Iain Stirling had told how he turned down being the voice of Love Island ‘loads of times’ – but was finally convinced to do it by his flatmate Phil Wang. 

And he’s revealed how it’s opened doors to new experiences – such as getting so drunk with contestant Olivia Atwood that he soiled himself.

Speaking on a new Comic Relief video podcast called Comic Confessions, Stirling said: ‘I turned it down loads of times, because at the time I believed it would get me less work – now it's  the only reason I get any work, so it's worked out quite well actually

I think there's been a big sea change in the way that reality TV and things is perceived you get comedians going on the jungle and things like that whereas ten to 15 years ago there was a sort of snobbery about reality TV that maybe doesn't exist as much any more, because if you know how reality TV is made it's actually very difficult. 

‘And to do a voiceover that's funny is actually quite a talent and if you don't believe me watch other shows that try to do it because they failed miserably.’

Explaining how he changed his mind about the ITV2 show, he explained: ‘I was meant to be going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and my flatmate at the time, Phil Wang said, "But I thought you'd go to the Fringe Festival to try and get work on TV?" And I said, "Yes." And he went, "Why would you turn down TV work to go to the Fringe Festival?" And I said, "That's a very good point, Phil Wang."'

Speaking about the show he said: ‘Once when I was on a night out in Spain, I was with Olivia Atwood and I drank too much and shit myself.’

However, he did not give any more details.

But he did share another toilet-related story of checking into an Australian hotel after a boozy 24-hour flight to find a laptop in his room 

‘I was really hungover and jet-lagged. I thought they're gonna knock and ask for this laptop, so I picked the laptop up, I go to take it down to reception, but then I need the toilet…

‘As I open the toilet door there is a businessman sat on the toilet, he's got a suit on and I don't know if you've ever seen suit trousers around someone's ankles but it's the saddest a trouser's ever looked, there's something really funny about it.

'I panicked and just handed him the laptop and then left and then double-checked my email and realised I was in a hotel about a mile down the road and then I never saw that man ever again so I don't know what he thought happened…

‘What’s more embarrassing to walk in on someone taking a poo or be the one that's walked in on mid-poo? If you're mid-poo, like eyes bulge in mid-poo, that's worse. But if you're like not quite started yet, then it's not as bad…’

This first episode of Comic Confessions is Comic Relief’s first original content release of 2026, as it vows to ramp up its digital output.

Tom Connaughton, newly appointed chief creative officer at the charity, said: ‘We’re significantly expanding our original comedy and entertainment output this year and have some exciting new formats already in production. 

‘As media habits continue to evolve, our YouTube channel presents a huge opportunity to engage younger and more diverse audiences with a combination of long, short and live form content all within the one ecosystem that our flagship campaigns, Red Nose Day and Sport Relief, may not always reach.

‘Comedy is part of our DNA - it’s how we were founded, how we connect people, and how we inspire care, empathy and generosity towards others. Alongside entertainment, we’ll also be using this channel to spotlight the work we fund, experimenting with fresh approaches to factual storytelling and documentary-style content to educate on the pressing issues donations tackle.'