Love Island ’s Gemma Owen has managed to keep the identity of her famous dad, former footballer Michael Owen, a secret… but how long can she last keeping it under wraps?
The 19-year-old hit the headlines when she made her debut on the ITV2 dating show, and immediately hit it off with Welsh hunk Liam Llewellyn, but she was swept off her feet by Italian stallion Davide Sanclimenti.
Liam shocked the villa when he decided to quit the show, fearing he wouldn’t be able to hit it off with any of the girls, and during his interview on Love Island ’s spin-off show Aftersun, he was gobsmacked when host Laura Whitmore revealed the identity of Gemma's dad.
"I can’t believe who that actually was. That’s mad,” Liam said of the former Manchester United player.
“I’m a United fan. I actually have one of his tops when he came to the club. That first night, we were chatting about football and her family. I was so close. I can’t believe I didn’t quite work it out,” he explained.
And Gemma almost accidentally blurted out who her dad was during a recent chat with Luca Bish, as he quizzed her on who her family would get on best with in the villa.
“You, because you're into football, you're into racing...I think my dad would...I feel like you'd have stuff in common,” she stammered.
The Brighton fishmonger then wondered if Gemma’s dad would “go out and do things together” with him, prompting her to reply: “He was quite close with my first boyfriend and I think he sort of appreciates a guy who is into sport and all of that kind of thing.
“I've heard you talk about football and racing and I'm just like hmmm,” she teased.
However, Gemma was left stunned when her ex-boyfriend, Jacques O’Neill, arrived in the villa over the weekend, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats, as the rugby playing hunk knows who her father is.
The couple dated for eight months, and it’s been reported he was on good terms with Michael and the family until the break-up.
It’s not yet known if Jacques will reveal Gemma’s tightly-kept secret, as she’s been determined to keep her dad’s fame under wraps for fear of being treated differently.
Some fans have speculated that she’s planning on waiting until week six, when the families of the remaining contestants visit the Mallorcan villa.
“It will be week 6 when Gemma reveals who her dad is,” one mused.
“I really hope Gemma stays in until the families visit and that she still hasn’t told anyone who her dad is and then he walks in,” another agreed.
“Gemma has committed. She isn't gonna tell anyone who her dad is and then MO is gonna bounce in when the families visit #LoveIsland,” one wrote.
But will Jacques reveal her secret? Only time will tell…
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2
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