I almost turned Love Island down – that would have been utter madness – now I’m in a show I love
HE’S the guy with the smooth voice and the cheeky quips that add a smile and extra spice – if any more were needed – to TV’s Love Island.
But Edinburgh-born Iain Stirling has told iN10 of the day he suffered such a panic attack he had to dash off stage gasping for breath.
And how he’s forever grateful he didn’t follow his gut instinct and turn down the show that has made him one of the country’s hottest talents.
This is the fourth series of ITV2’s biggest-ever show. Caroline Flack presides over the daily dalliances of those seeking to “couple up” and walk off with a £50,000 prize, while Iain provides the witty voiceover.
Iain, 30, admits this is his golden time, with the TV series, sell-out shows and his first book on the way. It wasn’t always thus, with a recent corporate gig ending in disaster.
“It had never happened before, but I had a full-blown panic attack,” said Iain, speaking as he soaked up some sun at the Majorcan villa he calls home during Love Island’s run.
“I was late getting there and I’d been getting more and more stressed.
“The dancers who were meant to bring me on came backstage to get me but I couldn’t breathe or speak to tell them what was happening.
“They just thought I was nervous and got me on stage.
“I got someone up from the front row to tell a joke to buy me time, but I could barely speak and I had to say I was ill and walk off. It was brutal.”
Thankfully, it was a one-off and Iain’s star has been in the ascendency ever since.
Love Island has shot him to new levels of fame though, at first, he felt it wasn’t for him.
“It was so close to the Edinburgh Festival that I was going to say no because I couldn’t write or rehearse.
“But you do Edinburgh to get better and get known so you can do stand-up year-round and that’s what Love Island has let me do.
“So it was utter madness that I even thought of saying no and I’m eternally grateful to everyone who told me I had to do it.”
Iain’s wryly-observed voiceover has become one of the things that has made Love Island unmissable.
He sees a pretty much finished edit of that night’s episode each afternoon and, along with another writer, comes up with a script that gets honed then recorded.
It can be right on the edge and Iain admits he’s had some lines he thought were acceptable vetoed and others he reckoned he’d never get away make it on air.
Has it always been such a well-oiled machine?
“No way,” says Iain. “After two episodes of the first series the writer and myself were nearly sent home.
“The bosses had a conversation and told us it just wasn’t working.
“They thought they might just do away with the voice-over, thinking they didn’t need it.
“It wasn’t good. We didn’t know what we were doing and the editors didn’t know what they were doing.
“The music and the edit is so important for comedy timing and back in the day you’d get the wrong line in the wrong scene because they just didn’t care.
“Now everybody’s on board and it’s so much better.”
Such is the success of the show, it won a BAFTA last month, adding acclaim and recognition to the record-breaking viewing figures.
Iain, who hosted the star-studded ceremony along with Sue Perkins, has one regret about the evening – he missed out on getting a photo of himself with the award.
“I’m going to have to put a suit on, go along to ITV and get my hands on it to get my picture taken,” he jokes.
Not getting caught up in taking photos or sending texts, and just taking time to live in the moment, is something he has been trying to do.
His Scots-filmed CBBC show The Dog Ate My Homework – which also won a BAFTA – is a perfect example.
“When we have the wrap party I go down to the set that’s always been half taken down and have a few minutes to myself and reflect on it.
“I just try and take it all in. Though maybe having a drink on a children’s TV show isn’t that appropriate!”
Iain was studying law in Edinburgh when TV bosses first approached him.
The temptation was to abandon his studies and head straight for potential fame and fortune.
“I’m quite proud that I didn’t. I was in the library studying for my final exams when I got the call asking me to move to London for this kids’ TV thing.
“I’m amazed I didn’t just jump on a plane, but I told them I wanted to finish my degree first. Luckily, they waited a few months.
“It’s something I’d like to get back into, although I wouldn’t trust myself to represent anyone as a lawyer.
“So maybe as a lecturer – there’s always that thing of having an audience facing you.”
Iain’s had plenty of that on his
U OK Hun? x tour. It has been extended with 24 shows added from September to December, bringing the total to 75.
It includes Falkirk, Edinburgh and Arbroath dates on September 19, 20 and 21 and the Scots appearances will be after a three-night Edinburgh Fringe run from August 22, just as his first book, Not Ready To Adult Yet, is published.
“I was reading articles about my generation being entitled, workshy and mollycoddled. We’re seemingly struggling to adapt to adult life more than any generation before and I was interested as to why that was.
“It’s probably the proudest I’ve been of anything I’ve done as I didn’t think I had it in me.”
Iain is now coupled up himself as he’s dating TV presenter and former Strictly contestant Laura Whitmore.
With both busy with thriving careers, Iain says they need to find the time to make it work.
“Both the personal life and the work life are good, it’s just about finding the right balance.
“It’s difficult but I’m very happy. We actually have quite similar schedules, so it is very doable.
“I like to think we see as much of each other as any couple. And we’ve both being doing this for so long that it’s the world we’re used to.”
Meanwhile, it’s the Love Island couples we all have an opinion on.
So, with the best insider’s seat in the house, what’s Iain’s?
“I’m quite impressed by them. They make a television show I like.
“Although I do get annoyed and frustrated when people take things personally.
“There are people in there whose behaviour I sometimes don’t like, but it makes a good TV show.”
Love Island, ITV2, nightly, 9pm. Tickets for Iain’s shows at iaindoesjokes.com