After a two-year hiatus, Winter Love Island is back with a bang!
Rather than located in its beloved home of Majorca, the show has been transported over 5,000 miles away in South Africa's gorgeous Franschhoek wine valley. The brand new plush villa, which overlooks the prison where Nelson Mandela spent his jail term, is set to spark the raunchiest series yet with a number of x-rated additions...
And with a new home comes with a new host. Maya Jama is taking over presenting responsibilities from Laura Whitmore, who quit in the summer. While she admitted that she was nervous ahead of her debut, fans are convinced that she will be a great addition to the show.
Bosses are making sure that Maya will be introduced with as much glamour and fanfare as possible by splurging on an epic stunt in the most expensive series opener yet.
Of course, Love Island wouldn't be anything without its sexy singletons. Among this year's glossy Islanders looking for love (and maybe a PLT deal or two) include a Michelle Keegan body double, a farmer and a rising social media star.
Love Island's Haris spills on unaired row between Zara and Tanyel
It's also been rumoured that, after the explosive reaction to former Islander Adam Collard entering the Love Island villa, another ex-Islander is set to return to the series...
The show has started off with a bang and fans can't wait to see what the series brings.
Thanks for watching along with us this evening as we got stuck into this year's first Winter Love Island drama – the first episode did not disappoint!
This live blog has now ended but you can find all the latest Love Island news here and on our Twitter.
Love Island fans believe two of the 2023 winter series ' new cast are about to clash in the first villa row of the series.
Some viewers believed they had noticed signs two of the girls weren't going to get along, and that it might already be awkward for them.
It all began as Olivia Hawkins made a play for Haris Namani who is paired up with Anna-May Robey, just hours after she stole Anna-May's first potential partner Kai Fagan.
All of the Islanders had to face the first coupling up of the series as usual, with the girls getting to choose which boy they wanted to pair up with.
Olivia was partnered with Will, but later in the episode she confessed she only saw him as a friend and was keen on Haris.
While she did bring this up with Anna-May, she was also seen sharing her hopes with other Islanders - and fans believed things could get awkward.
Molly-Mae hints at showing baby in her first YouTube as she teases special video
Do we sense some drama brewing?
Read more here.
(ITV)Viewers couldn't help but notice a major shake-up to the format seconds into the new series, with many not happy about it.
Some fans called it "jarring" as they noticed for the first time ever it was the boys who entered the villa first, with the girls set to enter one by one.
Read more here.
Smug fans are sure they know who will be the first to be booted from the villa.
Just minute after the show ended, fans took their chance to throw in their two pence on who they think will be first to get the boot.
And poor Will looks like he's taken the brunt of their predictions.
One wrote: "Can I have a taxi from the love island villa please you are looking for a Will Young #LoveIsland."
Anther shared: "Farmer Will won’t last long I’m afraid, can see him walking #LoveIsland."
"I’m not gonna lie, I’m gonna be so mad if Farmer Will leaves Love Island tomorrow without someone giving him a chance #loveisland," a third added, with a fourth sharing: "Will it’s not looking good loooool #LoveIsland."
Read more here.
Love Island fans said Maya Jama was made to host the ITV2 show as she made her debut tonight.
Maya has taken over hosting duties from Laura Whitmore, who stepped down last year.
As the new series kicked off tonight, fans rushed to social media to praise Maya's presenting skills as they described her as a perfect fit for the ITV2 show following Laura's exit from the programme.
They said she was more similar to ex-host Caroline Flack than Laura - saying she was a "natural" at presenting the show just like Caroline had been.
Read more here.
(ITV)Just as the Islanders were getting comfortable, Maya Jama swanned back into the villa to reveal that a bombshell contestant would be joining the party to shake things up!
Viewers got to choose between 25-year-old Ellie Spence, a Business Development Executive at a law firm from Norwich, or Tom Clare, a 23-year-old semi-pro footballer from Barnsley, to enter the villa as a bombshell ahead of tonight's show.
Bombshell Tom Clare is ready to cause chaos! (ITV)Maya revealed that Tom would be the singleton sent in to shake things up.
Ahead of his entrance 6ft 5in heart throb Tom said he wants to find the one who he can envision a future with, adding: "Since my ex, no-one’s really come to me and I’ve thought, ‘Wow’. Until I have that, I’m not going to settle for less. Not in a bad way, but the next person I get with, I want to marry."
"I want to meet someone. It’s good going out and having a laugh but I miss sharing stuff. Life’s too short. These opportunities don’t come around often. I’m a good laugh, a good vibe. I’m not snakey, I don’t like that kind of stuff."
Read more here.
"I don't want to friend-zone him already, but..."
Drama, drama, drama.
The drama is ramping up already as Olivia Hawkins, 27 - who appeared in James Bond film No Time To Die - told the girls she regrets not picking Haris after he stepped forward for her - despite him being coupled up with Anna-May.
