Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Katie Wilson

All the other Love Islanders that have quit the villa as Jacques O'Neill leaves

Jacques O’Neill will dramatically quit the Love Island villa – making him the second Islander to exit the ITV2 show this year.

The rugby player made the decision to walk hours after new bombshell Adam Collard came in and set his sights on Paige Thorne, who he is coupled up with.

A Love Island spokesperson said: “Jacques has made the decision to leave the villa. He will explain his reasons to the Islanders during tonight’s episode.

“We fully support his decision and look forward to seeing what’s next for Jacques.”

His departure comes after Welsh boy Liam Llewellyn sensationally left in the first week of the 2022 series.

While it remains to be seen if any more Love Islanders will walk this season, here we look back at all the other stars who have quit the show since it started.

Zara Holland (2016)

Zara quit the show in 2016 when her mum got ill (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Who can forget the stir Zara Holland caused when she entered the villa back in season two.

The then 23-year-old wasted no time getting close to Alex Bowen – an ex of Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison.

They were so into each other they had a cheeky romp in The Hideaway, which later led to “positive role model” Zara losing her Miss Great Britain crown.

But it was the news her mum was ill that led the former beauty queen to walk from the villa in 2016.

In a statement, she said: “I’m so sad to leave the villa but it's important for me to get home and spend time with my mum while she gets better.

"I've had the time of my life on Love Island and would like to thank all of my fellow Islanders and the production team for all their support."

ITV bosses kept the door open for Zara to return if she wanted to, but it was a fond farewell from Zara in the end.

Rykard Jenkins (2016)

Rykard followed Rachel out of the villa (ITV)

Another season two departure was that of Rykard Jenkins, who quit the show to continue a relationship with dumped Islander Rachel Fenton.

The personal trainer and nurse lasted 18 months as a couple on the outside.

But it almost didn’t happen as it was revealed Rykard had an intimate moment with fellow contestant Olivia Bowen while Rachel slept inches away.

Despite his betrayal, Rachel decided to forgive Rykard, but their love didn’t stand the test of time.

Rykard has no regrets about leaving the villa, as he previously said: “I didn’t want to meet anyone new and I wasn’t there for the prize money.

“I didn’t anticipate Rachel leaving in advance but when it came to it I had made up my mind. If Rachel left the villa, I was going as well.”

Sophie Gradon (2016)

Tragically Sophie took her own life two years after appearing on Love Island (ITV)

The third Love Islander to quit the villa in series two was Sophie Gradon.

The Geordie made the decision to walk after her former flame Tom Powell was voted off.

Although bisexual Sophie started seeing new girl Katie Salmon in the show’s first same-sex pairing, their union didn’t last long.

Realising her relationship with Tom could be jeopardised if she stayed on the show with Katie, she announced she was leaving.

She told her fellow islanders: "Right, that’s it for me. I’m done. Yeah, I’m going to ask [if I can leave].

"I cannot do this, it’s just too much of a mind-f***. It’s not worth it. It’s not worth losing Tom over. I can’t lose Tom, I can’t."

Sadly, Sophie took her own life in June 2018 at the age of 32. Tragically her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong was found dead 20 days after discovering her body at her parent’s house.

Georgia Steel and Sam Bird (2018)

Georgia and Sam couldn't bear to be apart (ITV)

‘Loyal’ Georgia Steel and Sam Bird walked out of the Love Island villa as a couple in season four.

Despite being told they could stay on the show as singletons, the pair found they couldn’t keep their hands off each other – or bear to see each other coupled up with someone else.

It was even revealed the pair had a secret sex session in the bathroom hours before they left the show.

Outside the villa, things seemed to be going well for Georgia and Sam – and they even moved in together.

But it all went wrong when Georgia was accused of cheating on Sam with an ex-boyfriend and it was announced they had split in October 2018.

Samira Mighty (2018)

Samira quit the villa to follow her heart (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Samira Mighty was very much the Queen of the Villa in 2018 – all the girls loved her and the boys sought her wise counsel whenever they were in a pickle with their couplings.

But she did a Rykard and followed her heart when Frankie Foster was booted out of the villa.

