Love Island summer 2023 is just weeks away so Reality Titbit has the latest update on the start date, and confirmed host and voice-over.
Love Island is gearing up for its 10th series this summer after ITV confirmed a double helping of the show for 2023.
The last time we saw a batch of hopeful singles was in March after social worker Sanam Harrinanan and school teacher Kai Fagan took the crown in the South African winter edition.
As always, the winning couple will take home £50,000 from ITV so what’s in store for summer 2023? Here’s everything we know about the upcoming show so far.
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Love Island summer 2023 start date and when does it finish?
ITV has confirmed that things will kick off on Monday, June 5 at 9pm BST.
The show will reportedly run for eight weeks, so contestants will be in the villa for up to two months.
The finale is expected to air on Monday, July 31.
Episode one will see the fan-voted couples get together, before participating in a series of risque games to heat things up. Favourite games include the Heart Rate Challenge, during which the scantily-clad islanders dance on their peers in a bid to raise their heart rates.
As bombshells enter the villa, dedicated couples are hoping their partner’s head doesn’t get turned, but Casa Amor is the ultimate test as the boys and girls are faced with a new batch of bombshells without their partners in sight.
Who is hosting Love Island 2023?
Maya Jama is returning as host after taking the helm last series. The presenter proved to be a popular choice as she turned heads with her enthusiastic energy and stunning fashion choices.
She took over the duty from Laura Whitmore, who joined in season 6. Irish presenter Laura exited the show due to the “difficult elements” of the winter series, including flying back and forth to South Africa for the recouplings.
Whitmore, 38, originally stepped in as a stand-in for ex-host Caroline Flack after the latter faced assault allegations involving her partner, Lewis Burton. Flack’s body was found in her North East London home on February 15, 2020. A coroner ruled her death as suicide. Caroline was 40 years old.
ITV postponed one episode in tribute before beginning the next broadcast with a heart-wrenching message by narrator Iain Stirling.
“We are all absolutely devastated by the tragic news that Caroline, a much-loved member of our Love Island family, has passed away,” he said. “Her passion, warmth, and infectious enthusiasm were a crucial part of what made the show connect with millions of viewers.”
Laura also paid tribute to her friend, praising Caroline as “vivacious, loving, and had a passion for life.”
Who does the Love Island 2023 voice-over?
Iain Stirling is expected to be the narrator once again – it wouldn’t be Love Island without his distinct Scottish accent subtly roasting the contestants.
The 35-year-old married former host Laura in 2020 and welcomed a daughter called Stevie in March 2021.
Where is Love Island filmed?
This year’s summer season is expected to take place in the Love Island villa in Mallorca that viewers will recognize from season 8.
The main love nest was Sa Vinyassa in Sant Llorenç Des Cardassar, and Casa Amor was the nearby Alchemy Villa.
The villa is currently undergoing a transformation ahead of the new season, with the firepit being the main makeover focus given it is the backdrop of the dramatic dumpings and recouplings.
Love Island faced demands for cancellation
Following the passing of Caroline and ex-Love Islanders Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis, there have been calls to cancel the show given the islanders’ exposure to brutal online hate. Upon their entrance, recent stars have been given training on “mutually respectful behaviour in relationships” following a surge of complaints over alleged bullying.
ITV has also improved mental health support and aftercare to help the celebs cope with their newfound fame.
It is Love Island tradition to have families control the contestants’ social media while they were in the villa, but season 9 was the first series to scrap the system to protect both the islanders and their families from “the adverse effects of social media”.
Previous Love Island winners
Over eight years, Love Island has crowned nine pairs of love birds:
- Season 1 – Jess Hayes and Max Morley
- Season 2 – Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey
- Season 3 – Amber Davies and Kem Centinay
- Season 4 – Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham
- Season 5 – Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea
- Season 6 – Finn Tapp and Paige Turley
- Season 7 – Liam Reardon and Millie Court
- Season 8 – Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Sanclimenti
- Season 9 – Sanam Harrinanan and Kai Fagan
Other than the £50,000 prize money, winners can expect countless brand collaborations and ambassador opportunities knocking on their doors. After Ekin-Su and Davide’s victory, the couple went on to work with the likes of Oh Polly, Boohoo, and Google.
Even if islanders do not win, the brand deals will roll in. Season 5 runner-up Molly-Mae Hague’s rise to success since Love Island includes the role as Pretty Little Thing’s creative director, making her the most lucrative islander. She has an estimated £6 million net worth and a joint fortune of £9 million with partner Tommy Fury.
Which Love Island winners are still together?
Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey
The season 2 stars are the first winners to tie the knot. They welcomed their first son, Freddie, in December 2017 but briefly split during her pregnancy. The couple reunited shortly after the birth and became engaged in July 2018.
Cara and Nathan married in 2019 and their baby girl, Delilah, joined the family.
They are the third Love Island couple to say “I do”. Season 2’s Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen were the first pair to marry, followed by Jessica Shears and Dom Lever of season 3.
Davide Sancliment and Ekin-Cu Culculoglu
Recent breakup rumours have been swirling, but Ekin-Su has made it clear that she and her Italian stallion are going strong.
Haters accused the couple of putting on a fake relationship for publicity, but Ekin-Su dispelled the gossip in her Ok! Magazine interview. “I don’t feel like we need to prove anything to anyone about our relationship,” she said. “We are happy and in love and that’s all that matters.”
The pair have been living together in a London apartment since November 2022 – take that haters!
Sanam Harrinanan and Kai Fagan
Sanam and Kai left the South African villa in mid-March, so they’re still in the honeymoon period.
They made history as the first pair to win after coupling up following Casa Amor.
Sanam entered Casa as a bombshell on day 29, and despite the other girls landing a smooch on the boys, Sanam was the only Casa girl to make it into the main villa after Kai chose to ditch Olivia Hawkins.