Love Island is back and temperatures are already soaring at the prospect of even more drama and sexy goings on as the show celebrates its tenth year of playing Cupid. Maya Jama is once again overseeing proceedings, and we’ve already had plenty of twists and turns regarding the line-up of hopefuls looking for love (and maybe a brand deal or two).
The gorgeous host (who’s bagged her own Mr Right in footballer Ruben Dias) has said, ‘I want more drama, more bombshells, more break-ups, more make-ups.’ And, as series 12 kicks off, the producers have cast their nets far and wide to bring us an array of hotties from the worlds of finance, gardening, musical theatre and sport.
With the hit dating show currently ‘on track to hit its KPI on drama’, heat chatted to the new villa residents to get to know them a little bit better – and more specifically – find out exactly what they’re going to bring to the summer’s proceedings…
Alima, 23
A client services executive in wealth management, Alima Gagio’s work is worlds away from Love Island. She says, ‘I’ve never really done anything like this before.’ Don’t cross the Scottish stunner, though, as once you’re out of her life, she says there’s ‘no coming back’. Cold.
Helena, 29
Airline cabin crew member and Londoner Helena Ford is not only pals with former Islander Zara McDermott, she also has a showbiz fan in Justin Bieber, who follows her on Twitter. ‘I used to be a Belieber when I was about 13,’ she says. 'So, I was absolutely gassed.’
Sophie, 29
A traumatic experience as a pyrotechnics performer left Sophie Lee with life-changing burns and a keloid tumour, which led to her being a motivational speaker. Now, the Manchester babe is bringing something ‘refreshing’ to the show – which she says is ‘very much vanity based, let’s be honest’.
Shakira, 22
While marketing exec Shakira Khan believes she’ll fall in love in the villa – with Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury her couple goals – there’s one thing she won’t be doing. ‘My dad’s a Love Island super-fan and told me, “Don’t have sex on TV.” I like to be wined and dined first,’ she says.
Meg, 25
Southampton-born Meg Moore isn’t used to all eyes being on her, as the payroll specialist says, ‘I’m not about this influencer life. It’s been a bit of a nightmare.’ Well, good thing she says she’s ‘happy to go back to her normal job’ after the villa!
Megan, 24
Megan Forte Clarke leads a double life as an energy broker and a musical theatre performer, and the Irish beauty – who moved from Dublin to Brighton – is looking for something a bit different in the villa. She describes her type as a ‘Timothée Chalamet-esque kind of vibe or Tim Burton’. Quirky.
Harry, 30
Footballer Harry Cooksley was supposed to be in an earlier series, but ‘it just wasn’t the right time’. Nicknamed the ‘Surrey Zidane’, he insists he didn’t ‘dump’ someone before heading into the villa. ‘We dated, I told her I was going away for the summer and we left it there,’ he says.
Ben, 23
Gloucester-based Ben Holbrough may be a private-hire taxi driver, but he’s not looking for a ‘passenger princess’. ‘A red flag is if they don’t drive,’ he says. ‘Someone who relies on me too much and just wants me to do everything all the time and doesn’t have any goals or anything going on…’
Conor, 25
Irish rugby player Conor Phillips has only ever had one short relationship, but he’s hoping to find love – and has even deleted his dating apps to prove it! On the downside, his villa-mates should watch out as Conor admits he’s ‘a bit of a shit stirrer’. Great news for viewers!
Blu, 26
Blu Chegini – a construction project manager from London – jokes that the Hideaway may be kitted out with items from his parents' sex shop. Blu laughs, ‘Sex is something we've been open with our whole lives – but it doesn't mean that I've gone in there to do it!’
Dejon, 26
Footballer Dejon Noel-Williams is hoping to score in the villa. The most famous person he’s met is David Beckham! The Londoner reveals, ‘I played a game against his son, and he gave me some really good advice.’ Dejon has also known former Islander Tyrique Hyde since they were babies.
Tommy, 22
Hertfordshire native Tommy Bradley is a landscaping gardener by day and has some interesting beauty tricks by night. He tells heat, ‘I go to bed with a woolly hat on – overnight, my hair will settle and the hat keeps it nice and slicked back, so it doesn't get messed up in my sleep.’ Clever.
Love Island continues nightly at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX