The first episode of the Winter edition of Love Island premiered last night with mixed reviews to the new host.
The ITV2 show returned to TV screens last night for a 90-minute special to introduce the islanders. Laura Whitmore also made her debut as the new host of the series, taking over from Caroline Flack who stepped down as presenter late last year.
Viewers were quick to voice their opinion online, and there have been mixed reactions to the Bray woman as the new host – some positive, some less so.
One fan tweeted:
“I really like Laura Whitmore. She’s a natural presenter. So cool that she gets to work on an amazing project with her boyfriend”.
https://twitter.com/lifewithbugo/status/1216471660519399424
@thewhitmore absolutely smashed her debut 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 #loveisland
— Jess Hanson (@JessHansonx) January 13, 2020
Laura Whitmore is doing a good job!! Here for it #LoveIsland
— snoochie shy (@snoochieshy) January 12, 2020
@thewhitmore I’ve been saying it for years – get Laura on the show! Ever since she hosted the after show on I’m a celeb 🙌🏻 killing it 💁🏼♀️ #loveisland
— Amanda Kilbride (@KilbrideAmanda) January 13, 2020
Loving @thewhitmore presenting @LoveIsland perfect presenter for it. So natural, confident and genuinely happy to be there. Canni wait for rest of series now. https://t.co/k5IS8nvxgj
— LJStewart ⚫ (@LornaJStewart) January 12, 2020
Others claimed that she was “nothing on Caroline Flack”, and blasted her for being “boring”.
sorry but Laura Whitmore is nothing on Caroline Flack
— Jo (@gallagherjordyn) January 12, 2020
Why does Laura Whitmore sound like shes presenting the weakest link??? #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/Ybae1UKgL8
— Reena (@_15reena) January 12, 2020
Someone else needs to host this she is brutal #laurawhitmore #loveisland
— Shadrias Dawson (@shadrias) January 12, 2020
Maya Jama was a popular contender for the presenter job with many maintaining that she should have gotten the gig.
https://twitter.com/emmamsutton/status/1216468432130052096
https://twitter.com/ohwattsoccuring/status/1216468341201735680
https://twitter.com/dan_reason/status/1216375024258600964
Boyfriend Iain Stirling, who does the voiceover for the series, showed his support for the Whitmore saying:
“To everyone who’s got in touch today about #loveisland tonight -the support really does man a lot. To be part of such a big show is such an honour. CONGRATULATIONS to the whole team and of course @thewhitmore who is fantastic on TONIGHTS (yes I did the voice) show x”
I here for Iain Stirling to be complimenting Laura Whitmore everytime we see her in a VT “Whit Woo more like” 😂😂🙌🏽#LoveIsland
— Tom (@Towarth) January 12, 2020
Amongst the islanders there was Lewis Capaldi’s ex-girlfriend, the alleged inspiration behind the smash hit Someone You Loved, along with Rochelle Humes’ sister Sophie Piper.
The episode ended with the arrival of twin sisters Eve and Jess Gale. Love Island returns tonight on ITV2 at 9pm.
(Header image: @thewhitmore on Instagram)
