Brian Cox takes on role of Adam Smith in new show set for Fringe
It was the banking disaster that brought an old Scottish institution to its knees and sent shockwaves around the globe in the worst financial collapse of modern times. Now actor Brian Cox has set his sights on tormenting the man responsible for it.
The Dundee-born star, who played fearsome media tycoon bully Logan Roy in TV hit Succession, is returning to Scotland for his scariest role in decades – as a ghost of one of the country's most famous sons. And Fred 'The Shred' Goodwin is his target.
Cox plays the spectre of Adam Smith, known as the father of modern economics, returning from beyond his 18th century grave to haunt Goodwin, who became one of the most reviled figures in modern Scottish history after his role in the collapse of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Smith was a key figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, when Edinburgh became a centre of modern philosophy, elevating figures like him, David Hume and James Hutton and their progressive view of civilisation on to the world stage and into history.
And for the 79-year-old actor, haunting the shamed banker from beyond the grave is the theatre role of a lifetime. Cox, who suggested he played the part of Smith himself, said: ' Fred Goodwin was unbelievably self-serving with his singularity of purpose. He certainly wasn't serving his community.
'This guy said he was a follower of Adam Smith but he got it all wrong. Smith wrote two books, The Theory of Moral Sentiments and then The Wealth of Nations, which was all about how wealth is distributed and who it is distributed to.
'When people think about Adam Smith now, they often think it was all about economics. But it was also about moral welfare. And the reason Goodwin got it all wrong was because he only followed only the second book. He didn't see the books in relation to one another. And the degree of selfishness that Goodwin pursued almost destroyed the RBS.'
Cox plays the ghost of the celebrated thinker in a new tragi-comedy by award-winning writer James Graham, opposite Sandy Grierson as the banker responsible for the financial cataclysm.
Dubbed Make it Happen, the National Theatre of Scotland production opened on Friday in the actor's home town of Dundee, and transfers to Edinburgh for the International Festival next month.
Cox said: 'It's 16 years since 2008 so there's enough time passed now to tell the story. It deals with Fred's election right through to his demise. James Graham's script is pure satire. It's brilliant.
'Adam Smith has been summoned as a spirit because Goodwin has made such a mess of things. He's been summoned up because he's the guy who holds the truth. It's told in an original way and it's very funny. Smith came from Kirkcaldy and he can't believe the town produced a prime minister in Gordon Brown.
'It shows the folly of human nature, how we simply don't progress, and how greed is such a curse of who we are. Always wanting more.' The impact of the so-called economic downturn of 2008 can still be felt today after Brown's government pumped £45billion into the stricken bank, recovering only £35billion since. Goodwin had his knighthood removed but retained his £700,000 pension.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Playwright Graham describes watching the role of then-chancellor Alistair Darling with PM Brown as 'a huge Shakespearean rise and fall'. He said: 'It has always amazed me that there hasn't really been any change in society's model after 2008. We just limped on with the same structures. I wanted to examine that.'
Cox moved to London from the US with his wife Nicole earlier this year but still gets emotional when talking about his home city. Despite major cultural successes such as Dundee Rep, the V&A Museum and Dundee Centre for Contemporary Arts, the city has suffered a rise in social problems, mainly linked to addiction.
Last year a national report revealed a 92 per cent rise in drug-related deaths since 2013. Cox said: 'I've been critical about what's going on in Dundee and I can't keep my mouth shut about it. It goes back to the social engineering decades ago when they moved people out of the cities.
'They did it in Glasgow then they did it in Dundee. You lived with your neighbour for 40 years and then they moved you out and made sure those neighbours didn't live together again.
'A city is the people and when you move them into the outskirts it leads to drug addiction then criminality because that's what happens when there aren't enough community elements in place.'
Cox has held the Tayside city close, filming BBC Scotland comedy Bob Servant there in the 2010s. He even shot an episode of Succession in the city but admits he was annoyed when Logan Roy's background was changed mid-series.
He said: 'I always said he could be Scottish but they insisted American. For nine episodes he was from the States, and from the first episode we were celebrating his birthday and he gave a speech saying he had come from Quebec, which is obviously Canada, not the US.
'Then in the ninth episode of the first series, they suddenly tell me Logan's from Dundee. I was really angry about that. I went up to Jessie and asked him what was going on and he said, 'We thought it would be a little surprise.' Well it was a hell of a surprise.
