Brad McClelland: Love Island contestant from Northumberland on 'insane' 24 hours

The 26-year-old labourer, from Amble, will appear on the new series of the hit ITV2 show.

His social media pages have been taken over by friends as he prepares to enter the Majorca villa.

‘On behalf of Brad I’d like to say a massive thank you for the huge support shown in the first 24 hours, it has been insane,!’ they say on Twitter. “I can’t wait for the 28th and I bet you can’t either! #LoveIsland #TeamBrad’.

He also features on a Love Island speed dating video in which he reveals: ‘My type? ooof, good question. My ex was blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin whereas my type in my head is the opposite.’

He has already revealed his celebrity crushes are Sommer Ray, Zara McDermott and Megan Fox.

In the video, he also reveals the last time he had sex was at the end of 2019.

The consensus from those who know him seems to be that he’s a top bloke.

Tracey Prime, posting on the Gazette’s Facebook page, said: ‘The loveliest lad you could ever meet x good luck Brad xx’

Carol Robson added: ‘Lovely lad, good luck Brad xx’

Edmondo CeCe said: ‘He really is a genuine lovely guy.. always has been x’

And Tracy Matthews said: ’Lovely lad x’

Brad is a former pupil of Coquet High School.

On his Instagram page he describes himself as a ‘gym goer and coffee lover’.

Among his favourite places to go is the town’s Lounge Bar, popping in for coffee at weekends and to meet up with friends in the evening.

Rebecca Langdown, co-owner of Lounge Bar, said: “He is one of the loveliest, most down to earth souls I have ever met.

"He is a really beautiful person inside and out and we we wish him all the success in the world.”

In an ITV Q&A, Brad explained why he wanted to take part in the new series.

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

Asked what his colleagues would say about him, he replied: “I try and make as much money as I can by doing as little as possible. They’d probably say – not lazy, as I’m energetic – I just try to get away with doing literally nothing.”

Love Island returns to ITV2 and ITV Hub for its seventh series on Monday, June 28 at 9pm.

Laura Whitmore is at the helm as the Islanders do their best to flirt, date, couple up and try and avoid being ‘dumped’ from the villa.

With new arrivals, heads may turn, while others will prove their true feelings, all narrated by the inimitable voice of Love Island, Iain Stirling.

Love Island was the most watched show on any digital channel in 2020 and as it returns there’ll be lots of twists and turns along the way.

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