LOVE ISLAND narrator Iain Stirling told how working on the show taught him some important lessons about dating, but admitted that he would never step into the villa himself.
The Scottish comedian, 29, credited the hit ITV2 dating show with boosting his career and described it as a “genuinely fascinating” project to be a part of.
Looking back over his work on the show’s recently aired second season, he told the Press Association: “The one thing I took from it, that I’m really bad for in real life, was when Camilla Thurlow spoke about the importance of getting to know someone before you start declaring your undying love.
We think a HUGE round of applause is in order for Jamie and Camilla, our fabulous runners-up! ??? #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/7aCt8omgQW
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) July 24, 2017
“I find myself really falling for someone, then realising about two months later that we don’t actually fundamentally get along.
“When she pointed it out on the show I thought, “Bloody hell, that’s really insightful”.
“I think the show is a genuinely fascinating look into the human condition; you watch people go through the first two years of a relationship accelerated into six weeks, it’s mad.”
But asked if he would fancy being matched up on the show himself, he said: “Not in a million years, not a chance, no way.
“I’ve not got the patience for it, the personality for it, I don’t think I’ve got anything for it. But I wouldn’t mind the bit about going on TV in just my pants.”
He added that he rarely watches the fully edited episodes when they are broadcast on television, because he already watches each show four or five times to come up with his quip-filled voiceover scripts.
Iain Stirling's sold out his entire run, so we've added two big EXTRA SHOWS, 11th & 12th, 23:15, Pleasance Grand!https://t.co/2gO9jt377L pic.twitter.com/N6taVvTjRp
— Pleasance Comedy (@PleasanceComedy) August 3, 2017
His comments came as he prepares for his next big job, performing his stand-up show U Ok Hun? X at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He has added extra dates to the show after quickly selling out tickets.
“Love Island has changed my career massively – it’s the main reason anyone comes to see me on stage,” he said.
“Two months ago I had 16,000 followers on Instagram and I’ve now got nearly 90,000.
“It’s quite useful for the shows because I think most people who have heard me on Love Island think I’m a fat, 40-year-old father-of-three and then when they see me in the flesh they are pleasantly surprised, which takes some of the pressure off.”
Thanks so much for all the support. Excited to announce I've added 2 extra dates @ThePleasance @edfringe YES MAAATE! https://t.co/CO0cX1VntQ pic.twitter.com/OSQYum1J5U
— Iain Stirling (@IainDoesJokes) August 3, 2017
The show, which he will take on a 30-date UK tour next year, will see him discuss this thoughts on “dinner party etiquette, feminism and the pressures on a generation brought up in a world of instant gratification”.
Giving an example of the debate that arose when Piers Morgan criticised Harry Potter actor and gender equality campaigner Emma Watson for doing a “scantily clad” Vanity Fair photo shoot, he said: “What entitlement does a white male think they have to give an opinion without acknowledgement of their own privileges? It’s blowing my mind.
“It’s all about the idea of feminism being used as a tool to knock each other down rather than support each other…and I also talk about my penis a lot.”
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