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Entertainment

02nd Jun 2023

All you need to know as Love Island summer series kicks off – Date, time, contestants and more

Sophie Collins

Love Island

Love Island’s summer series kicks off on Monday!

The second Love Island series of the year is kicking off in a matter of days as the latest batch of singles gets ready to head to the famous villa in Majorca.

Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan won the £50,000 prize at the end of the winter series just months ago, and now viewers are gearing up for the first 10 contestants of the summer run.

Love Island’s summer series will kick off on June 5th at 9:00 pm, according to ITV officials.

This means the first episode is right around the corner, and Irish viewers can watch it on ITV or Virgin Media Two each night.

Maya Jama will return to hosting duties, welcoming a brand new line-up of singletons for another summer in the world-famous villa.

Iain Stirling is also back with his hilarious commentary on all the goings on inside the house.

The contestants

Ruchee Gurung

Ruchee Gurung is a 24-year-old beautician from Sutton set to bring “glam and big energy to the Villa”.

Ahead of joining the show, Ruchee said: “I’m single and looking for love, and it’s the perfect opportunity for me to find someone. I’m a relationship kind of girl, but so far it’s not worked out for me. So I’m looking forward to hopefully finding the right person in the Villa.”

Tyrique Hyde

Tyrique Hyde, a 24 but from Essex, is a semi-professional footballer hoping to score in the villa – pardon the pun.

And it seems that a former Islander is backing him as former islander Toby Aromolaran commented on the announcement saying: “You guys aren’t ready.”

But they’re closer than just a comment on Instagram, as Tyrique said: “Toby Aromolaran is one of my best friends, we grew up together and were in the same class at school.”

Molly Marsh

21-year-old Molly is swapping the stage for some sun this summer.

The musical theatre performer from Doncaster has actually been to the villa before on press trips, so she isn’t completely unfamiliar with the whole thing.

She said: “With my job being in social media, I’ve had some amazing opportunities to go on press trips and I’ve actually been out to the Love Island Villas in Mallorca and South Africa.

“Having the experience to walk around both was amazing but to now actually live in the Villa is going to be incredible.”

George Fensom

George Fensom is a 24-year-old Business Development Executive from Bedford whose family say he is the “first person to bring the vibe up”.

He says: “I’m always dancing, I’m always the one who wants to go out. My go-to dance move is what I call the Dad Dance, I’m gonna bring dad jokes and dad dancing to the Villa.”

Catherine Agbaje

22-year-old Catherine Agbaje is the first contestant from Ireland this season to join the show.

Speaking ahead of the show’s launch, Catherine said, “I’m fun, I’m flirty, I’m just never boring. I can chat your ears off!”

The 22-year-old said she is a fun and loving character. She said her family and friends would describe her as someone with a lot of “love to give”.

Mehdi Edno

Communications Manager Mehdi Edno from Bordeaux in France is ready to shake up the villa to find the one.

The 26-year-old said: “I’ve been busy for the last few years with work, and doing my Masters degree but now I’m done with the busy schedule, and ready to find love.

“Looks are important but they aren’t everything, a good sense of humour and someone who is outgoing and up for an adventure is what I’m looking for.”

Ella Thomas

Ella Thomas, a model from Glasgow says: “I’m the whole package, I know what I want in life and I’ve got a big heart.

“I’d let the boys know that I’m wifey material so don’t play with me!”

And she also has a claim to fame, adding: “I’ve been in a Headie One and Burna Burna Boy music video and I was once an extra in World War Z.

“I was 12 years old when I filmed it and got to meet Brad Pitt which was cool.”

Mitchel Taylor

Mitchel Taylor is a 26-year-old Gas Engineer from Sheffield who says he is the ultimate gentleman.

He claims he doesn’t want to “play the field anymore” and wants to settle down and have some kids.

Listing his no-nos, he said: “Food in your teeth and counting coins in your hand. When a girl stands at the bar counting out the coins to pay for a drink, it’s not for me!”

Jess Harding

Next into the Love Island villa is Jess Harding. This stunning babe is 22 years old and lives in London.

She works as an Aesthetics Practitioner and said she has a “big personality and a heart of gold”.

Jess said every boy is giving her the ick right now: “I feel like it’s fate because I’m saving myself for Mr. Right in the Villa.”

André Furtado

Next up it’s André Furtado ladies and gentlemen.

He’s a 22-year-old business owner from Dudley and he speaks four different languages.

These islanders are in store for some Spanish, Portuguese, and Creole lessons over the next few weeks.

Asked about his perfect first date, André said: “I would love to go strawberry picking, I’d want to have a field spelled out in her name, then I’d have to ask her to be my girlfriend. So I’d like to plant a field full of strawberries.”

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