'I've been playing the part in one direction and then in the ninth episode I'm suddenly a Dundonian. The thinking was that he left Dundee when he was three or four, as part of the transport of kids who went from Scotland to Canada at the start of the war. I accepted that. But it was ridiculous.'
Cox is breaking unfamiliar ground with Make It Happen, testing his range in singing. "I have a duet with Sandy Grierson, apparently,' he said. 'I used to sing when I was younger, and my son is a very good singer but I got nervous about it when the acting all kicked off. I would have liked to have sung earlier on.'
● Make It Happen is at Dundee Rep until July 26 then at Edinburgh Festival Theatre from July 30 to August 9.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Scottish filmmakers at ‘breaking point' amid lack of support
The spin is that these Hollywood movies prove the film industry in Scotland is thriving – but this is fiercely disputed by independent filmmakers who work in the sector and are having to crowdfund to support their work. They claim that rather than supporting and encouraging homegrown talent, too much public money is being spent on attracting big-budget films that do nothing to foster skills and creativity in the Scottish sector. READ MORE: Police remove pro-Palestine protesters from John Swinney's Edinburgh Fringe show The Sunday National spoke to Scottish independent filmmakers about the problem. Award-winning writer, director and producer Fraser Coull (below) has a proven track record in film and TV but says he is at 'breaking point'. His new short film, Faithful, is currently showing on STV Player and was screened at the San Diego Comic Con last week but he could not afford to attend to promote it further. He was awarded £777 from Creative Scotland to go to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival this year, but said he had to 'jump through hoops' to get it. Otherwise, he says, he has been 'banging his head against the wall' of Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland, formerly Scottish Screen, for 20 years. 'They did put a little bit of money into a short film I did, but when it comes to proper development funding – which I need to live and which I need to hire people and to develop longer, bigger projects – they just keep saying 'no',' he said. 'They keep saying I'm not experienced enough, but I've been doing this for 20 years, and I've had an award-winning web series, an award-winning short film, a documentary on BBC Alba and my feature film opened at the Glasgow Film Festival in 2012. 'I've done everything, but I'm genuinely at breaking point in terms of my career. I don't know what to do next. 'I've been crowdfunding since 2013 successfully but I can't crowdfund anymore because I can't keep going back to the same people for money so I can pay my cast and crew minimum wage.' Although '99.9%' of the crew live in Scotland and it's Coull's Scottish production company that produced Faithful, he was turned down for Creative Scotland funding because director Lucy Linger is from England. Sandy Henderson and Ian Gordon of SquareGo Films were refused Scottish Screen funding to travel to Cannes to promote their new Scottish/Gaelic film, The Gudeman, about the Highland Clearances, which features stunning Scottish scenery (below). An application was made in March but they were told just 11 days before the festival that they had been unsuccessful. They'd already found cheap accommodation, so decided to go anyway and were rewarded by interest from a major distributor. 'One reason I was given for the refusal of the travel grant was that they give priority to projects that have already received Screen Scotland funding, which is a bit of a chicken and egg situation,' said Gordon. 'Prior to our trip to Cannes, they were quite helpful with tailored advice, and I appreciate that they took the time to help and show interest, but I never felt that there was a pathway for ongoing help.' SquareGo Films relies on crowdfunding to develop its films, but says it is not sustainable. 'We are credible propositions – we have a good foundation and a good level of experience, but we find it almost impossible to get funding,' said Gordon. 'You can't make films with their support unless you've done it before with them. But how do you get the start?' Henderson added: 'It pains me when they constantly harp on about the Scottish film industry. There isn't a Scottish film industry – there's a bunch of people struggling while they work full-time jobs. And then there's Hollywood.' Robbie Davidson, also of SquareGo Films, has had to crowdfund twice to make his movie Dick Dynamite 1944, which was lauded in the UK Parliament because it involved a whole community in its production. He said he had approached Screen Scotland and Creative Scotland at various points but got nowhere, even though it is 'very much a Scottish production'. 'Once the film was completed, I did manage to get my foot in the door and speak to someone, but it became very apparent very quickly that they were in no space to help me with my needs,' he said. 