HEY! I just got a text that the new series of Love Island began on 16th January 2023! With a new series that means new hotties that we'll be watching for the next few weeks on ITV2 with new host Maya Jama! I've decided that for these reviews I will film a video review for every episode, followed by a weekly blog with links to all of the reviews! Without anymore delay, let's introduce the first 10 Islanders and my 'first impressions' so far, along with the weekly summary! (To watch my video reviews, click on the dates below)
Monday 16th January 2023 (Episode 1)
Episode 1 of Love Island and I must say, it's quite a good start to the new season. Obviously it's quite difficult to tell you who my favourites are, but all of them definitely have a unique personality and they all bring something different to the show. Pictured above, you can see Lana, Kai, Tanya, Ron, Anna-May, Shaq, Tanyel, Will, Olivia and Haris who we will refer to as the 'OG cast'. Haris and Shaq were the first boy to arrive, and they began their holiday with a glass of bubbly. Shaq is a 24 year old airport security advisor who said something along the lines of 'If I see a pretty girl, there's nothing that will stop me from getting her' and Haris is a 21 year old television salesman who has never been in a serious relationship before. Will, Ron and Kai were the final three OG's who entered the villa. Will introduced himself as a farmer, and I think he has a big following on TikTok, Ron is a 25 year old financial advisor who enjoys boxing, and is also blind in one eye...and I didn't quite catch what Kai does (and I accidentally missed him out in my video review too!), but he is definitely in the villa!
Host of the show Maya Jama made her first entrance to the villa to surprise the boys, asking if they wanted to meet the OG girls! One at a time they walked in and we got a little bit of information about them, before we found out who liked them, and also who each girl wanted to couple up with. First up was 22 year old biomedical science student Tanya who explained that when she flirts, she's usually 'full on flirting', adding that she is usually the last girl standing on the dance floor. Shaq stood forward for her, and she decided to couple up with him instantly! Up next was 20 year old Anna-May, a payroll assistant who explained that she does talk quite a lot...so let's see if she'll talk her way into someone's arms! Ron, Haris and Kai all stood forward for her, but Anna-May decided to couple up with Kai. Lana was next to walk into the villa, and she is a 25 year old makeup artist who is fluent in Spanish and has a tattoo of a cowboy hat. Ron and Will stepped forward, and she coupled up with Ron. Up next was 27 year old actress and ring girl, Olivia, who seemed quite fiery and also made a grand entrance. Haris and Will stepped forward for her but she decided that she wanted to steal Kai, from Anna-May, leaving her single for now. The final girl to enter the villa was Tanyel, the 26 year old Turkish Cypriot hairstylist from North London who had Haris, Kai and Will stepping forward for her, and she decided to steal Kai (for a second time), but this time, from Olivia, also leaving her single for now. Anna-May and Olivia were able to choose out of the last remaining boys, with Anna-May getting the first choice. She coupled with Haris, leaving Olivia to be coupled with Will.
Shaq and Tanya had the first chat of the series, and we found out that they both liked the colour blue, with Tanyel revealing to Kai that she was into star signs for compatability. Kai said to Tanyel that her and Anna-May were the two girls that were standing out to him straightaway. Olivia said to the girls that she fancies Haris, and Tanyel said that she finds Will really funny (but not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing for now!). Olivia replied to Tanyel about that's why she picked Will, before quickly backtracking and saying 'oh wait he picked me...'. Ron said to Lana that is a hopeless romantic, and Lana admitted that she would always give energy, but would get nothing back, so hopefully this could be the start of something different. Tanya said to Shaq that she was 'really feeling it' and they almost had their first kiss, but Tanya said that she wasn't able to do that straightaway and that it would happen 'soon'. Olivia spoke to a small group of the Islanders including Ron, Lana, Shaq and Anna-May, stating that Will wasn't really her type, but that they could be really good friends, and she would sleep on it to see if her decision will have changed.
