SO confession time, I am one of the two million people who has been hooked on the ultimate TV guilty pleasure this summer - Love Island.

For those unaware of the ITV2 show it is based around the premise of people coupling up in a bid to get votes to stay on an island, with the chance of winning £50,000.

The series, which features models, personal fitness trainers and an ex-boyband member, has many critics who have slammed it as the worst trash television.

And even a fan like me has to accept that it is unlikely you will see discussions on topics such as Brexit while the singletons enjoy their time in the Spanish villa.

But the programme has never tried to be anything else, and people have been gripped by it as a result.

The original show, Celebrity Love Island, cost £12 million a series and was considered a massive flop back in 2006.

So hopes for a rebooted show hosted by Caroline Flack, with non-celebrities, were not high.

But in three years ratings have continued to grow to a point now it is bringing in more than two million viewers an episode, it is making headlines, and possibly could be set for a return to ITV's main channel next year.

Such is its success grime artist Stormzy, Liam Gallagher, Adele and even Jeremy Corbyn have been commenting on the show.

My biggest issue is with the people who believe themselves to be cultured, dismissing Love Island as tripe and by association being negative about the people who are watching it.

They go as far as complaining it should be taken off air.

This isn't a new thing either. Think of all the calls the original reality TV juggernaut, Big Brother, has had to be axed over the years.

These people are missing the point though. This is escapism TV and everyone knows what to expect.

It is wrong too to dismiss those who are invested in it as stupid.

The target audience for Love Island is under 35s - the same age group that were written off as those

never bothering to vote in May, and then delivered the election's youthquake in June.

Love it or hate it Love Island, and shows of the same ilk, are here to stay - and I'm with the millions that are going to keep on watching.