'I was passed from department to department – it almost felt as if it was intentional to put you off. 'It seems like the funding is either for people who already have money or already have awards.' He added: 'It just feels like there's zero help for people on our level. It feels like they're only going to help English and American movies when they come. 'Ian and Sandy have been to Cannes and took it by storm. I've been to Hollywood and have sold out showings all over the world, yet we're all working other jobs to make a living.' Mark Forbes, an independent filmmaker from Aberdeen who has been making award-winning films for 26 years, with five of them shown at 90 film festivals worldwide, was recently turned down for travel grants from both the British Council Film and Creative Scotland. He wanted to attend the Galway Film Fleadh where his latest feature film documentary, Quiet On Set: The Class Division In The Film Industry? was receiving its world premiere, before being screened at West Lothian Film Festival. 'It's always been a battle with Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland,' said Forbes, who is currently based in London and has to take on zero-hours contract jobs outside the industry to support himself. 'I keep winning awards and getting into festivals so the lack of support from my own country is disappointing and frustrating. I do think there's a class ceiling, which is why the film that I made now is starting to get traction. 'I've got three feature films under my belt, but I'm having to film my fourth feature by myself again. I've been rejected a lot. Unless it fits their agenda, you don't get support. It's really sad. They seem to have a hidden agenda or tick box about who they want to support.' Forbes believes the film industry in Scotland is in limbo while the sector in places like the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland thrives. 'There's definitely an excitement in Ireland for making films,' he said. 'There's a real buzz about it, so why can't it be like that in Scotland? It was bad enough when it was Scottish Screen but now it is Screen Scotland, it seems even more corporate.' He said there was a lot of talent in Scotland, but with so many barriers to the funding process, it was in danger of dying out. 'It's an unfair, biased, classist system that's in place, and it just needs to change as it could be a thriving sector here with all the talent,' Forbes explained. 'They've got to invest in their own people like they do in Ireland. 'Funding bodies think they need to commit hundreds of thousands of pounds for a film, but even small things would make a difference. I've got two pieces of broken equipment that I'm desperate to replace, and getting funding for those would be amazing.' Maureen Hascoet has set up a Scottish Screenwriters Festival and a Scottish producers' network in order to bring people in the industry together and believes that the strategy of Screen Scotland and Creative Scotland is all wrong. 'It seems they just want to attract big-budget movies here, but that money does not trickle down, whereas if you film in Ireland, you have to have a certain percentage of local crew,' she said. 'The writers' strike in LA almost brought the industry here to its knees, and it still has not recovered completely, so what does that tell you about sustainability? 'Screen Scotland always seems so gated – the starting position seems to be about why they can't help you. There is definitely a cultural element to shift – a mindset of negativity, which is the opposite of creativity.' Creative Scotland said the majority of its production funding remains focused on films and TV programmes from Scotland. 'Recent projects from Scotland developed and produced with Screen Scotland's support include Only Child, Mayflies and Dinosaur for BBC Scotland, An t-Eilean (The Island) for BBC Alba, Summerwater for Channel 4, The Rig for Amazon Prime and the feature films The Outrun, Aftersun, My Old School, Janey, On Falling, California Schemin' and Tornado,' said a spokesperson. 'Screen Scotland recently doubled its investment in new film talent from Scotland to £1.2 million with the creation of Talent Builder – a bold new programme of integrated initiatives designed to develop the next generation of Scottish filmmaking talent and increase creative origination from Scotland. 'Designed to support Scotland-based writers, directors and producers working in film, Talent Builder offers a clear and comprehensive pathway from early-stage through to the completion of a first feature film script. Talent Builder more than doubles the number of funded short film opportunities available across Scotland. 'Talent Builder sits alongside our Film Development and Production Fund, a £4m fund per annum that directly invests in films from Scotland-based producers, directors and writers, and the £2.5m Broadcast Content Fund for television projects from Scottish production companies.'
