island NOT ending on a cliffhanger??? I’m in shock hopefully they keep this up #LoveIsland."
@tferry472 asked: "No cliffhanger!?? Is ITV ok? #LoveIsland." @thom_ahs echoed: "No cliffhanger for once???? Is this the same show???? #LoveIsland." @loveisl4nds posted: Big round of applause to the producers of love island for not leaving the episode on a cliffhanger #LoveIsland." @okaywendyy added: "Wow no cliffhanger nice! Lets keep it like that cause I promise you we’ll be back tomorrow! #LoveIsland."
READ NEXT:
- ITV I'm A Celeb star responds as new Love Island contestant is dubbed his 'ringer' - while others say he looks like Zac Efron
- ITV Love Island viewers make same claim about Maya Jama in sly dig at Laura Whitmore
- ITV Love Island fans say Kai is 'lying' as they're convinced he's a former islander 'reincarnated'
- Stacey Solomon 'sheds tear' as she takes son's hair home from first big haircut - and fans notice his double
- ITV Love Island spot tell-tale clue as to which islander is going to have 'terrible time' in the villa