In other chats, Tanyel explained to Haris that he was similar to her, and he replied by saying that he needs to be with somebody that has looks and also a personality. Ron and Lana found out that they were both 25 and she added that his voice 'sold it for her'. Haris also discussed the three month rule with Anna-May, that if you're not with someone for at least 3 months, the relationship isn't worth continuing, adding that he has never brought a girl back to meet his parents yet. Shaq admitted to Kai that he likes Tanyel, and he said that Anna-May are Olivia are up there for him. Anna-May and Olivia had a quick girls chat, and they agreed that they thought Kai's head would turn straightaway, if another girl entered the villa. Olivia pulled Haris for a chat, saying to him that he shouldn't feel as if he's been rejected, although she didn't choose to couple with him and she purely went based on looks. Haris added that he is 'waiting for the one'. Tanyel and Shaq had a brief chat where she said she wanted to try and get to know Haris or Kai, and I think Shaq said he was open to getting to know Anna-May, Olivia and Tanyel. Lana said to Olivia that she should explore it with Haris because he's very cute, adding that it could be a 'match made in Heaven'. At the end of the episode, Maya Jama re-entered the villa to announce the surprise bombshell Tom, aged 23, and a professional footballer, who was going to choose which girl he wanted to re-couple with in the next 24 hours leaving one boy single.
Tuesday 17th January 2023 (Episode 2)
In the second episode, Tom decided to take all of the girls for a chat, explaining that 'looks only go so far'. He asked the girls if the boys liked him, and Tanyel quickly said that they did, until he came over to speak to the girls first. In the first challenge, the Islanders had a game of Truth or Dare with a lot of snogging and sexual tension. Ron had to snog the best kisser of the villa (Lana), to which Lana said it was a 'strange kiss', maybe because it was only their first one. Tanyel chose to have a dance off with Will, adding that dancing is 'all about the bunda', and Tanya had to snog the boy that she was most likely to share the bed with, choosing Kai, and she said that it was a good kiss. Lana gave Shaq a lapdance, Olivia received a sensual foot massage and suck of the toes by Will and Kai had a threeway kiss with Anna-May and Tanyel. The final two challenges were for Tom to kiss the three 'fittest Islanders' and he chose Lana, Olivia and Tanyel, and Shaq had to do a 10 second orgasm for the girl he fancied the most, and he chose Tanya. Will said that he wanted to speak to all of the girls and Tanyel said that she wanted to get to know Shaq.
Olivia said to the girls that she didn't want the foot massage from Will, and Lana said that she's not 100% sure if she would explore a new person that came into the villa. Bombshell Tom had his first chat with Lana and asked for her type, to which she replied tall, dark and handsome, and Tom added that his usual type is a blonde girl, which Lana said 'I'm the only blonde in here'. He briefly spoke to Tanyel and complimented Olivia on her eye colour, adding that he wants to laugh and also have a good time. Kai said to Tanya that the only guy that can handle Tanyel, is himself, and that Tom and Tanyel were not a good match. Ron and Haris had a little boys chat where Haris said that him and Anna-May were a similar age so the chat between them wasn't awkward, and Tanya complimented Tom on his long legs.
In the next game which was called the 'Dirty Laundry Challenge', each of the Islanders had to slide into a bubble bath, find a club and read a statement which related to one of the others. Up first it was the boys guessing the girl's statements'. Ron had to guess which of the girls created a catfish account to stalk their ex, and was subsequently caught (Olivia), Will had to decide who's favourite sex position was 'Back shots' (incorrectly choosing Lana, and it was in fact Tanya!), and Haris thought that it was Anna-May who had sex in a toilet (when in fact it was Lana), who added that he had a 'sloppy kiss'. Shaq correctly guessed that Anna-May switched going to the gym for a boob job and Tom thought it was Tanya who wouldn't offer to pay if she was taken on a firt date (and it was in fact Tanyel).
Lana thought it was Ron who had a foursome with his mate and two girls (and it was in fact Haris), Anna-May incorrectly guessed Kai as having the talent to pull MILFS (Tom) and Olivia correctly guessed that it was Shaq who pretended to join the army so he didn't have to reply to a girl. Tanya correctly guessed Kai as using hair removal cream before going on a lads holiday, Tanyel guessed Will as pretending he had his Nan's initials on his ankle when it was in fact an ex girlfriend who he met on holiday, and Olivia worked out that Ron had previously been caught having sex in a restaurant.
