Now that there’s two series of Love Island a year (plus a plethora of unnecessary spin-offs), it’s harder than ever to keep up with all of the Islanders’ post-villa love lives. However, someone who has caught our attention lately is winter Love Island 2023 fave Claudia Fogarty, who has been slowly showcasing her new boyf to the world (in the most 2023/influencer-esque way).
Claudia, who let's be honest, was pretty unlucky in love in the villa – thanks, in part, to indecisive bombshell Casey O'Gorman - first teased her new relationship last week when she shared a picture of herself on a “date night” at swanky Manchester restaurant Australasia.
Although she didn’t reveal the identity of her date (at the time), keeping his face out of the picture, a mystery man could be seen in the background of her snap.
Claudia also suggested she was involved in a new romance when she posted a TikTik video about “finding a new man” rather than “getting back with your ex”. Ooop.
Well, fast forward a week or so and it seems the identity of Claudia’s new man has been revealed in yet another of her Instagram Stories.
As well as sharing a picture of their snacks as they enjoyed another romantic date night at the cinema, Claudia shared another picture of her and her beau’s matching trainers and revealed his identity as footballer Olly Crankshaw when she captioned the post, “Who copied who? @ollycrankshaw.”
Predictably, a dramatic grid post/hard launch soon followed and we have to say – now we've had a good look at him (in the name of journalistic research, ofc) – Olly looks A LOT like Casey O'Gorman.
And we're certainly not the only ones to think so. As well as the usual well wishes and congrats from fellow Islanders, Claudia's post comments have been flooded with followers feeling the need to tell our Clauds that her new boyf looks just like her villa ex. The hair, the grin, even the head shape... we can't exactly disagree.
One follower commented, "YOU HAVE A TYPE."
Another fan wrote, "PLS I SAW THIS AND 10000% THOUGHT IT WAS CASEY."
While a third commented, "That looks like Casey."
Interestingly, as we were writing this story, Casey – who is still good friends with Claudia – took to the comments to show his support, writing, "❤️❤️❤️ !!!!!"
Who is Olly Crankshaw?
Olly currently plays as a winger for National League side Altrincham and, while his Instagram account is private, he is followed on social media by both Claudia and her villa bestie Tom Clare – only fuelling the romance rumours.
What happened with Claudia Fogarty and Casey O'Gorman?
The Islander’s latest romance is her first public relationship since she revealed she’d “overstepped the friendship mark” with her on/off Love Island flame Casey.
Viewers of the winter 2023 series will know that Claudia and Casey coupled up when she entered the villa as a bombshell and things were going well until Casa Amor rolled around and Casey got up close and personal with Cynthia Otseh-Taiwo on the terrace.
Although he eventually chose to stay loyal to Claudia, she was NOT happy when she found out about his Casa Amor antics and even less so when another bombshell, Rosie Seabrook, entered the villa and turned Casey’s head completely.
But Claudia confirmed she and Casey had briefly rekindled their romance outside the villa when she appeared on the Nip Tuck podcast back in July.
“We have overstepped the friendship mark in the past, I’m not going to deny that – I think it’s pretty obvious to everyone,” she told hosts Ashley Stobart and Lauren Harris.
But although they have “so much love” for each other, Claudia and Casey decided to remain “really good friends”.
“I think we’ll always have love for each other, I just don’t know if either of us would want to overstep that barrier again, because if we did it would ruin a friendship if something went wrong,” she added.