Zara McDermott has lashed out at Dr Alex for how he 'swayed' Adam Collard to stay in the Love Island villa after she was eliminated.

The brunette, 21, was unceremoniously booted off the reality show before barely getting her feet under the table in a shock elimination mid-way through the season.

Her partner, Adam, 22, chose to remain on the show despite claiming to be smitten with Zara, happily waving her off as she walked into the sunset.

Deluded? Zara McDermott has lashed out at Dr Alex for how he 'swayed' Adam Collard to stay in the Love Island villa after she was eliminated

But rather than blame him for this, Zara has pinned it on Dr Alex, who advised Adam not to make any rash decisions.

Speaking to MailOnline, Zara said: 'I like Alex, but he was one of the main reasons why Adam didn't leave when he could have. Alex was one of the main people that convinced him not to leave and I think that was quite selfish of Alex to do that.

'Because Alex was trying to keep Adam in because that's his mate, but not thinking, "Well, actually, this is Love Island, and he's found someone he loves, so why shouldn't he [go]?" That's the thing that disappointed me.'

Chiming in, Adam added: 'I love Alex, and I guarantee me and Alex will be great friends - the best of friends - when he comes out. And I'm a grown-up. Alex had my [best] intentions at heart, but I didn't tell him how real I was with Zara.

Passing the buck? Rather than blame Adam for not leaving the villa when Zara left, she has pinned it on Dr Alex, who advised Adam not to make any rash decisions

'When I love someone, I don't tell everybody around us, and I know myself and I don't need to tell anyone. And I think if Alex saw me and Zara now, he wouldn't have kept me in. And I'm not saying he kept me in, because I'm a big boy and I make my own decisions...

'One of the main opinions in the house that I took on board was Alex's, because he is the most genuine, nice person in the world. He really is. And also, he's a smart boy. He's very rational.

'Me and Wes will be best friends as well, but Wes is a boy's boy. I would have expected it from Wes. Wes was like,"You know, just stay and have a laugh and see what happens," whereas Alex was almost like, "You need to stay in, because you don't know what's next."

Zara's rationale that Adam was unable to make his own choices doesn't explain why he stayed in the villa, or why he immediately coupled up with new girl Darylle Sergeant.

Yet Zara has still convinced herself she has 'tamed' Adam.

Speaking to MailOnline, Zara said: 'I like Alex, but he was one of the main reasons why Adam didn't leave when he could have'

Speaking about controversial couple Megan and Wes, she said: 'I feel like Megan and Wes had so much more of a journey together and have found each other in a way. And I think that that's really amazing.

'It's almost like Wes has tamed Megan, like I tamed Adam!'

Tamed or not, Adam has spent the majority of his post Love Island fame partying at PAs up and down the nation, while Zara waits for him at home.

There has been time for a few dates, however.

'It's so much better [being out of the villa]. I can take her on a real date instead of going down to the bean bags. I can actually take her for food and go for nice drinks. It's been amazing.'

Bringing home the bacon? Adam has spent the majority of his post Love Island fame partying at PAs up and down the nation, while Zara waits for him at home

Hmmmmm: Zara's rationale that Adam was unable to make his own choices doesn't explain why he stayed in the villa, or why he immediately coupled up with new girl Darylle Sergeant

The pair have moved in with each other, in so far as Adam now lives with Zara at her parents' house.

'Zara's family and her little brother's amazing and I'm enjoying being with her. I think I've been home [to Newcastle] twice in however long I've been back.

'I've probably only been home for 24 hours, so it's definitely a good sign. And I think [moving in together is] something we'll probably look toward soon. I think it's natural to speak about your future, and I think we are being realistic about things.

Kidding herself? 'Alex was one of the main people that convinced him not to leave and I think that was quite selfish of Alex to do that,' said Zara

Tamed? 'It's almost like Wes has tamed Megan, like I tamed Adam,' said Zara

'I want to move forward with Zara, and I've never felt like this about anyone before. Whether that was because of Love Island or not, it still happened.'

Adam admits to being wary of meeting Zara's parents initially: 'It's always nerve wracking to meet the parents. It's natural. But it's weird - I knew that Zara would be fighting my corner, even when I was in there, because she can see from my face when I'm into something and when I'm not into something.

'Even if I stayed in [the villa] by myself, and went all the way through for some weird reason and I never got voted off, I still always knew that in the back of my head she would know how I was feeling, just because we knew each other.

'When I came out, I rang my dad straight away, he was the first person I rang, and he went, "You need to Google Zara now and see what she's been saying." We just get each other.'

Love Island continues nightly on ITV2 at 9PM.