Shaq had a chat with Ron, with Ron stating that he was a little bit worried about Tom potentially choosing to recouple with Lana, adding that she wouldn't close herself off completely. Ron also had a chat with Lana and explained that he was in fact blind in his right eye after being kicked by a football shoe which broke his retina, adding that it did allow him to have two coloured eyes. Haris said to Olivia that he wasn't going to just sit around and wait for the right person, with Olivia telling him that it's possible Tom could choose to recouple up with her. Olivia did some example ring girl catwalk dancing for Tom as a final bit of assistance on who he was going to recouple with. At the end of the episode he stood by the firepit and said that 'all the girls have different personalities' and in the end he chose to recouple with Olivia, who had a shocked face. It left Will as the only single boy in the villa at the moment, and he received a text that at the end of the week there would be a dumping.
Wednesday 18th January 2023 (Episode 3)
At the beginning of this episode we had a new couple in the villa, Tom and Olivia and Will stated that he was better suited to Olivia and it was time for Will to do more grafting. Olivia said that she was hoping that Tom would pick her as she was wanting to get to know him better. Ron pulled Lana for a chat, before she slipped in her tall white boots, (probably falling for Ron already!), with Lana saying that it would be a shame to cut what they had, when it was still so fresh. Tom said to Olivia that she had a 'good vibe', adding that Lana was his usual type. Tanya said to Shaq that they should stay close, with Tanya adding that she really wanted to kiss him, and after he unsuccessfully went in for a kiss, she said that it could happen 'soon' but she wasn't ready to kiss him yet. Will explained to the boys that he wanted to graft Lana and Olivia, and Haris admitted that he was potentially about to tread on toes as he was also interested in Olivia. Kai added that the boys need to 'secure your ting' or move on.
After a night of sleep, Will woke up with fashionable Zebra hat on, with Olivia explaining to the girls that cuddling is quite intimate and that she wasn't just going to cuddle everyone. Kai, Tom, Ron and Shaq all collectively decided to make breakfast for the girls, with Ron jokingly saying that one of the other boys wanted to know Lana's order as they wanted to make her breakfast. Will pulled Lana for a chat and said that she was his 'number one priority', asking her whether she thinks Ron would be loyal to her in the villa. Haris and Olivia had a quite chat, with haris admitting that he was the most sexually attracted to her and Olivia replied by saying that Tom's looks are growing on her, and that Tom is a lot more mature than Haris. Ron received a text that Zara was waiting for him to go on a date with her, and Tanya also received a text that David was waiting for her. Ron said that he usually goes for fiery girls who take what they want, and we were introduced to 25 year old Zara who is a model, property advisor and artist who says that 'I know how to get attention when I want it', and 24 year old David who is a money advisor that is 'smooth with my words, and I love attention'. On Ron's date with Zara, he said that he was a financial advisor and she explained that she used to be a paraplanner. Tanya said to David that she's usually in London, and enjoys dinners.
Back at the villa, Shaq said that he wasn't worried about Tanya, and that he would let her have a chat with the girls first before speaking to her. Lana and Will were talking to him in the swimming pool who agreed that she will make the decision that is best for her. Ron explained to Zara that he was happy in his couple and that Lana was cute, with Zara adding 'I'm sure I can be cuter'. Tanya said to David that her and Shaq's relationship is very good, but she's not set on him, adding that everyone in the villa was too comfortable. Before the new Islanders entered the villa, Will said to the boys that he wanted their help for a 'glow up Will mission' where they would make sure he was dressed appropriately for the new girl Zara. Lana and Olivia discussed their outfit for the evening, eplaining that black is a sophisticated colour and Lana adding that Ron should 'enjoy his date' but she would dress up super nice to make him jealous of what he was missing during the day. Tanya explained to the girls that David was super confident and not cocky, and that he said he could potentially turn her head, and Zara explained to the girls that she wanted something serious, and wasn't here to mess around. Ron also said to Zara that him and Lana do get on really well, but Zara seems to be ticking a lot of boxes, especially by being friends and also being a homegirl.
Thursday 19th January 2023 (Episode 4)
Episode 4 of Love Island and Zara had a quick chat with Lana about her situation with Ron, saying that 'if he was 100% yours, then the games would definitely be on'. David asked Tanyel if she was open to getting to know him and Zara had a brief chat with Kai who she said was one of the guys that was her type, but she didn't usually go for younger boys, although there was only a year age difference between them. Ron and Tanya agreed that they were both in the same boat as eachother, discussing their couple situations. Ron said that the cockiness could come out of Zara but he's not sure what to do at the moment. Shaq and Tanya seemed to be having a relaxed conversation and David pulled Tanya for a brief chat, asking 'is now a good time for you?' to try and work out where Tanya's head was at.