After spending three days crying about her lost love, she decided her time on the show was up.

The West End star slept on the decision before finally making up her mind for good.

She told the others: "I’ve not had any connection in here with anyone and I had a little taste of that with Frankie and it’s gone abruptly and I think I’d always be thinking ‘What if.’

"I woke up this morning and I thought, it’s my time to go… I have to do this for me, I’ve never felt so strong."

Samira and Frankie got together in the outside world, but split when Frankie was accused of cheating with another girl.

Niall Aslam (2018)

Niall revealed his Asperger's played a part in him leaving (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Niall Aslam had only been in the villa nine days when he announced he was leaving in season four.

Little was explained about his exit at the time, but the construction worker from Coventry took to Instagram two weeks later to give his reasons.

He said: "For far too long I have suffered in silence and not acknowledged a massive fact about my life which going into the villa has led me to finally realise and accept.

"When I was a young child I was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a fact that until this post has never shared outside of my close family.

"Growing up was extremely difficult for me and I often felt out of place. I always felt that people didn't understand me, yet I was afraid to reveal my true scales as I did not want the label or stigma that was attached to it."

He thanked the team at ITV for their support and looked forward to the next chapter.

Amy Hart (2019)

Amy was heartbroken when Curtis dumped her (ITV)

Amy Hart dramatically quit the villa for the sake of her mental health after Curtis Pritchard broke her heart in season five.

The former air hostess was over the moon when Curtis – who is the brother of Strictly star AJ Pritchard – asked her to be his ‘half-girlfriend’ early on in the show.

But he developed feelings for Maura Higgins and broke it off with Amy as she told him: “I came here to tell you I loved you.”

Outside the villa, Curtis went on to have a doomed relationship with Maura, which lasted eight months.

While Amy has a successful career as a presenter and is currently loved up with new boyfriend Sam Rason, who she wants to marry next year.

Ollie Williams (2020)

Ollie caused controversy on the show with his unusual hobby (ITV/REX)

Posh boy Ollie Williams quit just three days into his stint in winter Love Island in 2020.

It came after his love of trophy hunting animals was revealed and caused a scandal.

The millionaire also claimed to have realised he wasn’t over his ex-girlfriend Laura Nofer. The pair were together for 18 months before splitting last year.

A Love Island spokesperson said: "Ollie has made the decision to leave the Love Island villa."

Explaining his reasons for leaving, Ollie said in the Beach Hut: "I have to be honest with myself, and everyone, that I do still love someone else…

"I have to follow my heart in this scenario and it would be wrong for me to ignore these feelings.

Liberty Poole and Jake Cornish (2021)

Liberty and Jake quit three days before the 2021 final (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

In one of the most shocking Love Island exits ever, Liberty Poole and Jake Cornish quit the show just three days before the final.

The pair decided to walk away from the chance of winning the £50,000 prize money after deciding they “weren’t right for each other”.

They also claimed they didn’t want to take away the top prize from couples who had a real chance at love.

After quitting the villa as friends, Liberty revealed she is no longer in contact with Jake, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight since.

She appeared on Dancing On Ice earlier this year, but was booted off in week five.

Liam Llewellyn (2022)

Liam said he wasn't being himself in the villa (ITV)

Welsh heartthrob Liam Llewellyn was a hit in the Love Island villa this year.

But the 22-year-old, who had initially been coupled up with Gemma Owen, stunned his fellow Islanders when he announced he was leaving after the first week.

Breaking the news around the fire pit, Liam said: “Obviously we all came here for the same sort of reason, but I haven't been giving 100 per cent Liam. I know what 100 per cent Liam is and I'm miles off that.

“Trying to find someone to leave the villa with that you love, that's the goal. But when you're not feeling that, it makes it a very hard sort of time to find that.

"I've been thinking long and hard, it isn't spur of the moment, so I've made a decision I'm going to leave the villa.”

“You are all unreal. I've had an absolute ball,” he added, leaving most of them in tears as he explained his decision to quit the show after only a few days.

Liam had previously explained how rejection would be the worse thing he could experience in the villa.

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.