Love Island has kept us glued to our TV screens every night at 9pm for the last two months, and last night the winning couple was finally crowned.
Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan, both 24, stole the nations hearts after bonding over their shared desire to work with children and ‘make a difference’ in the world.
The aim of the game is to find love, and viewers must decide whether the islanders’ feelings for each other are genuine, voting to save those who are.
But with £50,000 up for grabs, as well as a high chance of lucrative sponsorship deals, there is certainly motivation to pretend those emotions are there.
MailOnline asked relationship psychologist Dr Audrey Tang to decide which of the final four couples really was the most compatible, and should have won the show.
MailOnline asked relationship psychologist Dr Audrey Tang to decide which of the final four couples (pictured) really was the most compatible, and should have won the show
Kai Fagan (far right) and Sanam Harrinanan (second right) stole the nations hearts after bonding over their shared desire to work with children and ‘make a difference’ in the world
Tom and Samie
Tom Clare, 23, and Samie Elishi, 22, first coupled up three weeks in to the show, after both had explored their options with other people.
Footballer Tom in particular became known as ‘Terrace Tom’, after gaining a reputation of having his head turned by new arrivals and taking them away for a kiss.
On Sunday, Love Island viewers accused him of being with estate agent Samie for her looks, after failing to mention anything about her personality when gushing about her to his family.
The couple came in third place, which Dr Tang thinks is a fair place for them.
‘He’s had an interesting run, having kissed a few of the other contestants,’ she told MailOnline.
‘Tom has been able to show his emotions around Samie, and that’s been very refreshing, even to him it seems.
‘But a focus on looks is unhealthy for any relationship. Looks fade, and if a relationship is built solely on that, then it can lead people to obsessive means to try and maintain their looks.
She notes that his chat with fellow Islander Lana where he urges her not to couple up with her on-off partner Ron, could have come from a place of jealousy.
‘He could have been reeling from Ron flirting with Samie,’ she told MailOnline.
‘We don’t always say what we feel, sometimes because we haven’t “worked it out” yet.’
This could have been an unconscious indicator of his true feelings for her, despite the accusations from viewers.
Love Island viewers accused Tom (right) of being with estate agent Samie (left) for her looks, after failing to mention anything about her personality when gushing about her to his family
Shaq and Tanya
Shaq Muhammad, 24, and Tanya Manhenga, 22, coupled up for the first time at the very start of the show in January.
They declared that they loved each other just two weeks into the series, raising the eyebrows of fans.
All appeared to be plain sailing until Casa Amor, when the girls and boys are separated into two villas and introduced to new Islanders.
This is intended to test their loyalty to their original partners, and student Tanya found herself swayed by Martin Akinola.
The two shared a kiss in bed, leading to her choosing to recouple with him over Shaq when she returned to the main villa.
Things were cold between Tanya and airport security officer Shaq after they reunited, but they eventually found their way back together.
As part of this, Tanya announced that the was committing to Shaq in front of Martin and all the other Islanders, even revealing the two had shared a secret kiss since she had come back from Casa Amor.
Researchers from Oxford University found that, biologically, humans need to kiss as many people as possible to size up future mates.
But UCL-trained psychologist Dr Tang says that the way Tanya handled the situation suggests the couple, who came fourth, will not make it in the long term.
‘It really may be sensible to see who else one might connect with, eg within Casa Amor, but how you conduct that search may also speak volumes about you,’ she told MailOnline.
‘A relationship certainly doesn’t need to survive “cheating” to work, and in fact, sometimes, it can leave people thinking “OK, we got through that, now what!?”
‘I believe there is genuine feeling, but I’m not sure whether Shaq is the right person for Tanya.
‘Or rather, I don’t think Tanya really thinks Shaq is the right person for Tanya.’
Indeed, on Sunday nights episode, Tanya mentioned that her favourite thing about Shaq was that he is ‘obsessed’ with her.
Twitter users were quick to brand her ‘egotistical’, that it was a ‘massive red flag’ and it makes their relationship seem ‘one sided’.
‘Control is never a good look in any relationship, and certainly any relationship based on a power imbalance is not a healthy one,’ said Dr Tang.
‘Obsession, jealousy and possessiveness are all words where if someone else were to describe that’s what they saw, would ring alarm bells.
‘But if someone within a relationship said this was what they wanted, it could lead to problems
‘Especially if the person with the power then tries to “test” the obsession by seeing just how far they can push boundaries.’