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Patrick Harvie on 10 things that changed his life
From joining the 'rainbow parliament' as an MSP in 2003 on the back of campaigning for the repeal of Section 28, all the way through to gaining a position in the Scottish Government, Harvie's journey in politics has been bigger than he ever could have imagined. You could say it's been a bit like a Tardis … more on that later. We sat down with him to talk about the 10 things that changed his life. 1. Mum's politics and environmentalism GIVEN he did not know he was going to be a Green politician until he was well into his 20s, Harvie would probably not say he was born and bred a Green. But at the start of our conversation, you could be forgiven for thinking it had been his destiny all along. He spoke with pride about his mum Rose and how she embedded in him some of the political beliefs he holds to this day. 'Both my parents, but principally my mum, have been pretty active in making their politics part of how they live in the community, so whether that's a recycling charity or going on CND marches,' he said. READ MORE: First Minister John Swinney on 10 things that changed his life 'My mum was a midwife and there was a young woman who was pregnant who lived in the Faslane peace camp at one point, and so she was giving support that wasn't available elsewhere.' Harvie has fond memories of helping his mum collect newspapers to recycle as part of her own charity, way back when recycling was not integrated into society as it is now. 'This is at a time when local authorities didn't do any recycling, so it was begun by community activism,' he said. 'It was about bringing people together to achieve something collectively.' 2. Doctor Who and sci-fi WHEN you walk into Harvie's office, you are left in no doubt as to how important Doctor Who is to him. There is memorabilia and figurines on the shelves, and throughout our meeting, he drinks tea from his iconic 'Gay Lord' mug, with a multicoloured Tardis on it. He first remembers becoming aware of Doctor Who when the great Tom Baker regenerated into Peter Davison in the early 1980s, but he has always had a sense that the series had actually been with him his whole life. 'Having watched all the old stuff before that, I'm convinced that I watched it and took it in because it's so familiar,' Harvie said. 'Even the music just feels so deeply embedded in my memory as though I must've heard it as a baby.' (Image: NQ) It was love at first sight with Baker, and Harvie considers the Fourth Doctor to be his favourite, though he has a soft spot too for Patrick Troughton, largely because of the mystery behind many of the episodes that are still missing. Harvie's early love of Doctor Who eventually gave rise to a much bigger passion for science fiction in general, and it is difficult not to be sucked in by the way he speaks about its power. 'There is something about telling stories in another worldly way that I think is more powerful in terms of its relevance to today,' he said. 'I've always found that there's something that allows you to tell stories that are difficult to tell if they were set in the real world. 'Star Wars has always been really good and I think not well recognised enough for showing you can have a society where people are absolutely surrounded by technological devices – AI and robots – and yet the vast majority of people are just about scratching a wretched living out of the dirt.' I only dabble in sci-fi from time to time, but after spending time in Harvie's company, I felt like I needed to kick off a Star Wars marathon as a matter of urgency. 3. Science and technology NOT only has sci-fi been a key part of Harvie's life, but he said he has always been encapsulated by science and technology more broadly. He is acutely aware of how much the technological eras we grow up in shape us, and he theorises that he may never have adopted the politics he did had he not grown up in the 1970s and 1980s. 'I live in an era where, as a child, humanity was just starting to learn through our scientific research the scale of damage we're doing to our life support system, and that gave rise to the Green movement,' he said. 'If I'd been born 20 years earlier, that awareness wouldn't have been there.' He continues to be fascinated with how technological advances change our existence on Earth. 'I've often reflected on if you had described smartphones that are in everyone's pocket now when I was a kid reading sci-fi stories, it would have felt like something utopian and incredibly liberating,' he said. 'And yet, it's turned into a bin fire.' 4. Coming out NUMBER four speaks for itself – a moment when Harvie took the brave step as a child of the 1970s and came out. He reflects on how he knew for a long time deep down that a feeling was there, but it took a while to put a name to it, while others took it upon themselves to do so, in quite unpleasant ways. But aged 17, he began going along to the Glasgow Film Theatre where he had to seek out a secret message before hanging out with people like himself. 'I started going to what I would now call an LGBT youth group in Glasgow, at the time I think it still called itself the Strathclyde lesbian and gay youth movement,' he said. (Image: Scottish Greens) 'It was a totally self-organised group of young people, there were no services. If you found out about the existence of this group – and I found out by calling the lesbian and gay switchboard helpline in the middle of the night after my parents had gone to bed – it's going to sound bizarre, but what you had to do was you had to go to the GFT on Rose Street at a particular time and look for someone holding a blue folder. 'Eventually, after I'd been going for a while, I would hang out with the group that would meet there, and you would see folks two or three weeks in a row walking past, looking at you, trying to summon up the courage, and going away again, and eventually saying hello.' 5. Going to university in Manchester ENTER a city which has always been proud of its gay community. Harvie went to university in Manchester where he reminisces that the 'volume was turned up' for him as he set about revelling in his newfound independence just after coming to terms with his sexuality. READ MORE: Author Andrew Meehan on 10 things that changed his life Like so many parts of our conversation, there was a deeply human moment where Harvie told me he didn't come out with a degree and how university had ended up being a bit of a turbulent time for him – but that he wouldn't have changed it. He said: 'I sometimes say Manchester kind of chewed me up and spat me out because when I came back, I was in a bit of a bad way emotionally. 