It's getting hotter by the day on ITV's Love Island.

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Recently, viewers had to say goodbye to one of the Love Island 2021 contestants - Brad McClelland, and it left some of the islanders (Jake) in tears.

So, why did Brad decide to leave? Who was he coupled up with before he left the villa? And what's his thoughts since being dumped from the villa?

Here's everything you need to know about the former Love Island 2021 contestant.

Brad McClelland – key facts

Age: 26

Job: Labourer

From: Northumberland

Instagram: @brad_mcclell

Coupled up with: Rachel Finni

Why did Brad leave Love Island?

Brad left after a Love Island twist saw him and his partner Lucinda have to decide between them who should stay. As he'd had longer in the villa, Brad said she should stay to see if there were any more "opportunities" for her.

Following his exit, he said: “I woke up this morning and I wish we had left together. I want to see where that could have went. Not being able to speak to Cind, or ask her where she’s at, I want to know how she’s woke up this morning.”

Where is Brad from Love Island from?

Brad is from Amble, Northumberland, which is a historic county in North East England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the west, County Durham and Tyne and Wear to the south and the Scottish Borders to the north.

Viewers pointed out Brad's strong, Northern accent, so much so, 2020 winner Amber Rose Gill – who is from Newcastle – decided to break down some of his conversations on her Twitter account in some hilarious posts.

Why does Brad want to take part in Love Island?

“I want to date face-to-face, I like meeting people. I’m easy going, laid back. Who wouldn’t want to be in a nice villa in a hot country for a while?” We can’t argue with that, Brad.

He also revealed that it’s the excitement of being on the show that appeals to him, saying: “The socialising side of it [appeals] – meeting new people. And that’s not just meeting the lasses, meeting everyone.” It sounds like Brad will be quite the social butterfly.

What does Brad do for work?

Brad is a labourer and if you think that means he does a lot of hard graft, Brad thinks otherwise. “I try and make as much money as I can by doing as little as possible. [My colleagues would] probably say – not lazy, as I’m energetic – I just try to get away with doing literally nothing.”

While we know what his colleagues think of him, what about his family? “I’m the person that’ll take the p**s out of them but I’m the first one that they’ll go to if they’ve got any problems. I try to have a laugh and try not to take anything too seriously. They’d probably say I’m too honest.”

What kind of dater is Brad?

In his preview video, Brad admitted that – like many people – COVID has landed him in a dry spell since 2019. The 26-year-old split up with his last girlfriend a couple of months before the pandemic hit, and has struggled to meet people (for obvious reasons) ever since.

Before the first lockdown, Brad had a couple of months of going out and mingling, then went away travelling. “I got back in January and, obviously, had a lot of things planned and then, all of a sudden – boom – COVID hit.”

The rule of six hasn’t helped Brad’s cause. “When you're out and about, with the rule of six, you might be staring at a lass that’s across on another table, and then ‘What’s your number?’ they’re gonna be shouting the digits across the two-metre gap.”

What about dating apps? “I've tried but it's just the small talk... You’ll match someone, you’ll say ‘Hello, where you from?’ All of a sudden, conversation stops, onto the next one.”

Will Brad’s Nana be watching?

Brad lives with his 76-year-old Nana Joyce but he thinks she’ll be more interested in watching the soaps than seeing him in the villa.

Will he be keeping his behaviour PG in case she tunes in? “She’s very real, very down to earth. She’s not blind to that side of things. She will watch the show at the start. Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, EastEnders that’s her sort of thing. Obviously, a big reason that she’d have to watch this is ‘cause her grandson’s in this. So, if she’s watching, I’m sure she’ll be fine with whatever, I’m sure she’ll still stand by us.”

Brad has tried to explain the show’s concept to his Nana but he says, initially, she thought he’d be in the villa on his own for eight weeks. “I was like ‘No, there’s going to be a lot of people’, she was like ‘Are your friends going with you?’ and I was like ‘No, but there’s gonna be opportunity to make friends’.” We hope Joyce isn’t in for too much of a shock!

What is Brad looking for in a partner?

If any of the ladies in the villa are prone to nagging, they may want to look elsewhere for their suitor as Brad does not have time for that.

“[I’m looking for] someone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously. I could not be with someone that’s constantly on your case. I’d say I like dark hair, dark skin, dark eyes. But then my ex-girlfriend who I was with for over eight years was fair-skinned, blue eyes, blonde hair.”

Want to meet the other Love Island 2021 contestants?

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Love Island is on ITV2 every night at 9pm, except Saturdays. Episodes are also available to watch at 9pm. For more info check out Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook. While you’re waiting, check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight.

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