Things were cold between Tanya (right) and airport security officer Shaq (left) when they reunited after Casa Amor, but they eventually found their way back together
Ron and Lana
The couple that came in second place was Ron Hall and Lana Jenkins, both 25, who also got together early on in the series.
Dr Tang says that one of the key things that stuck out to her about them was that Ron had never had a girlfriend before.
Contrary to popular belief, studies show that having lots of relationship experience isn’t always a positive, as it can lead to constant comparison.
‘Conducting a “search” for a longer period of time often results in better long term choices,’ Dr Tang told MailOnline.
‘But there is evidence that marrying one’s “first love” can work.’
A study by American psychologist Dr Nancy Kalish called the ‘Lost Love Project’ surveyed 1,000 couples about their relationship and former flames.
It revealed that 72 per cent of those who had rekindled their relationship with their first love were still together at the point of the survey, and only had a 1.5 per cent divorce rate.
Ron and Lana took part in the infamous ‘Baby Challenge’ during their time on Love Island, where they are in charge of looking after a screaming, toy doll.
This tests the couples’ abilities to share responsibilities, and often accompanies on them opening up about whether they wish to start a family one day.
Dr Tang says that, while she liked Ron and Lana initially, seeing them interact with the doll was a ‘deal breaker’.
Dr Tang says that, while she liked Ron and Lana initially, seeing them interact with the doll during the Love Island ‘Baby Challenge’ was a ‘deal breaker’
‘His passive aggressive tone when he said “Do you fancy helping?” and “You’re useless”, were setting off my alarm bells,’ she told MailOnline.
‘Relationships do take work, but it’s about collaboration not blame, and simply “you’re useless” is a huge no-no.
‘If you need to, you always comment on the behaviour not the person because behaviours can change, but labelling someone hurts.
‘If Lana doesn’t want children, I don’t think she felt able to say it, choosing to say that she does but “not for a few years” instead’.
The psychologist also said he referred to how he has ‘made her [his] girlfriend’, suggests an unequal power dynamic between them which spells danger.
She told MailOnline: ‘This sort of comment from anyone is archaic and inappropriate.
‘Having children is a mutual choice, being in a relationship is a mutual choice.’
Kai and Sanam
In a final broadcast live from South Africa last night, PE teacher Kai and social worker Sanam were announced the winners of this year’s Love Island.
Sanam is the first ‘Casa Amor girl’ to ever win, as these Islanders are historically unpopular.
This is partially because they must break up an existing couple to secure themselves a partner and remain on the show during this segment.
The couple have been strong since then, with Kai choosing to leave Olivia Hawkins, 27, for Sanam, making them worthy winners in the eyes of Dr Tang.
In a final broadcast live from South Africa last night, PE teacher Kai (right) and social worker Sanam (left) were announced the winners of this year’s Love Island
She told MailOnline: ‘I personally was very happy that Kai and Sanam won this season. What’s not to like about a teacher and a social worker getting £50k!?
‘Kai demonstrated his laid back attitude with Olivia’s accusation that he didn’t choose her as “most untrustworthy”, and he handled her dramatics well, arguably, by not getting involved.’
Before she was dumped from the villa, Olivia asked Kai why he didn’t name her as most untrustworthy during a challenge, and accused him of being ‘fake’ because of it.
Unimpressed, he responded ‘I’m trying not to bite because I don’t want confrontation’.
Dr Tang said that this showed emotional maturity, as Kai could sense that Olivia was ‘looking for validation and agreement’ rather than a discussion.
Sanam showed similar maturity when the original girls returned to the villa from Casa Amor, and Kai had chosen to couple up her with.
Dr Tang told MailOnline: ‘Sanam was open with her feelings about things being awkward if there was no closure, but at the same time respectful of both sides.’
She says that this likely stems from both their jobs, which involve a ‘deeper level of emotional understanding in relationships’.
The psychologist added: ‘Both Kai and Sanam’s jobs outside the villa would likely make their values compatible.
‘There was a comment made by Tanya that Kai and Sanam have “never been tested”, but being in the heightened situation of Love Island would be test enough for some.
‘I also liked seeing their casual chatty banter which seemed to demonstrate how comfortable they were in each other’s company.
‘Relationships are about bringing the best out in each other, even when things go wrong.’
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