She's pulled the TV salesman, 21, for a chat and the pair chatted about their age difference while Olivia made her interest in the Doncaster hunk known.
We don't know what's going on tonight but these blank screens and glitches are getting a bit too frequent for our liking!
Feel like Iâm in the olden days itv can u fix up plz xxx #loveisland pic.twitter.com/A6P1zH4pjH
— cait (@mouldybeansa) January 16, 2023
Love Island was hit with a technical hitch just moments into the new series.
As fans sat down to watch the hotly-anticipated series, hosted by Maya Jama, they took to Twitter to fume over a technical hitch which made the picture disappear for a brief moment before it returned.
It happened as science and PE teacher Kai introduced himself to the viewers at home.
Read more here.
(ITV)Farmer Will finally got picked after remaining single for the whole coupling process.
Olivia was left with the animal lover as the last two Islanders left single.
Read more about all our couples here.
(ITV)Swansea native Anna-May has chosen Haris Namani as her other half after being jilted by Kai.
(ITV)Tanyel Revan has chosen to couple up with Kai after he stepped forward for her, leaving Olivia single.
We can hardly keep up with the drama!
Fans have spotted Olivia's 'fuming' face in the coupling twist.
Asked how she felt about the betrayal by host Maya Jama, Olivia just said: "It is what it is."
Fans, though, couldn't help but notice Olivia's side eye and her fuming look after Kai ditched her for Tanyel.
(ITV)And we have our first sniff of betray as actress and ring girl Olivia Hawkins steals Kai who had already coupled up with Anna-May.
Farmer Will stepped forward for makeup artist Lana Jenkins but she picked Ron Hall, 26, from Essex.
The finance worker lost the sight in his right eye as a child playing football.
(ITV)Anna-May chose science and PE teacher Kai to couple up with after having three of the lads step forward to express their interest in her.
We have our first couple!
Tanya and Shaq have formed Winter Love Island 2023's first pairing.
Tanya, who has been single for a year and a half, is a biomedical student. Ahead of her entrance, she revealed what she’s hoping to get out of the show and what gives her the ‘ick’.
After she strutted into the villa, Shaq stepped forward to express his interest in coupling up with Tanya.
Tanya decided he was the one for her and coupled up with the airport security officer.
(ITV)As the new series begins with a string of new Islanders looking for love, viewers have been quick to take to Twitter to vent their frustration over the new series - and they all had the same complaint.
Taking to social media, one fan said: "Every time I forget how cringe the first episode is, with these little intros of the new islanders in their “every day life” #LoveIsland."
A second added: "The beginning of love island is always cringe sorry #LoveIsland."
"These intros are so cringe can they stop these #LoveIsland," a third shared, whilst a fourth wrote: "Well the #LoveIsland opener introducing the islanders is absolutely cringe. Like I’m still gonna watch the series. But it was cringe.."
Read more here.
The boys have entered the building, and this year's Winter Love Island has offically kicked off.
Every year, there are limits on what islanders can bring into the villa and certain rules they must follow.
Back in 2019, contestant Sherif Lanre was even evicted from the villa for 'breaking the villa rules'.
We've taken a look at what contestants are banned from doing and taking onto the show with them...
Read more here.
Love Island 2023 is set to be a steamy one as the sexy singletons are preparing to head into the South African villa in a bid to find love.
The full line-up of new glossy Islanders looking for love (and maybe a PLT deal or two) include a makeup artist, rising social media star and a rugby hunk.
It's also been rumoured that, after the explosive reaction to former Islander Adam Collard entering the Love Island villa, another ex-Islander is set to return to the series.
Arabella Chi is rumoured to be heading into the villa and even teased the fact on her Instagram page earlier this month.
Read more about this year's Islanders here.
The sizzling line-up of 2023's Love Island (ITV)With the ninth series kicking off in mere moments, viewers have been treated to a first look at Maya's arrival, and she definitely arrives in style as she lands near the South African villa in a helicopter and comes face to face with the group of male Islanders.
As the new series kicks off, a helicopter circles over the Villa and the pilot announces: "Maya Jama on board." As it lands, a glamorous Maya steps out and heads towards the villa ready for the brand new series.
"It’s a new year, in a brand new Villa, it's a stunning location ready for some sexy singles looking for love, all we need now are some Islanders," she says as she heads into the fancy new villa and comes face to face with the boys.
Read more here.
(ITV)Love Island’s Olivia Hawkins said she has No Time To Wait when she gets into the villa tonight– as she has never been in a relationship before.
The 27-year-old Michelle Keegan lookalike, who appeared in James Bond film No Time To Die, insists she is going on the ITV2 show to find “The One”.
With a handful of stage and screen appearances under her belt, Olivia is no stranger to being in the limelight. But ahead of the show’s winter series from South Africa, she said: “I definitely keep my love life separate.