'But if I could go back, I wouldn't make a different choice.' Speaking about leaving without a degree, he added: 'I had an office in the student union, staggering distance from the bar, and at the time, that seemed to matter a bit more.' 6. Campaign to repeal Section 28 HARVIE was not an MSP in the first session of the Scottish Parliament, but my word, did he become involved in one of its very first decisions post-devolution. Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, brought in by Margaret Thatcher's government, stated local authorities in Scotland, England and Wales 'shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality' or promote the teaching of homosexuality 'as a pretended family relationship'. After returning to his parents in Dumbarton after university, Harvie became heavily involved with the campaign to repeal the law in Scotland, something which proved highly contentious in the first session of a parliament just finding its feet. (Image: Scottish Greens) Harvie described the journey as an 'intense whirlwind experience' and was delighted to 'beat the b******s' at the end. And he feels it set out how things were going to be in a devolved Scotland for many years to come. 'It did establish the precedent that the Scottish Parliament was going to start voting the right way on these issues,' he said. 'This new parliament did the right thing the first time it was difficult. That set an expectation where, for about 20 years, the Scottish Parliament never voted the wrong way.' It was the start of Harvie's politics journey, as it wouldn't be long before he became an MSP. 'I joined the Greens because of that experience,' he said. 7. Getting elected HARVIE was elected in 2003 in what was known as the 'rainbow Parliament' when there were seven Greens, six Scottish Socialist Party members, one Scottish Senior Citizens member and several independents alongside the bigger parties of the SNP, Labour, Conservatives and LibDems. Harvie is the only MSP elected at that time that has been there ever since, and I asked him what had kept him in the chamber all this time. (Image: PA) 'I think it has stayed fresh partly because the parliament has changed so much every time,' he reflected. 'Most recently, we had the opportunity to be part of the government as well, so every session has been different, and the political dynamics in Scotland have changed so much, often in unexpected ways.' 8. Learning to make bread AT this point, it would be natural to flow into talking about the Bute House Agreement that gave Harvie and his fellow co-leader, Lorna Slater, the opportunity to be the first Green government ministers in the UK. But just before we get to that, Harvie was keen to talk to me about his love for making bread. 'There's something so wholesome about making a loaf of bread,' he told me. 'There's something so basic and tactile about it, it's like playing with plasticine but it turns into food.' READ MORE: 10 things that changed my life with composer Gareth Williams Alongside Doctor Who, number eight evoked the child that clearly still lives in this experienced political brain. Harvie tells me the book Slow Bread For Busy Lives by Andrew Whitley is what really opened up the world of bread making for him and allowed him to fit it around being at Holyrood. 'I'm in Edinburgh usually Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, so the rest of the week I've got at home, so I can make a loaf on a Friday and eat that over the weekend. It's a really nice pattern to be in,' he said. 9. Bute House Agreement THE Bute House Agreement (BHA) was a huge moment for the Scottish Greens after the 2021 election, when first minister Nicola Sturgeon invited Harvie and Slater to be government ministers. Harvie felt the Greens had worked hard to make an impact in Parliament, working to collaborate with other parties where there was common ground, and pushing the boundaries where required, and he felt that was valued by Sturgeon and her deputy John Swinney. (Image: PA) 'To be the first Green Party in any of the UK nations to go into government was a huge step forward,' he said. 'Every Green campaigner who has ever knocked on a door will tell you they've heard people say 'I like what you stand for, but you're never going to get in, so I'm going to vote for someone else'. This was our moment to say Greens can actually deliver change.' As we all know, the agreement abruptly ended in 2023, which eventually led to the resignation of Humza Yousaf as first minister. There were tears, hurt and anger right across the party. But time is a healer, and Harvie still manages to look back on that period positively, and remains open to the Greens being involved in government again if the price is right. He went on: 'I want Greens to be able to make a difference, and make the biggest impact we can, for people and planet. 'I think what we had with the BHA was very consistent with our principles, it was very consistent with our track record of seeking the common ground and expanding it, so if we had an opportunity that's similar, then it will allow us to do far more.' 10. Getting a heart bypass EARLIER this year, Harvie had to take a bit of time off from politics, and he revealed to me why in an emotional finish to our chat. After experiencing chest pains in the previous year and going through tests, it was concluded he would need a heart bypass. I could sense a wee bit of emotion in his voice as he talked about the 'miracles' people work in the NHS, even under immense pressure. 'Everyone knows the NHS is under incredible pressure, but it was very clear to me that even under that pressure, people are doing scientific miracles every day,' he said. 'At the time, I was doing my best not to think about the gory details, I was thinking they're going to put me to sleep and then I'll wake up and start getting better, but if you do think about it, physically what they've done – shutting down your higher brain functions for a while so they can do stuff that would be agonising if you were awake, stopping your heart long enough to do the work – and less than a week later I walked out the hospital. 'I'm incredibly grateful to the folk at the Golden Jubilee in Clydebank. It's just a reminder of how lucky we are to live in a country with a national health service."
