Love Island 2023 – live: New bombshell to arrive tonight and take Ella for a date

Love Island is back for its 10th season, meaning two months of Turkey teeth, snakey behaviour and lots of snogging.

The new summer series featured a major twist for the launch episode as the public voted for which contestants they wanted to see coupled up, but the vote was soon criticised by many fans after the show’s Black stars were paired with each other.

Maya Jama is back on hosting duties after she made her debut on the winter edition earlier this year.

The first batch of contestants in the villa includes model Ella Thomas and semi-professional footballer Tyrique Hyde. Bombshell Whitney Adebayo joined the villa last night (7 June), and immediately formed a connection with Andre. However, the four-year age gap was repeatedly mentioned as a potential roadblock to a relationship.

One newcomer, Molly Marsh, joins the list of “nepo babies” who have appeared throughout the show’s history, from Dani Dyer to Tommy Fury.

Find out all about the 2023 villa here and which former contestants are still together here.

And follow along for live updates...

Key points

• How many weeks is Love Island 2023?

• Meet the cast of this year’s reality dating show

• Love Island: Last season’s winners and all previous champions

• Love Island can’t hide from its ugly past – what place does the series have in 2023?

A brand new bombshell is on his way...

13:26 , Ellie Harrison

Tonight, a brand new bombshell is set to enter the villa, taking three girls of his choosing on a date in the new-look hideaway terrace as it opens its doors for the first time this series.

While relaxing on the day beds, Ella receives a text, which reads:

“Ella, I’m waiting to date you on the hideaway terrace. I’ll give the other two girls a shout later.”

New season praised for diversity

08:40 , Ellie Harrison

Seven out of the 12 current contestants on Love Island are from non-white backgrounds. This comes in contrast to numerous seasons over the years that have been filled with perma-tanned blondes.

Former islander Dami Hope was among those to highlight the positive change...

Love Island fans ‘loving’ diversity in new season ‘after nine seasons of neglect’

Whitney made a strong first impression last night

07:52 , Ellie Harrison

Many fans are praising the London-based entrepreneur’s boldness and sense of humour...

Fans charmed by Whitney Adebayo in latest episode of Love Island

Wednesday 7 June 2023 22:03 , Louis Chilton

Right, that’s another episode of Love Island over with! I’ll stop blogging now. Obviously.

If you’re hungry for some further reading, you can click here for all the latest news stories about the series.

Thanks for being with us!

Wednesday 7 June 2023 22:01 , Louis Chilton

Molly and Mitch getting in on the action too...

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:58 , Louis Chilton

Had to reach for the volume myself...

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:57 , Louis Chilton

“Friendzoning”... I thought that word had fallen out of fashion?

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:55 , Louis Chilton

After playing toastmaster, Andre is now talking about getting manicures. Are we watching Love Island or an episode of Frasier?

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:51 , Louis Chilton

Viewing figures may be way down, but some people are still digging the new series, it seems.

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:48 , Louis Chilton

(That joke brought to you from the year 2020)

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:48 , Louis Chilton

The age gap’s been mentioned a few times now. Can definitely see it becoming an issue further down the line.

Four years doesn’t seem like that long? Tell that to the Trump administration...

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:41 , Louis Chilton

Tyrique seems to be making a stir on social media

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:39 , Louis Chilton

21 and 25... can feel the micro-age-gap discourse revving up already

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:30 , Louis Chilton

And with just one text, Andre’s back in his pomp.

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:28 , Louis Chilton

Keeping his options open, it seems.

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:25 , Louis Chilton

Seems I’m not the only one, either

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:25 , Louis Chilton

Might be the haircut but Zach keeps reminding me of Mateo Kovacic...

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:21 , Louis Chilton

Isobel Lewis actually touched on the criticism Love Island has faced over its lack of LGBT+ inclusivity in this great feature earlier this week.

One for the next ad break, maybe

Love Island can’t hide from its ugly past – what place does the series have in 2023?

