Love Island star Liam Llewellyn has broken his silence following his shock exit from the show, telling MailOnline he could not cope with his actions being scrutinized by producers.
The 23-year-old Welsh student, who quit after just six days in the villa at the start of the series, says he underestimated how it would be like being filmed 24/7 week, it would affect him mentally, knowing that his every move was being watched and edited unfavorably.
And he reckons former co-star Luca Bish, 23, won’t be happy when he discovers producers have made him look like a controlling misogynist.
‘You’re not in control’: Love Island star Liam Llewellyn has broken his silence following his shock exit from the show, telling MailOnline he couldn’t cope with his actions being controlled by producers.
Liam said: “I thought I was going to have the summer everyone dreams of but now I’m living with no regrets, I took a chance but I’ve realized I can’t live on TV.
“I was expected to do things for a TV show and I couldn’t be myself. I didn’t want to do it. It’s a TV show and it’s produced. It’s not all natural.
“In my head I wasn’t in the right position to be on a TV show because that’s what you’re doing. You have to go on dates, do challenges and you have no control over it.
‘On my dates they asked me to repeat things because I didn’t quite come out.
“I had a lot of meetings with executives, the series editor, and professional physiologists, but after a couple of days of feeling the way I did, I made the decision on my own behalf that it wasn’t right for me continue.’
‘It wasn’t right for me’: The Welsh student, who quit after just six days in the villa at the start of the series, says he underestimated how it would be like being filmed 24 hours a day would affect mentally.
‘The editing he’s getting is unwarranted’: Liam believes ex-star Luca Bish won’t be happy when he finds out producers made him look like a controlling misogynist in his Gemma Owen pairing
Liam was paired with Gemma Owen, 19, courtesy of a viewer’s vote, but they were only together for a few days.
Since then, she has been paired with Luca, who is one of the show’s original islanders, but in recent weeks the fishmonger has come under fire for his controlling manner.
Earlier this month, the charity Women’s Aid issued a warning to the show’s male stars, and Luca in particular, for their misogynistic behaviour.
Luca has been called out for ‘bullying’ fellow contestant Tasha Ghouri, 23, who he constantly calls a ‘fake’ and accused his own partner Gemma of flirting with other contestants, despite encouraging boys to be unfaithful during House Love
She even left the villa this week after arguing with Gemma for playfully licking Adam Collard, 26, during a challenge.
‘My head was miles away’: Liam left the Love Island villa after six days and has spoken for the first time about the ‘out of body experience’ he had during his short time on the show
Liam believes that Luca has fallen victim to the show’s tough editing process and its commitment to ‘doing drama’, saying he is nothing like how he is currently portrayed.
He explained: “I know Luca and what he’s really like and it’s nothing like how he comes across.
“All of a sudden, the edit he’s getting is not entirely justified. It’s hard for me to sit here and watch this while viewers are forming opinions, when if I spent 10 minutes with him, that would change.
“Whatever opinion people have about the show, I don’t think you have a clue, I think if you did. You’re watching such a small segment that they don’t really know what’s going on.
“It’s a TV show, they have to make drama and turn something small into something big and viewers get lost in all of that.”
Liam also has a crush on Jacques O’Neill, 23, who left the villa 17 days ago, after show bosses introduced ex-Islander Adam only to interfere with his relationship with Paige Thorne, 24 .
‘Paige is up there for me’: Liam linked up with Gemma Owen courtesy of a viewer’s vote, but they were only together for a matter of days and now he says he’s more attracted to Paige Thorne
The hunk admits that he has reached out to Jacques and the pair will meet after the series ends.
Liam said: “I contacted Jacques as soon as he made this decision. I found it to be a very tough watch and he took me back, feeling the way I did.
“I know we both had completely different experiences, but I reached out to him and he said he appreciates my message and we’ll meet and talk.”
However, Liam admits that fellow Welshman Paige is his favorite girl in the villa, although he has never been intimate with her.
He added: “Gemma is a really pretty girl but I’d say Paige is up there for me.
“She’s a very lovely, attractive girl. We get on quite well in there and she’s a classy girl.
‘He brought me back’: Liam also has sympathy for Jacques O’Neill, who left the villa 17 days ago, after show bosses brought in ex-Islander Adam Collard just to interfere with his relationship with Paige Thorne.
Liam was hand-picked to be on Love Island after being approached by casting producers.
His initial reaction was to turn down the chance, but his family, including rugby star father David, encouraged him to take a chance.
He quickly realized that he couldn’t forget the hundreds of cameras in the villa, as well as the backstage crew that accompany the stars on their dates.
Liam explained: “I didn’t apply for the show when they approached me and even then I thought ‘no’ but they offered me the opportunity and I didn’t think I could turn it down.
“You walk into the village and it’s an unnatural environment. At first, I thought I’d settle in and be fine, but as the days went by I realized that it wasn’t changing for me. If anything, it was getting worse .
“Some of the cameras are hidden, but there are surrounding areas in the villa where the panels shuffle, you can hear them moving, there’s a massive camera that goes around the garden, I’ve called it a TV camera, if that’s you , you know. you’re live.
“You know when the camera’s on you and you’re having a conversation that’s getting a little juicy … it’s on you. There’s a team of 12-15 around you when you’re on dates, walking around, it’s a proper ensemble of dates”.
‘It’s an unnatural environment’: Liam was hand-picked by casting producers to take part in Love Island, but said he couldn’t forget the hundreds of cameras in the village, which eventually put him on the sidelines.
While Jacques was seen sobbing on screen breaking the news of his departure to the cast, Liam didn’t seem to shed a single tear.
But he says that, away from the cameras, he went through a lot of emotional upheaval and was “gutted” by the decision in a high-pressure environment.
He said: “I’ll admit behind closed doors I was getting really emotional.
“It was a big decision to make, and you don’t make those kinds of decisions without having that mental battle with yourself.
“I was confused and disheartened by how I felt. My body was there, but my head was miles away.
“I couldn’t put it down to one word but I was so overwhelmed. I’ve never felt like that before and I don’t think I ever will because being on Love Island is the biggest stage of all.
“When you have that feeling and you think you’re not your normal self, you can’t be afraid to make that decision, even if it’s scary at first.”