Remember when Love Island used to be, well, fun? The sceptics among you are probably rolling your eyes and denying it ever was. Given the dark headlines that have surrounded the show in recent years and sombre subsequent attempts to make the production’s welfare watertight, I can understand the unease. But once upon a time, Love Island really was top-tier entertainment, appointment television filled with bright, chaotically messy characters and love stories for the ages – or, failing that, the next three to six months.
But while a sick compulsion has kept me tuning into ITV2’s dating show year on year, I’ve found this year’s viewing experience far bleaker than that of previous seasons. Love Island has always promised high octane drama and silly challenges, yet the cast of 2026 have been more prone to tearful breakdowns over broken hearts and backstabbing, all resulting in a group of beautiful finalists with supremely damaged egos. Four couples are heading into the final episode tonight (although a last-minute twist means one more will be eliminated before the public vote), and tensions are still high. The couples feel weak, and the friendships just as fractious. How on earth did we get here?