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:18 , Louis Chilton

“If you wanna spoon, bro, I’m always here.”

Happy Pride month I guess.

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:12 , Louis Chilton

Digging George’s energy, to be honest. Just a complete guileless transparency to his chat-up game.

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:09 , Louis Chilton

Viewers are reading between the lines there.

Wednesday 7 June 2023 21:06 , Louis Chilton

Bit brutal for Andre, that

Wednesday 7 June 2023 20:59 , Louis Chilton

And it’s time! Back to the villa...

Wednesday 7 June 2023 19:52 , Louis Chilton

Little over an hour to go until the next episode.

There’s a new bombshell incoming...

Watch: Molly and Mitchel share first onscreen kiss after second day in villa

Wednesday 7 June 2023 09:10 , Nicole Vassell

Love Island line up: Meet the contestants and couples of the 2023 summer edition

Wednesday 7 June 2023 08:00 , Nicole Vassell

An estate agent from Dublin! A beautician from Surrey! A comms manager from Bordeaux, France!

You never know who’ll be a contestant on Love Island, and so far there’s a wide range of professions and hometowns represented on season 10, with more to come throughout the summer.

Here’s a look at everyone who’s entered the summer 2023 Love Island villa so far:

Love Island line up: Meet the contestants and couples of the 2023 summer edition

COMMENT: Love Island can’t hide from its ugly past – what place does the series have in 2023?

Wednesday 7 June 2023 07:00 , Nicole Vassell

Though it may be a summer staple, Love Island is far from being everyone’s cup of tea.

As the 10th season of the show (and the 2nd of 2023) gets underway, The Independent’s Isobel Lewis has questioned its relevance in a changing world.

“In an age that ostensibly champions body positivity, Love Island’s continued celebration of conventional hotness, of pert, chiselled bodies available in a skinny to slim size range, is exasperating,” she writes.

“Contestants who aren’t white, particularly Black women, are often poorly treated by the other islanders, with former Black cast members saying they felt like “tokens” on the show. No matter how much ITV talks to the islanders about colourism and unconscious bias before they go in, these problems are never going to go away without a drastic overhaul.”

Here’s the piece in full:

Love Island can’t hide from its ugly past – what place does the series have in 2023?

Love Island’s Coco Lodge claims she was the ‘most trolled’ contestant in show’s history

Wednesday 7 June 2023 06:00 , Nicole Vassell

Former Love Island star Coco Lodge has said she was one of the “most” trolled contestants in the show’s history.

The 28-year-old appeared on 2022’s edition of the ITV reality dating show and was briefly partnered with Andrew Le Page.

In a new interview, Lodge has claimed that she was repeatedly mocked by viewers for her appearance and perceived as a “villain”.

Ellie Muir has the full story:

Love Island’s Coco Lodge says she was ‘most trolled’ contestant in show’s history

Where is Love Island filmed?

Wednesday 7 June 2023 05:00 , Nicole Vassell

Love Island is almost as famous for its villa, full of colour and sunny beach aesthetics, as it is for its catchphrases and addictive viewing qualities.

But where is it? And what does it look like when the contestants aren’t around?

Here’s a closer peek at the villa:

Inside the famous Love Island villa near Majorca

Dating ‘green flags’ to look out for on Love Island – and in your own life

Wednesday 7 June 2023 04:00 , Nicole Vassell

Love Island doesn’t exactly show a typical dating experience, but it can be a jumping point for getting people to examine their own relationships in the real world.

Though there’s never a shortage of “red flags” on display, the show can also give examples of “green flags” – positive dating behaviours that people could benefit from in their search for a partner.

With the help of relationship and dating experts, Imy Brighty-Potts reports on the “green flags” that viewers can note on the show, and in their own lives:

Dating ‘green flags’ to look out for on Love Island – and in your own life

From Gemma Owen to Tommy Fury: All of the nepo babies that have appeared on Love Island

Wednesday 7 June 2023 03:00 , Nicole Vassell

Sometimes, the contestants on Love Island have some awareness of a life of fame and fortune through their loved ones.

