EXCLUSIVE: Love Island winner Sammy Root has shared his thoughts on this year’s dating show and how the change of format could be “very dangerous” for contestants

Love Island winner Sammy Root has shared his thoughts on the hideaway being open 24/7 this year.

The TV star took the crown last year alongside co-star Jess Harding – so is a pro when it comes to all things Love Island. However, he was even shocked when he found out about the new hideaway rules.

The intimate part of the villa has been used in past series for couples who’ve been together for at least a week and selected to go in there by their co-stars – whereas now it can be used by anyone, at any time.

Talking about this, Sammy exclusively said: “It’s a madness, I put it on my Story the other day, I just couldn’t believe that.

The hideaway is now open 24/7 (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
“It’s very, very, very dangerous that I put on my Story and said how it’s a liberty, but at the same time, I think that would have gotten me into a lot of trouble if it was like that when I was in there.

“Each series they come up with new ideas where they could improve it, and it might be more spicy by doing that, to be honest, I think it definitely will.”

Sammy spent some time in the hideaway last year (Image: ITV)
Does he wish it was open 24/7 when he was in there? Sammy laughed: “I don’t know, part of me thinks ‘yes’ but then part of me thinks it is for the best that it wasn’t.”

When asked if he had any villa regrets, Sammy revealed he stands by every choice he made – because let’s face it, he might not have won if he had done anything differently!

Sammy answered: “I’ve always said before I went into the villa, I’m gonna be completely real and do everything exactly how I would do it. So I have no regrets. So if I changed anything, I wouldn’t have been being me so…”

Sammy is ready to race (Image: Getty Images)
The handsome star has also been taking part in a gruelling fitness regime as he prepares for a hefty 100k marathon. The singleton is raising money for MIND, a cause close to his heart.

Sammy told us: “I’ve been training very hard because I’m doing the London 2 Brighton marathon next Sunday, which is 100k, I’m doing it for MIND.

“I’ve been in the gym a lot training for that because my legs are going to die. Then I’ve got a Tough Mudder that I’m doing for MIND as well, it will be hard, but it’s all for a good cause.”