Whenever summer rolls around and we’re introduced to a fresh batch of Islanders, we’re so starved for entertainment and sun that we immediately praise it as the best series ever. But please trust us when we say that this year, ITV have actually served up the best Love Island series we’re ever tuned in for.
Look, Love Island 2019 with Molly-Mae Hague, Tommy Fury and Maura Higgins will always live in our hearts, and so too with Love Island 2018 with Georgia Steel, Dani Dyer and Megan Barton-Hanson. But there’s something in the air with series 2025, and we think we’ve figured out why.
The Islanders have cracked the code
At this stage, everyone who goes on Love Island knows that they’re very likely to leave with a brand deal and are slightly less likely to leave with the love of their life. For a while, we’ll admit, this made the formula a little stale. However, this year, we’ve come full circle. These Islanders know we want drama, and they’re giving it.
For example, love him or hate him, but Harry Cooksley has been delivering some amazing TV - like when he took Yasmin Pettet to the hideaway and then lied about kissing her to Helena Ford, it was TV gold. Well, to be totally accurate, and to quote Yasmin, ‘It was twice actually.’ Sure, you could argue that he’s just doing what he likes, but we think we’re in the presence of a man who knows what his audience wants to see.
The girls don’t back down
Speaking of Yasmin, AKA the unofficial winner of Love Island, she has shown that this season, the girls aren’t taking any shit. When Ben Holbrough reverted to a five-year-old boy and told her, ‘I didn’t really want you’ and ‘No one rated you when you was in here’ - she didn’t even break a sweat, and maintained her perfect posture while telling him, ‘Waste my money, waste whatever, but don’t waste my time.’ The one liners are really giving this series - in fact, that could be an entire article in itself.
Similarly, when Remell Mulllins returned from his sleepover ready to resume things with Alima Gagigodespite spending two days kissing Poppy Harrison, the Scottish babe wasn’t having any of it. She quickly made it clear that things were completely over between them, telling him, 'You were a dickhead to both of us, to her and to me. You sold her a dream.’ These girls know who they are, and it’s making for some great TV.
The twists have been more brutal than ever
When the producers teased a mini-Casa Amor sleepover, our jaws were on the floor, but they didn’t stop there. It turned out, if the Islanders chose to recouple with a new bombshell, the person they were coupled up with in the main villa would be dumped. When Helena chose to recouple with Giorgio Russo, Shea Mannings was sent packing, proving that the producers aren’t playing around this season.
Needless to say, we can’t wait to see what else the producers have in store.
WATCH Remember Toni and Emily's epic feud? Well, Malisha has spilled the tea...
Sarah O’Byrne is a News and Entertainment writer for Bauer Media. She writes for heat, Closer, Bella, Grazia, Yours and Crime Monthly. Although this is her job, she’d gladly write about Love Island for free.