A former Love Island contestant from Co Down has opened up about losing 5kg while on the show due to strict eating and sleeping rules behind the scenes.
Downpatrick man Matthew MacNabb catapulted to fame on the hit reality show last year after arriving as a latecomer to the 2021 series.
But the fitness fanatic said he still managed to feel the wrath of the reality of living in the strict compound during his few weeks in the Spanish sun due to rigid eating schedules and sleep deprivation, the Irish Mirror reports.
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The 27-year-old told the Irish Daily Mirror : “It is the rigourness of it, the actual routine of it. When you watch the show you think it is just chill and lounging around but it is actually not.
“They tell you when to wake up and go to sleep, they tell you when to sleep. Everything is melodically laid out in terms of this is what you are doing throughout the day and it is just mad in that sense because you are not used to it.
“Even in school, you are not used to it to that extent, it is actually worse than school.”
In an effort to completely remove all sense of real life and reality for the contestants during the series, islanders are kept away from all clocks and watches so that they can never know what time it is.
But the marketing consultant turned reality TV star said he and his fellow islanders tried to crack the code themselves over the course of the series, and believe they were often kept up until 3am to film some of the more dramatic scenes.
He says they were often woken just a few hours later to begin filming again.
“You are woken up by a big bright light, the brightest light you will ever see, and that’s why everyone is wearing sunglasses.
“So it is like get up, put on your mics.”
The star noted that this often led to a drop in mood and energy within the group - which could have in turn led to some emotions and drama due to sleep deprivation.
“I was the most grumpy man in the world, and they were not getting me to talk to anyone. That’s why in the mornings I was always so quiet.
“We obviously don’t know timewise but we think most of the main chats and drama and stuff happens at around 3am.
“Obviously you are a bit more emotional when you are tired so it works for the show, I think there was one time we started to hear the birds chirping and it started getting bright.”
Noting other strict elements, including not being allowed to pack patterned clothing due to how they would pick up on camera, the training coach added: “They tell you when to eat essentially, in the afternoon you are allowed to snack, but you are not eating probably. I lost like 5kg, that’s a lot like.
"More [than Dancing with the Stars] It’s crazy. And just being out in the heat and stuff, like we would wake up, you don’t know what time it is but we would get lunch straight away.
“We were waking up essentially at lunchtime probably and then it was straight into Love Island stuff.”
The star insists he has no regrets about taking part in the show and added: “I’m proud that I went on Love Island and being associated with the show. I was a fan of the show before I watched it and even though I don’t look like the type of guy that does, I love to watch it and I will, so it is nice to still go back to it.”
Speaking at the official launch of Love Island 2022 with Virgin Media at House Dublin on Thursday ahead of the new season which will kick off on Monday, Matt also imparted some words of wisdom for new Irish star Dami Hope.
“Dami, just be yourself as much as possible because people can spot it straight away. I think it shines through on TV.”
But he said the Irish charm always goes down well on the show.
“I think it is just our culture, we are straight up and say what we mean.
“And English culture is very different to Irish culture, we stand out in that sense, because we are raised in that totally different environment and what we say and how we act is very down to earth and that comes across very well.”
Since starting on the show - Matt has gone on to become a well-known face on Irish screens, after finishing as a semi-finalist on RTE’s Dancing with the Stars.
And whilst he failed to find love when he set out to during his time in the villa, he managed to find a match on the dance floor in his professional partner Laura Nolan.
“Life has changed a lot since the island, I did Dancing with the Stars and I’ve got a girlfriend, which is strange for me like,” he added with a laugh.
Matt and Laura denied their romance for the duration of their time on the programme before going on to seal the deal by declaring their love for each other publicly with a kiss during their last dance.
Matt said they wanted to figure out where they were going first in private - but admitted he knew from the first day he met her they were a perfect pairing.
"It was on week one. I am a smooth operator when I want to be [laughs]. We got on instantly, we connected very well. One thing led to another for us."
“[our first kiss] was in the training studio for rehearsals. We were doing a dance move and I had it in my mind about what I was going to do.
“Basically, the way we wanted to do is that we wanted to keep it private because we didn't want to make it [the Dancing with the Stars journey] about us.
“We wanted to make it about being on the show and it would have been unfair on the other contestants. Also, I want to belittle the relationship in a way because I didn't know if it was going to work.
“Obviously the more time we spent together it changed and I think when I kissed her on the dancefloor, I was just like 'yes'.”
After months of speculation, the couple confirmed their romance with a kiss live on the dance floor during their dance off before being eliminated.
“The kiss was spur of the moment,” he insists.
“I was having the craic in the dance off, I was singing and dancing. At the end of it, she was just smiling at me and it was an emotional moment.
“The entire journey was emotional and at that point I was really thankful.”
Love Island starts on Monday, June 6 at 9pm.
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