‘They love me taking the mick’
LOVE Island’s narrator has insisted the contestants are desperate for him to make fun of them.
Comic Iain Stirling is famed for mocking the islanders and his witty commentary is a hit with viewers.
But in an exclusive chat, he said: “Most of the ones I meet take it in good spirits. Especially now the voiceover is a better-known part of the show.
“They know it is part and parcel of doing it. They actually look forward to it. They say, ‘I wonder what the voiceover guy will say about me.’
“If anyone is genuinely upset we try to leave it alone. I’ll use my Newsround voice if someone is sad.
“If something horrible has happened I won’t make any jokes. I just let it play out. And I would never make fun of someone because of their appearance – that’s not our vibe on the show.”
There is just one contestant Iain reckons won’t be happy – Muggy Mike Thalassitis, who was involved in plenty of drama while in the villa.
Iain added: “I do wonder what Mike would think of the stuff I said about him. I don’t know if he’d want to be in a room with me.”
Scottish Iain’s hilarious voiceover every night has helped Love Island become a ratings sensation for ITV2.
He said: “As a team we tried to take a unique point of view with this show.
“I’d not seen much reality TV before I started on Love Island which was great because it meant I didn’t have any pre-existing ideas of what I should do.
“It’s progressed quite naturally. The hope is we’re doing something unique.”
The show has boosted Iain’s profile and next year he is headlining a standup tour called U OK HUN?
But many of Love Island’s two million viewers still have no idea what he looks like. He said: “I like the idea that if I don’t say anything I can get on with my day and not be disturbed. “I’ll put on a French accent when I’m back home. I’ll be able to buy a Greggs and not be recognised!”
To see Iain on tour and for details about his Edinburgh Festival Fringe show visit iaindoesjokes.com.