Love Island: All Stars viewers are increasingly convinced Sean and Lucinda are on track to win the series — and it’s not just because they’ve made things official.

Sean and his “princess pookie pie” Lucinda seem to have quickly become the couple of the series.

On Tuesday night, we watched the pair go from “closed off” to “I love you” in the space of about 10 seconds, and become the first official boyfriend-and-girlfriend pairing of the series – a milestone that often signals a strong position heading into the final. In another recent episode, they were voted the public’s favourite couple, further cementing their status as frontrunners.

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ITV

However, some fans believe there may be another factor at play.

Viewers realised on Sunday (15 February), it was Samie Elishi’s birthday — but during the episode, it was not acknowledged on screen.

Typically, birthdays in the villa are marked with at least a small celebration — whether that’s a toast, a surprise organised by fellow Islanders, or a brief party montage.

With the absence of any sort of gesture – no party, speech, or even a “Cheers to Samie” to celebrate her birthday – fans are speculating that this choice was made by producers to influence the final.

Some are suggesting producers may be shifting focus away from Samie and Ciaran in favour of giving Sean and Lucinda more screen time as the final approaches.

While there is no confirmation that editing decisions were made with these intentions, increased airtime and prominent romantic milestones have historically played a role in shaping audience perception.

And with an official relationship, a public vote win, and several headline moments already under their belt, Sean and Lucinda appear to have momentum on their side.

Whether that translates into a victory remains to be seen, with the Love Island: All Stars final airing on Monday 23 February.

Love Island: All Stars continues on ITV2 and ITVX