Love Island’s Alex George has divided viewers over his decision to cool things off with newcomer Alexandra Cane, the first budding relationship he has had in the villa.

The doctor has largely been unlucky in love during his six weeks in the dating series, but he appeared to finally have a positive spark with Alexandra when she entered last week.

The uncertainty around their relationship comes as a dramatic recoupling looms, which will see the male contestants given the power to choose who they want to be with.

Love IslandLove Island’s Alexandra (ITV)

In Wednesday night’s episode, Alex revealed he was not yet ready to be “exclusive” with Alexandra, prompting her to have doubts over their relationship and attempt to make a connection with new boy Paul Knops.

Alexandra – who last week chose to couple up with Alex, saving him from being dumped from the show – told him: “I guess today I have to be honest and say, I don’t want to be an option. I want someone to feel sure about something.”

Alex replied: “It’s not about being an option. It’s ‘am I ready to be exclusive with you’ and I’m not.

“And I really am surprised that you would be ready to be exclusive with me.”

She said: “I’m not saying I would. Yesterday I felt such a bad vibe, I just needed a bit of reassurance.”

Alex, who expressed an interest in newcomer Laura Crane, told Alexandra that they should “take a step back from everything”.

Alexandra then started to pursue Paul, although discovered she had competition from long-time contestant Laura Anderson, who had just been dumped by Jack Fowler.

Alex seemed to be facing competition from Jack too, as he kissed Laura Crane at the end of the episode, perhaps scuppering his chances to be with the new arrival.

Fans expressed their thoughts over Alex and Alexandra on Twitter, with one writing that she “had a lucky escape”.

“How has the most boring guy in the Villa already gotten bored with one of the nicest, accepting and prettiest girls in the Villa?! Idiot,” the viewer wrote.

“He’s seeing what the other boys are getting away with, he’ll regret this when new Laura snogs Jack.”

One fan wrote: “Alexandra was literally expressing how sad and let down she felt and Alex somehow made it about himself. When we say men are trash everyone will start screaming.”

“Alex is really getting too big for his boots,” another said.

But one shared their “unpopular opinion”, writing: “Dr Alex is not obligated to like Alexandra just because she likes him.”

Others were amused when Alexandra asked Paul – who is also mulling over a romance with Laura Anderson – for a kiss, which he declined.

“I’m so torn because on one hand Dr. Alex is acting like the biggest douche and I feel like a beautiful girl like alexandra should be appreciated – but at the same time I am so cringed out by the whole ‘I wanna kiss you’ thing that I’m almost back on Alexs side,” one fan tweeted.

Another said: “Paul is clearly more into Laura than Alexandra. Bless her for trying but he would have kissed her on the balcony if the feeling was mutual.”

The ITV2 series, which concludes on July 30 and will award the winning couple with a £50,000 prize, will also see a shock departure from two as-yet unknown contestants.

Two hopefuls are reported to made the choice to exit the villa, and their departure will air later this week.

Viewers have speculated that Georgia Steel and Sam Bird, who chose to split in order to remain in the show but struggled with the separation, are the ones who have quit.

Love Island continues on ITV2.