“I’m not on the show to further my career. I’ve never been in a relationship – I wish that I’d had a boyfriend. I’ve met the odd person but no one I’m really interested in.”
Read more from our exclusive chat with Olivia here.
(ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Love Island bosses have released a first glimpse at tonight's episode ahead of the Winter series.
Titled 'There's a twist on day one...', the clip shows fans a look at the swanky South African villa before the boys make their slow-motion entrances.
The hopefuls are seen sat on the beanbags in the garden ahead of the girls' arrival as airport security officer Shaq tells the boys: "There's no point in wasting time, you don't know how long you're going to be here."
Farmer Will Young is then seen saying: "One to the other, to the other, to the other," while snapping his fingers.
Maya Jama then makes her debut as she struts into the villa in a tie-dye dress while the boys cheer.
She asks the boys: "Shall we have a little chat?" before grilling them over who's looking for love and who's looking for fun.
Science and PE teacher Kai Fagan, 24, confesses he's "looking for a wifey" before financial advisor Ron Hall tells how he wants a "nice girl" but wants to "try all the flavours" too before deciding who is his "wifey for lifey".
The girls are shown entering the villa as the boys watch on open-mouthed before all of this year's Islanders enjoy a party to celebrate their first night.
As the romantic-hopefuls get to know each other, something takes them by surprise as they are then shown looking shocked and dismayed by a twist just hours into their experience.
Maya Jama has given Love Island fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the show as she posed in new photos ahead of the new series launch tonight.
Maya, 28, took over as the ITV programme's host after Laura Whitmore shared her decision to quit in August.
And, as she prepared to make her on-screen Love Island debut, Maya posed for a series of sizzling selfies taken from her dressing room.
The snaps show former BBC Radio 1 host Maya wearing a knitted bright red two-piece skirt and bra top as she posed in the doorway of her dressing room.
Read more here.
Maya Jama has given Love Island fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the show (mayajama/Instagram)Ex Love Island stars have spoken out about how social media affected their family as the winter edition of the show kicks off tonight.
It's all change for the Islanders as new host Maya Jama makes her debut in South Africa - but that's not the only difference.
ITV has banned contestants' friends and family from running their social media accounts in a bid to protect them from the "adverse effects of social media".
Read more here.
The first look of tonight's Love Island episode has finally landed - and it involves a major twist.
First to arrive at the plush South African villa are the boys - Shaq, Haris, Will, Ron and Kai. Just as they get chatting, host Maya Jama makes her grand entrance in a helicopter.
Once they're all settled, the girls strut into the villa and pick their men.
But a surprise it waiting in store...
Read more here.
(ITV/REX/Shutterstock)This year, the average age of the starting line-up of girls is higher at 24 in comparison to last year's average of 22. This is partly due to the youngest girl, Anna-May Robey, being 20 in comparison to Gemma Owen, who was 19 when she appeared on the show. There are also two 27 year olds, Tanyel and Olivia, stepping into the South African villa.
For the boys, the average age has gone down from last year's 24 to 23, with the youngest being 21 year old Haris while the oldest is 25 year old Ron Hall.
Read more here...
Coco Lodge is sharing her pearls of wisdom for anyone considering stepping foot in the Love Island villa.
Taking to TikTok, the Casa Amor bombshell revealed her tips - including one for boring poo trips...
"Hey guys, believe it or not, Love Island is back on our screens in just a week," she said. "What the f***, It's only just stopped. I have only just come out of that villa, it feels like. So here's some advice, if you know anyone who is on the show, or you're just interested in some advice I would give to Islanders.
"Number one, don't let them suck your t***y before you commit. So don't do that, don't be silly, keep it in your bra."
She added: "Number two, when you want to go for a poo in there, it's really hard. I actually had to ask for a laxative from the medic team.
"But a trick is, and what we used to do in the villa, I think it was invented by Ekin-Su or Paige, is to take a beauty product, like a hairspray can, into the toilet so you have something to read whilst you poo."
Read more here...
(ITV)Fans were left stunned in the summer after Laura Whitmore abruptly quit Love Island after two years of hosting the hit ITV2 show. But the reason for her exit wouldn't become clear until some months later.
In an Instagram post at the time, Laura alluded to "certain elements" of the show that she had found difficult.
"I wish it was still possible but know you’ll be in safe hands. I was only planning to fill in for Caroline for a series and it turned into 3 series. I hope I did you proud Caroline," she wrote.
Since her departure, she has spoken further about working on Love Island, suggesting that she was forced to 'stay quiet' when it came to sharing her opinions.
Admitting that she struggled remaining impartial, she said: "There was only so much I can do as a host. I couldn't support the islanders or not support them."
Laura said that not being able to speak freely with the islanders was 'hard' for her, as she said that she likes to be able to 'have those conversations'.
In an apparent dig at bosses, she added: "If I could have done things the way I wanted to, I'd probably still be doing it."
Read more here...
(REX/Shutterstock)