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Love Island legend Laura Anderson reveals couple she wants to win series and says it would be ‘a lovely little story'
Lauren also shares her thoughts on their rivals for the prize FAVE LOVE STORY Love Island legend Laura Anderson reveals couple she wants to win series and says it would be 'a lovely little story' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOVE Island star Laura Anderson has backed Toni Laites and Cach Mercer to win when the series reaches its climax tomorrow night. The Scottish beauty, who was runner-up in the 2018 series, believes former Las Vegas cabana server Toni and dancer Cach deserve to scoop the £50,000 prize. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 Love Island legend has backed Cach Mercer and Toni Laites to win when the series reaches its climax 6 Lauren says she 'really loves' Shakira and Harry as a couple Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 Yasmin Pettet and Jamie Rhodes Credit: Eroteme Toni brought Cach back from the other villa, Casa Amor, but left him in tears after deciding to reconcile with lothario Harrison Solomon. However, since Harrison left the show, Toni and Cach have become the bookies' favourites after winning the hearts of viewers with their rocky romance. Laura said: 'I think if Toni and Cach won, the general public would be very happy. 'Toni is my favourite and watching Cach get upset and then seeing them get back together . . . it was a lovely little story.' Speaking about the Meet The Parents episode, in which sees the contestants' families visit the villa, Laura said: 'It was incredible to see Toni's mum say such lovely words to Cach. "It was a really nice moment. I thought it was really sweet.' And her thoughts on their rivals for the prize, such as Yasmin Pettet and Jamie Rhodes, and Shakira and Harry? Laura says: 'Yas has really surprised me and I just think she is great, she is just so authentic. Her and Jamie seem really happy and sweet. 'I love Harry and Shakira as a couple. I really hope Harry can prove himself and I think Shakira is really emotionally mature.' Laura's comments come as it was revealed Love Island has been hit with more than 9,000 complaints in just one week, mostly about alleged bullying behaviour towards Shakira. The villa had been split into two girl groups, with Shakira, Toni and Yasmin on one side and Helena, Meg Moore and Megan Clarke on the other. Maya Jama looks incredible in her bikini as she sips wine before Love Island final Laura said: 'I think Toni and Shakira's relationship has honestly been the real highlight of this series, which has been quite nice to see. ' Normally it is the bromances that hit the headlines. 'There has been a divide between the girls and I think this 'mean girl energy' is unacceptable.' Laura also believes that Love Island is a healthy way to encourage conversations around relationships. 6 Angel and TY have been given odds of 9/1 to win Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 Megan M and Dejon have been given odds of 22/1 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial She said: 'I think holding young people accountable for their behaviour is a great thing and I hope that filters through into real life. 'My favourite thing, apart from just watching people fall in love, is watching them grow and develop. 'I honestly think Love Island made me a better person. You become more self-aware. 'There has been so much switching around of couples this series. ' I don't think there has ever been so many couples – and that causes a lot of different emotions. 'It has been an emotional rollercoaster. 'There has been a lot of drama, and it is entertaining for us at home. 'I think the after-care will be ramped up a little bit this year just because so much has happened.'