Nearly every season, at least one of the hopeful Islanders will be one degree of separation from someone famous. Last year, Gemma, daughter of football star Michael Owen, made it all the way to the grand final with her then-partner, Luca.

Here are all the nepo babies of Love Island:

All of the nepo babies that have appeared on Love Island

Love Island is back: How to buy the iconic water bottles and other merch

Wednesday 7 June 2023 02:00 , Nicole Vassell

If you’ve seen the Love Island water bottles, robes and phone cases and felt a pang of envy in your heart, you’re not alone.

The personalised items on ITV2’s hit dating show are as much of a staple as someone shouting “I’ve got a text!” as soon as their phone pings – and luckily for any super fans reading, you can have a touch of the Majorcan villa right in your home.

Here’s how to get your hands on your own merchandise that’ll have you feeling every part of the Love Island fantasy:

How to buy Love Island 2023 water bottles and other merch

Love Island: Last season’s winners and all previous champions

Wednesday 7 June 2023 01:00 , Nicole Vassell

Later this summer, Love Island will crown its 10th winning pair, walking away with a cash prize and both parties with a new beau on their arm.

But can you remember the nine couples who came before them?

Here’s a walk down memory lane:

Who are the previous winners of Love Island?

WATCH: Two contestants discover they’ve already met during first coupling

Wednesday 7 June 2023 00:00 , Nicole Vassell

Who’s still together from past Love Island seasons?

Tuesday 6 June 2023 23:00 , Nicole Vassell

Though it’s a great way to try to launch yourself as a public figure, Love Island is primarily a programme that helps hot young things find lasting romance.

And for some, it really does work! Years after their on-screen meeting, some couples are still happily in love and have even cemented their unions with weddings and kids. Cute!

Here’s a look at the hall of fame of successful Love Island pairings still going strong today:

All the Love Island couples that are still together now

ICYMI: Love Island fans criticise public vote after Black contestants coupled up, again

Tuesday 6 June 2023 22:30 , Nicole Vassell

In a change to traditional proceedings, Love Island’s initial pairings were the work of voting viewers, rather than the contestants themselves.

However, some viewers noted a lack of imagination when it came to choosing potential mates for the Black contestants.

Catherine Agbaje and Andre Furtado, and Ella Thomas and Tyrique Hyde were partnered up on episode one – meaning, just like in the 2022 season, the Black contestants were solely matched with other Black contestants.

Ellie Harrison reports:

Love Island fans criticise public vote after Black contestants coupled up, again

Tuesday 6 June 2023 22:14 , Nicole Vassell

So far, looks like people are VERY here for this new couple... Team Zacherine’s here in full effect!

Tuesday 6 June 2023 22:06 , Nicole Vassell

People on social media definitely caught how quickly and easily Catherine joined Zachariah, ahem:

Tuesday 6 June 2023 22:05 , Nicole Vassell

And that seals it! Zachariah picks Catherine, leaving André single and potentially vulnerable for elimination... is the sun setting on his time in the villa already?!

Tuesday 6 June 2023 22:01 , Nicole Vassell

AND THERE IT IS. Catherine’s mentioned the “ick” after André’s territorial moment... it’s not looking great!

Tuesday 6 June 2023 22:00 , Nicole Vassell

Manicure check with Ruchee... you love to see it.

Tuesday 6 June 2023 21:58 , Nicole Vassell

Ha, André showing NO subtlety in taking Catherine for a chat while she’s getting to know Zachariah. The game’s the game!

Tuesday 6 June 2023 21:57 , Nicole Vassell

Well, that’s cleared up that! Mitchel’s told Molly that he didn’t really cheat on three women at once, as he wasn’t in a full relationship with either of them.

Crisis averted... for now.