Ron explained to Lana that his head is in the same place it was at before, but someone else has just been thrown into the mix, with Lana explaining tht 'she's very different to me'. Anna-May said to Kai that she doesn't fancy chatting to any other guys, with Kai adding that his conversations with Anna-May seem really relaxed, unlike his chats with Tanyel that seem forced. Zara did a little catwalk for Will, and she explained that she didn't know what to expect from a farmer, but that he was being super welcoming and friendly. Tanyel had a chat with Kai who pointed out that he hadn't done anything wrong, but she got jealous when he was having his chat with Anna-May earlier on in the afternoon. Shaq and Zara had a conversation where he revealed he was getting to know Tanya, with Zara adding that she wants a max who has confidence, ambition and somebody that she could be dominated by...not a boy who will act like a puppy. Shaq added that she is a 'stunning girl'. Haris pulled Anna-May for a chat and they agreed that after speaking to eachother previously, there maybe wasn't a connection between the two of them, and Tom wanted to do a height check to see how tall Zara was without her heels on. She explained to him that she wanted someone who could keep her on her toes, and Olivia once again doubted whether Haris would be mature enough for her.
After another night of sleep, Will woke everyone up by asking if everyone was alright, and Zara said to David that she felt like they had definitely changed the energy in the villa. Haris said to the boys that he wanted to show Olivia his mature side, and Kai said there was potential with him getting to know Anna-May. David and Tanya said that it felt like something was between them, Kai and Anna-May shared their love for serial killers, with Anna-May adding that Kai is somebody she would bring home to meet her parents, with Kai also revealing that Kai is the only boy that Tanyel has paid attention to, adding that maybe she's jealous of how close he is getting with another girl as she hasn't been rejected before. Tanyel explained to Ron that her top two in the villa were him and Kai, and she said that she was getting to know Ron, as a payback for Kai speaking to another girl. Ron said that she seemed to not be giving much away and Tanyel replied by sauing that she 'needed a couple of days to settle in'.
Olivia and Tanyel had a quick girls chat to discuss how Tanyel was gravitating towrds Ron, and she needs to give both Ron and Kai time, but she feels bad because of Lana being involved as well, although Lana has started talking to new boy Tom. The next game was 'Beer Pong' where a handful of statements and dares were shared between the Islanders. Tanyel had to snog the Islander who was boyfriend material, and she chose Kai. Anna-May kissed Kai, as the boy she fancied the most. David gave Tanya a 30 second snog, Zara snogged Tom as the guy she would have coupled up with, Kai admitted he would introduce Tanya to his family and Shaq kissed Lana on her neck, a place where he likes to be kissed on his own body. Tanya's biggest competition was Lana, Olivia nibbled Tom's ear, admitting she would engage in pillow talk with, with Tom licking Lana who he fancied the most. Up next it was Tanyel who had to choose the Islander who she fancied the most, and kiss them from head to toe...and on the way to Ron, she said to Kai 'get out of the way', with Tanya snogging Tom, Ron and Kai as her top three. Zara's task was to kiss the person on both sides of their face for who she thought was the most two faced, and she went for Olivia. Olivia had to reveal a secret about herself, saying 'I'm not two faced, I'm very straight up'.
Tom said to the boys that he was in a 'bit of a predicament' as he likes both Zara and Olivia, and Zara explained to Tanya that she felt like Olivia was playing a bit of a game, reaching age 27 without having been in a relationship. Olivia said to the other girls Tanyel, Lana and Anna-May that Zara's choice of picking her was 'calculated' and she knew that she would get a reaction. At the end of the episode, Haris asked David how his kiss was with Tanya, with Shaq quickly coming to his own defense and accusing Haris of 'always trying to stir things up', both boys being separated by the other male Islanders, with the girls watching the drama unfold.
