'Love Island’s Brad McClelland says show helped him connect with long-lost sister

Love Island contestant Brad McClelland has shared that he's been able to get in touch with his long-lost sister for the first time after leaving the programme.

He exited the villa last week and has since spoken with his 15-year-old sibling via FaceTime after previous attempts at reaching out failed.

McClelland, 26, told Ranvir Singh on ITV's Lorraine: “I grew up with my nana, my dad wasn’t on the scene. I always knew I had a younger sister, I tried to get in contact with her for years, searched for her on social media, all I had was her name. She reached out to me and I FaceTimed her a couple of days ago.”

Watch: Brad McClelland has been dumped from Love Island

“If anything has come from my Love Island experience…. I found love in a different way. She’s 15 and that’s the first time I’ve ever seen her. It means the world to me.

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"I’m one of six and my brothers and sisters are massive for me. I try to spend as much time as I can with them. To have another sibling is a massive thing.”

On his bond with his grandmother Joyce, he said: “I’ve lived with my nana since I was four years old… we’ve been together, just me and her and our little dog for 21 years. We argue a lot but it’s natural… the respect I’ve got for her is massive. She basically ended her life to look after me.”

McClelland added: “She didn’t watch the show before I went on. She had no idea what it was, I think she complained [about] a few things that were happening on there!”

His departure from the island came after he and partner Lucinda Strafford were voted the least compatible couple by viewers.

One of them had to go, with original contestant McClelland offering to leave. Strafford has since recoupled with newcomer Danny Bibby although has been romantically linked to Aaron Francis.

Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2.

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