Love Island viewers have been left divided as some claimed the series opener had been 'ruined' by a format change that was likened to another reality TV show. The hit ITV2 dating show returned to scenes on Monday night (June 5) with host Maya Jama welcoming a fresh bunch of singletons into the villa.
The launch episode of the 10th series, which comes a mere couple of months after the second-ever winter series came to an end, saw a number of dramatic twists, with the new islanders firstly left confused as the boys and girls arrived at the same time and the public had already voted for who they wanted to see coupled up initially.
Beautician Ruchee Gurung, 24, from Sutton, Surrey, and Jess Harding, 22, an aesthetics practitioner from London, were the first islanders to make their entrance and were shocked when they were joined by gas engineer Mitchel Taylor, 26, from Sheffield.
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Model Ella Thomas, 23, from Glasgow, and business owner Andre Furtado, 21, from Dudley but born in Portugal, were next in the villa. The contestants’ confusion was eased by host Maya Jama, who broke the news: "None of you guys will be coupling up with each other as that decision has already been made by the public."
Jess was the first to be matched up, with business development executive George Fensom, 24, from Bedford, who admitted he was “very happy” as she was his “type on paper”. However, Jess later admitted she was more interested in “bad boy” types and said she was planning to get to know everyone initially.
There were also mixed feelings between communications manager Mehdi Edno, 26, from Bordeaux in France, after he was paired up with Ruchee. Mehdi told her he “really liked her vibe and qualities” while Ruchee later admitted in the beach hut that he was not her type but said he was growing on her.
Musical theatre performer Molly Marsh, 21, from Doncaster, and Mitchel had more luck as they immediately seemed to hit it off, with them both confessing that they were each other’s top picks.
As they got to know each other in private, Mitchel did not hold back on the flirtation as he told her his type, saying: “I’m really picky, for starters the name has got to be Molly.” While estate agent Catherine Agbaje, 22, from Dublin, and Andre also both revealed they were initially drawn to each other.
However, when semi-professional footballer Tyrique Hyde and Ella were first paired up, things got awkward at the beginning as she told him they had previously met on a night out in London, to which he said he did not remember her. They later revisited the discussion in private where Tyrique said he did recall meeting her, putting his lack of recognition down to her hair now being a different colour.
Later in the evening, as the new pairings were getting to know each other, the singletons were given another surprise as the girls were dared to reveal if they were unhappy with their partner – with two stepping forward. And to further raise tensions, Maya announced a new bombshell would be joining them – personal trainer and basketball player Zachariah Noble, 25, from south-east London.
But the format change didn't sit well with Love Island viewers who demanded to see the return of the boys or girls choosing who they wanted to couple up with. And some claimed it reminded them on Netflix show Too Hot To Handle.
One said: "This public coupling should have stayed with the winter season #LoveIsland." A second shared: "The public voting for who matches really ruins it for me idk." A viewer argued: "I don’t hate the idea of voting but they fact that it’s so predictable ruins it #LoveIsland." A fourth begged: "Please bring back the original way of the first coupling up. Already bored of this version."
A fan cried: "What’s going on. A guy. Is this too hot to handle?? #LoveIsland." Another added: "Not into this new format. Do the spontaneous coupling again #LoveIsland." However, a viewer also shared: "This is giving Too Hoo To Handle entrance, here for the mix up #loveisland."
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