Love Island fans 'swear off dating' after male contestant makes controversial 'talking stage' comment

It returned to our screens less than 24 hours ago, and already, the 2024 instalment of Love Island has set viewers' tongues wagging.

The premiere aired last night (3 June) after much anticipation, with 12 fresh-faced love-hungry islanders strutting into the villa in the hope of bagging 'the one' - not to mention the £50k cash prize...

As well as discussing which contestants are best suited to one another, viewers were also left in shock following several comments that this year's islanders made.

Minutes into the debut episode, viewers picked up on something about the age of one of this year's islanders.

We are, of course, talking about South Wales rugby player Ciaran Davies, who revealed to his fellow islanders that he's only 21 years old after strutting into the villa, making him the youngest in the group.

And the news certainly came as a shock to fellow Welshie, Nicole Samuel, who had to check she'd heard him right.

Love Island viewers at home were left equally as blown away, however.

One took to social media to tweet: "CIARAN IS 21 #LoveIsland."

Someone else went on: "21? And you are ready to settle down?"

While a third added: "Why are you on love island at 21… these people didn’t even try."

Another moment which also caused quite a stir saw the islanders discussing their dating history.

Viewers couldn't believe Ciaran Davies was only 21. (ITV)

After Ciaran asked his co-stars to open up on how long their last relationship lasted, Nicole firstly revealed she's been single for two years, with her last romance having been four years long.

Ciaran then shocked his co-stars, claiming his lengthiest relationship was only lasted for 'eight or nine months', and that he'd been single for a year-and-a-half.

"That doesn't really count, though, does it?" he went on to jibe, however.

"I think she'll [the ex-girlfriend] think it does!" Manchester-born Jess White hit back.

Sheffield hairdresser Sam Taylor then left viewers at home utterly astounded by exclaiming: "Nah! Less than a year doesn't count! That's still a talking stage!"

"Eight months, a talking stage?" a horrified Jess replied.

Sam Taylor made some rather controversial comments about dating. (ITV)

And by the looks of things, she wasn't the only mortified dater, with many viewers watching at home claiming the islanders' comments had them swearing off dating altogether.

"8 months is a talking stage… look at the dating market… how shambolic… #LoveIsland," one penned on social media.

Another went on: "'Anything less than a year is just a talking stage'…yeahhh after god fear men #LoveIsland."

"8 MONTHS IS STILL THE TALKING STAGE????????? #LoveIsland," added a third.

Someone else went on: "8 months don’t count, that’s still a talking stage."

While a final user penned: "8 months is a talking stage? I expect to be a wife by then #LoveIsland."