As hard as Love Island: All Stars slapped, let's be honest, it would've slapped even harder if series icon Scott-van-der-Sluis had walked through those villa doors as a bombshell.
His name has been rumoured ever since the spin-off show was first announced in 2023, and fans anticipated his arrival the second it was confirmed his villa ex Catherine Agbaje was entering the All Stars 2025 villa as an OG as All Stars is basically Celebrity Ex on the Beach at this point.
Alas, Scott never showed – which we have to say we were a little surprised by. After all, almost immediately after taking part in Love Island 2023 (and cementing himself as a supreme fan favourite), he was whisked off away to America to take part in Love Island USA, and only a few weeks later, was in Fiji taking part in Love Island Games.
SURELY, that's All Stars behaviour?
As far as we can tell, Love Island producers have been keen to get Scott on All Stars, but he has turned them down on every occasion, something he has recently opened up about.
Appearing on his Love Island mate Lochan Nowacki's YouTube channel, Scott revealed that he almost appeared on All Stars 2025, but in the end, decided to turn it down. Boo.
While he might not have rocked up in South Africa to spill the tea, he was more than happy to do it on Lochan's YouTube show, opening up about what he's been up to since his summer filming various Love Islands, his friendship with All Star finalist Luca Bish, his relationship status, and erm, his real age...
Okay, it's not like he's been keeping his age hidden, but when he reminded Lochan (and everyone else) that he was just 24 – meaning he was 22 when he starred on Love Island 2023 (one of the youngest Islanders that year) – we gagged a little.
Smashing three series of Love Island at 22 years old and turning down Love Island: All Stars at 24 is rather iconic in our books.
Speaking to Lochan about his single status, Scott reminded everyone that at just 24, looking for love just isn't his priority right now (and fair).
He said, 'I don’t think I will ever be out looking to find love, like specifically. Unless you’re on a show then you’re open to it then, but there’s no point outside of that. If it comes, it comes. I don’t feel like there’s ever a time in your life where you’re completely closed off to a relationship. If the right person comes – no matter what stage of your life you’re in – you’ve got to do something about it, but it’s not at the moment. I’m 24, I was one of the youngest in our villa, people forget that sometimes.'
We definitely did; especially considering the age of most All Stars these days is 30 plus.
Just to hammer it home – that means Scott was born in 2001, btw. BRB, off to trowel on some retinol before our next meeting.
WATCH: They smashed it 👏
Ben Pulsford is a digital writer for Bauer Media, writing for both Closer online and heatworld. He also hosts podcast, Spill the Fizz alongside The Traitors legend, Diane Carson. When he's not getting paid to gossip about Big Brother, Love Island, and The Real Housewives of Cheshire, he's storming the London LGBTQ+ scene as drag queen, Beary Poppins 💅.