Friday 20th January 2023 (Episode 5)
In the final episode of week 1, Haris pulled Shaq for a quick chat to discuss the awkward scene from the night before, with Haris saying that he doesn't like being called a 'sh*t stirrer', with Shaq saying that sometimes Haris doesn't read the room, asking if it's because he is young or that he just has a lot of energy. Shaq added that 'you're immature and you show your age' with Haris saying that he didn't want to hear anymore and quickly ending the conversation. Zara said to Tanya that she felt like all of the girls were surrounding Olivia, and Olivia had a chat with Tom to discuss the events from the previous challenge. She said that she didn't like the fact that he liked her face, and then she went on to call her two faced, with Tom adding that Olivia is a 'slow burner'. She explained that she wasn't going to try and act like she was in a married couple for years, saying that Tom's actions had pushed her 10 steps back from wanting to get to know him.
Lana asked Anna-May why Shaq had started flirting with her, adding whether it was a good idea to mention it to Tanya. Anna-May said that she didn't initiate the kiss, and she also kissed Kai instead of who she was coupled up with, because she fancies him. Shaq saif that he was a little bit disappointed in Tanya in the challenge because she kissed three other guys, and Will said that when she came back from her date, she kissed him. David was listening in to this conversation and decided to walk away, shortly followed by Tom as he felt it was a 'little bit awkward', adding that it was a conversation for them to have and not something that he needed to listen to. David explained to Tanya that he wouldn't have taken her on a date or kissed her in the challenge if he didn't like her, adding that more conversation was probably needed between the two of them. Zara pulled Ron for a chat and he explained that he and Lana had become very close from the start, and based on the conversations that she seems to be having with Tom, he wasn't sure that he should continue trying to get to know Zara.
Shaq spoke to Tanya and said that he felt disrespected in the challenge, and Zara pulled Olivia for a chat, which was initially delayed for the following day, but then Olivia decided that she would have the chat. Zara said that she wanted Olivia to have her own space before speaking about the situation, adding that she thought Olivia would be somebody who wouldn't take the comment too seriously. Olivia replied by saying that she can take banter, but that was personal. Kai said to Anna-May that he hasn't spoken to Tanyel and he doesn't want to be involved in any drama. Ron explained to Lana that Zara is out of the picture now, adding that he wanted a real kiss. She said that she was wearing lipgloss and they both giggled and went in for a kiss. Ron added that it seems like everyone else had the worst night and he's had the best night. Tanyel said to Zara that she thinks Kai kissed another girl to disrespect Tanyel, and Will said that he didn't like how they all argued and didn't get on, wanting to go to sleep on a positive note.
In the morning, Ron said that it was another day for finding love again, with Tanyel jokingly saying that she should have picked Will when she had the chance. In the morning chats, Ron and Lana both spoke about their situations, and Tanya explained that she had to decide whether she was going to get to know David better, or stick with Shaq. Tom said he was 50/50 between Anna-May and Olivia and Kai said he likes both Anna-May and Tanyel, but knows that she got a bit jealous of him speaking to another girl. One of the guys got a text and it said that there was going to be a recoupling, suggesting the Islanders #GraftForGlory as one of the boys was going to be dumped from the villa. Will said to some of the boys that he hasn't found a connection with anyone, Haris said to Will and Kai that Olivia was his type, and Kai said that him and Tanyel are very similar, and that they would be a good couple, but they just needed to open up to eachother. Tanya spoke to David and said that it was nice that somebody came into the villa and chose her, rather than somebody who was in the villa from the start. She said that she either needed to stick with someone because of time, or give someone else a chance, adding that the scariest part of the evening was that someone was being dumped.
Kai explained to Tanyel tht he is always looking at her because he likes her, but questioned if he is the right guy that she wants, and Tom said to Zara that he would be happy to share a bed with her. Haris told Olivia that he won't be playing about, and Tanya reminded Shaq that she wanted a potential husband who was honest and someone who put her first. When it came to the recouplings, Anna-May chose Kai, Zara chose Tom, Olivia chose Haris, Tanya chose Shaq, Tanyel chose Ron - and it was Lana to decide whether she was going to couple up with Will or David, and she chose Will, which meant David was the first Islander to be sent home in this series. Zara explained that it was 'hard to wrap my head around' as David was the fellow bombshell who entered the villa with her, and David explained that it was 'back to normal life for me'. At the end of this week's show, we found out that two previous Love Island Australia Islanders were going to be re-entering the UK villa to try and find love with our British boys and girls!
If you enjoyed the first week of Love Island so far, don't forget to let me know by @'ing me on social media, watching my video review or commenting on this blog post! I'll be back during the week for more daily video reviews, live tweets and weekly blog posts until the end of the series!
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