Love Island winter launch talking points, from Maya Jama’s debut to a new footballer bombshell

Dating show is back with a winter series filmed in South Africa

Love Island winter cast revealed in new video

It might be cold here in the UK, but Love Island is officially back with a new cohort of singles travelling to South Africa for a winter of fun.

The ITV2 dating show returned on Monday night (16 January) for its first winter edition since the pre-pandemic 2020 series.

Taking over hosting duties from Laura Whitmore was Maya Jama who made quite the impression on viewers in her debut.

The first episode introduced this year’s initial line-up of islanders – including Will, a TikTok-famous farmer, Olivia, a ring girl and actor, and Ron, the show’s first partially sighted contestant.

With the girls getting first pick, the 10 islanders were eventually paired off into five couples – but it’s still early days and more than a few have already set their sights on someone new.

Monday’s episode (16 January) also came with a twist.

The public had been voting on who they want to be the first “bombshell” to enter the villa: semi-pro footballer Tom Clare or business development executive Ellie Spence.

Below you can find six of the episode’s major talking points...

(ITV)

Haris has a very specific type of girl in mind

The hit ITV2 reality series pretty much ushered in the age of the “ick” – a term used to describe a typically superifical quality in someone that you find unattractive – but even for Love Island, Haris’s personal tastes are pretty niche.

The TV salesman from Doncaster made it clear that he wants his future girlfriend to have size five feet or smaller. For Europeans out there, that’s equivalent to a 38. How peculiar... His admission raised more than a few eyebrows among viewers on Twitter. Haris seems to have shot himself in his own foot, however, after Maya Jama informs the group that she’s a size six and a half. Tough luck.

Olivia was unafraid to ruffle feathers

Viewers got their first taste of drama thanks to Olivia. The ring girl and actor – who, among other credits, can be seen in Daniel Craig’s No Time To Die – definitely didn’t go for the easy option when it came to choosing her partner.

Both Haris and Will stepped forward for Olivia when she entered the villa, but she only had eyes for Kai despite the fact he was already coupled up with Anna-May. The pairing didn’t last long, however, with Kai soon declaring his interest in Tanyel. Suddenly without a partner, Olivia was left with Will who, as she later told the girls, she is mostly interested in as a friend. Instead, she has her eye on Haris, who is coupled up with Anna-May. Trouble may very well be brewing!

Maya Jama is a hit

Reviews of the series so far have been middling at best (aren’t they always for the first episode? Give it a chance, people) but one thing everyone can agree on is that Maya Jama is a perfect host.

(ITV)

“Is Maya Jama allowed to win?” questioned one viewer, with another adding: “Just give Maya Jama the 50k now.” Someone else joked: “So basically we are all in agreement Maya Jama has won this Love Island series...” You can find out everything we know about Love Island’s new host here.

ITV hit with technical glitches

It’s not a highly anticipated episode of a hit series without a few technical glitches along the way – and Love Island suffered more than its fair share.

Midway through the braodcast, the screen turned to black on multiple occassions, even once flashing green – leaving many viewers to question whether it was a network issue or a problem with their own TV. It turns out the latter was true, so at least you can rest assured that you weren’t the only one who missed out on whatever chirpsing went down between Kai and Tanyel.

(ITV)

Team Shaq and Tanya has formed

Of course, it’s early days but allegiances have begun to form – and if first impressions are anything to go by, it looks like Love Island fans are hoping Shaq and Tanya make it to the end.

Shaq was the only boy to step forward for Tanya, who was the first girl to enter the villa – and it seems he made the right choice, with the pair appearing to have genuine chemistry, something that is in short supply in this Love Island villa... for now, at least.

Tom is ready to stir the pot

The votes are in – and it’s Tom Clare who is the first bombshell to enter the villa. Of course, this being Love Island, the revelation was only announced approximately 90 seconds before the episode ended, meaning that we got only got a mere glimpse of the new bombshell as he entered the villa.

The 23-year-old footballer plays for non-league Macclesfield DC, and has made it no secret that he is happy to make a play for whichever girl he likes – no matter who she’s coupled up with. Given he’s a self-confessed fan of blondes, Ron – who is looking lovey-dovey with Lana – better watch out.

(ITV)

Behind the scenes, another major change has happened, as the contestants have been asked for the first time to make their accounts “dormant” while they appear on the show.

ITV hopes the measure will help protect the contestants’ mental health. Usually, friends and family of the islanders run their accounts while they’re away.

Follow for updates from the opening episode here...

[16 January 2023 19:33 · Annabel Nugent]

Maya Jama is ready to enter the villa!

Maya Jama will be making her Love Island debut tonight, taking over from previous host Laura Whitmore.

[16 January 2023 19:45 · Annabel Nugent]

Meet Olivia Hawkins – the James Bond actor who was also Emma Watson’s body double

Film buffs may see a familiar face on tonight’s episode of Love Island.

Joining this year’s line-up is 27-year-old Olivia Hawkins, a ring girl and actor. Olivia has many notable credits to her name, including the James Bond film No Time to Die and the hit Netflix series Top Boy.

Find out what else Olivia has starred in here...

[16 January 2023 20:00 · Annabel Nugent]

The countdown is on...

There is only 60 minutes left until Love Island season nine begins – and we’re plunged into yet another eight weeks of love, drama, and very niche slang.

[16 January 2023 20:15 · Annabel Nugent]

Ekin-Su nods to her Love Island stint during her first routine for Dancing on Ice

Last summer’s winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu has since made her mark on another reality TV series.

Yesterday (15 January), she made her debut as a contestant on Dancing on Ice with a performance to “Toxic” by Britney Spears. Love Island fans noticed that her performance included a hilarious nod to her time on the dating programme.

[16 January 2023 20:30 · Annabel Nugent]

This isn’t the first winter edition – though, you’ve probably forgotten the first one

This isn’t the first time that Love Island has aired a winter edition of the series.

In 2020, Laura Whitmore presented season six, which also took place in Cape Town and was won by Paige and Finn.

You’d be forgiven for forgetting the season, which was ultimately pretty unmemorable. Here’s hoping that season nine is more entertaining!

Finn and Paige on series six of ‘Love Island' (ITV)

[16 January 2023 20:45 · Annabel Nugent]

Life After Love Island...

After tomorrow’s episode of Love Island, Channel 4 will be airing a documentary titled Life After Love Island, which explores what happens to contestants once they leave the show.

In it, past islanders will open up about what it was like to exit the villa and enter their news lives of fame and sponsorships.

[16 January 2023 20:55 · Annabel Nugent]

T-minus five minutes

Here we go... five minutes until Love Island begins and a whole new cohort of sexy singletons take to the villa to find love. Or at the very least, fame.

[16 January 2023 20:59 · Annabel Nugent]

And so it begins...

And we’re off to South Africa!

[16 January 2023 21:02 · Annabel Nugent]

First look at Maya Jama as host

Not everyone is keen on Love Island but turns out everyone is keen on Maya Jama...

[16 January 2023 21:04 · Annabel Nugent]

Is there any sound more comforting than Iain Stirling’s voice?

Everyone’s favourite Scot is back commentating.