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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jasmine Allday

Love Island's Liam Llewellyn slams ITV2 show for 'unjustified' editing of Luca

Liam Llewellyn has hit out at Love Island for "unjustified" editing of Luca Bish - as he defends the fishmonger.

The Masters Student quit the show just days into the villa after admitting he was struggling to be himself on the show, and in his first interview since leaving the villa, Liam has slammed producers for viewers seeing Luca in a different light.

Luca and some of the other boys had been hit by 'misogyny' and 'bullying' claims by viewers, but Liam insists Luca is different to how he's being portrayed on screen as he jumped in to defend Gemma Owen's partner.

Liam quit the show days into the new series (ITV)

Speaking to the MailOnline, he said: "I know Luca and what he's really like and it's nothing like as he's coming across.

"All of a sudden, the edit he's getting isn't quite justified. It is hard for me to sit here and watch that while the viewers are forming opinions whereas if you spent 10 minutes with him that would change."

He added: "Any opinion people have about the show I'm thinking you have no idea, I think if only you knew.

"You're seeing such a small segment they really don't know what's going on. It's a TV show, they have to make drama and turn something that's small into something big and the viewers get lost in all of that."

Liam has defended Luca over fan backlash towards him (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Liam also claimed he was "expected to do things for the show" and that he couldn't be himself. He confirmed the show is produced, and is "not all natural", as he detailed how he was asked to repeat things the camera had missed.

The Masters student explained he felt "overwhelmed" by his time on the show but eventually made the decision to depart the show himself after discussion with various executives.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the show said: "As anyone who watches the show regularly would know, Love Island is a combination of reality and produced elements that are reflective of what's happening in the villa, and is a fair and accurate representation of villa life. We have always been completely transparent about this and the way the show is made.

Liam was emotional as he told Islanders he'd be going (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"This is often acknowledged in the voice over by Iain Stirling. The opinions they have and the relationships formed are completely within the control of the Islanders themselves. As we have said since series one, Love Island is a combination of reality and produced elements."

ITV have said in the past they have strict procedures in place in regards to the welfare of their Islanders, both those in the villa now and those who have since departed the show.

The Love Island team offer all their Islanders support before, during and after filming. Ahead of the series, they were also offered video training as well as guidance on inclusive language around disability, sexuality, race and ethnicity, behaviours and microaggressions.

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