'I nearly won Love Island- it's changed a lot in 7 years and not for the better'

Daily Mirror

17 hours ago

Former Love Island star Wes Nelson has revealed the major changes on the show he has noticed since his stint in 2018 and offered future islanders his biggest bit of advice
Love Island is well under way and the drama is already unfolding in season 12 of the hit ITV2 dating show. However, one former contestant admits the show just isn't what it used to be.
Wes Nelson, 27, rose to fame after entering the Mallorcan villa looking for love in 2018. The Stoke native made it to the final with Megan Barton-Hanson, having initially coupling up with Laura Anderson.
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But he's confessed a lot has changed since his time on the show, and it's not all been for the better. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Wes admitted he doesn't watch the show these days, but does keep up to date with the drama on social media.
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Speaking of the show's changes since his days, he claimed: "I think when we went on it, it wasn't like a business move. Sometimes you got business from it, and you potentially open doors to a lot of things...
"But then sometimes I feel like people are going on it now with every intention of doing business, which is natural and understandable, considering how many people have come off and done well. So, I think that the main difference is now, is it's like people care a bit more. I don't think we cared that much when we were in there. It was very silly, very silly."
He also joked that the way people are devastated at leaving in recent series has proven to be a big difference over the years. "People are leaving now," he said, "like we were upset when people would leave and this, that and the other, but people wouldn't go absolutely bonkers. It was a giggle. It was a case of 'that was good fun. Let's go home.'"
Offering his own advice to the current islanders, he insisted the best tactic is to be authentic. "One thing that I will credit myself for is that I've never strayed from who I was or my morals," Wes continued.
"And with that, I feel like it's not been exhausting to keep up a character, because it's just been myself, whereas a lot of people can find it difficult to keep up a character and a persona. It's been like nearly eight years now, so it's, it's a long time, but I feel quite happy with it."
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The Abracadabra singer revealed he has kept in contact with a number of his fellow islanders, saying they are now "closer than ever". He described how he regularly has golf days with Josh Denzel before joking he has "corrupted" Jack into starting up the sport too.
Following Love Island, Wes has forged a hugely successful music career, which he He has collaborated with a number of big hitters in the industry, including Clean Bandit and Craig David.
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And his latest collaboration came with Lipton for their Kombucha launch. Speaking to us from his studio, explained the quirky linkup and catchy tune he created for the product, before revealing his dream musical matchup.
" Justin Bieber," he confessed. "He hasn't released a lot of songs in recent years," Wes went on before joking: "I know he's working on other bits, but if he hears this, it's little Wes Nelson a bloke from Stoke - give me a shot!"
As well as his recent special performance with Lipton at Battersea Power Station on Friday, Wes has a busy summer ahead. He has a number of European performances lined up, and is also planning a tour at the end of the year.