Are Love Island producers trying to stop Ella and Tyrique from winning?

Let's face it, once Movie Night is done and dusted, Love Island can go a bit stale. All we really have to look forward to is the parenting challenge, the couple's meeting their partner's family and, well, the final – but they're not exactly Casa Amor levels of dramz, are they?

It's not really anyone's fault, it's just the framework of the show; our Love Island 2023 couples are all starting to get closed off and thinking about their future sponsorship deals at this point.

However, after a decade of Love Island, it seems the show's producers have finally clocked on to this annual (well, now biannual) drama dip, because unleashing bombshell of bombshells Ella Barnes on to the unsuspecting villa – more specifically, power couple Tyrique Hyde and Ella Thomas – is a MOVE.

Blonde bombshell Ella B entered the villa alongside Josh Brocklebank earlier this week and within a couple of advert breaks it was made crystal clear to us that she and Tyrique had HISTORY. In fact, they'd kissed on a night out in Kent just before he flew out to Majorca.

Ella B has already confronted Tyrique and made it clear that the spark between them is definitely still sparking as far as she's concerned, going on to declare the 'battle of the Ellas'.

Ella and Ella B are set to hash things out queen to queen and it looks juicy af to be fair, so well done, producers. Series slump unslumped.

But is there more to it than that? According to several Love Island fans, hells yes there is.

Several hardcore Ella and Tyrique stans have taken to the comments section of a recent Love Island Instagram post (a snap of the Ellas staring each other down) to share some interesting theories – namely, that Love Island producers don't care about love at all; in fact, according to some fans, they're purposefully trying to "ruin" Ella and Ty and stop the current bookies' favourites from winning.

One upset fan commented, "Nah producers trying to ruin Ella and Ty 😢."

Another added, "Why Love Island would you do this! This girl is messy messy. She is there for Ty not Mitch. Do not mess up this Ty be strong...Ella 1 and you have something special do not mess it up! 😫."

To be fair, it does seem that just as Ella and Tyrique are finally back on track after weeks of tests and turbulence, producers have gone and thrown the ultimate spanner in the works – Tyrique's very own, personal, active, bombshell.

It's almost as if the show is all about drama and viewing figures, and not actually about 20-somethings finding love. Whatttt?

SPOILERS AHEAD.

So what can we expect from the 'battle of the Ellas'?

Well, as news of Ella B's “battle of the Ellas” comment spreads around the villa, the two girls catch up in the bedroom.

Keen to set the record straight, Ella says, “First of all…do you babe, I get it, you came in for yourself and you need to talk to everyone…but why is my name even in your mouth when you’re talking about yourself…you’re trying to plant doubt in his mind.”

Ella B replies, “Babe, obviously we are going to chat. I’ve known him for so many years.”

As the conversation continues, Ella adds, “Do you babe, come in on your own energy, you don’t need to mention other Ella, there’s never going to be a battle. I would never go head to head with a girl for a man, so the talk of battles is not me…leave it out…”

Ella B quips back, “It was a bit of banter…I’m not here for drama…”

No, but the producers definitely are.

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