Love Island returns to Irish TV screens tonight with a fresh bunch of lovestruck singletons, all in search of the summer of their lives.
The popular reality show follows a group of young singles who live together in a luxury villa for a number of weeks, with the goal of finding love and winning a cash prize.
The contestants, referred to as ‘Islanders’, are isolated from the outside world and have no contact with friends, family or the internet. Throughout their time in the villa, they participate in various challenges, dates and romantic couplings.
READ MORE: Love Island cast Coronation Street star's daughter and Irish real estate agent for 2023 villa
As the show progresses, the Islanders must navigate love triangles, drama and unexpected twists. They also face regular ‘recouplings’, where they have the chance to switch partners or stay loyal to their current match. Those who fail to couple up risk being eliminated from the villa.
Is Love Island on tonight?
Yes, Love Island begins tonight, Monday June 5.
Host Maya Jama will preside over all the villa action this summer, whilst comedian and narrator Iain Stirling returns to voiceover.
How to watch Love Island in Ireland
Love Island airs on Virgin Media Two and on the Virgin Media Player from 9pm.
How long is Love Island on for?
Love Island's 2023 summer series is expected to run for eight weeks as usual.
Full line-up
Among the 10 singletons set to enter the villa are a Coronation Street star's daughter and a Dublin real estate agent.
Molly Marsh
Molly Marsh, 21, is a musical theatre performer and social media content creator. She has appeared on stage in pantomime and already boasts a considerable Instagram following of 25.6k.
Her mum, Janet Marsh, is a recognised TV actress, having worked on a number of shows, including popular soap Coronation Street.
Janet has starred in multiple roles in the long-running soap, appearing first as a nurse in 2005. She later returned to the cobbles as a receptionist at the Scott-Roe Clinic in March 2008 and then again as an ITU nurse in 2009.
Molly, who is following in her mother's footsteps and turning her talents to TV, shared why she wanted to join the show, saying: "I think it’s ideal timing and the perfect way to find someone.
"I don’t go out and party and I don’t use dating apps, I’m actually quite old-fashioned, so there’s no better way to meet someone than by going into a Villa in the sun with the potential ‘one’ in there."
Asked about her claim to fame, Molly revealed that she's already been inside the Love Island villa, as she explained: "With my job being in social media, I’ve had some amazing opportunities to go on press trips and I’ve actually been out to the Love Island Villas in Mallorca and South Africa.
"Having the experience to walk around both was amazing but to now actually live in the Villa is going to be incredible."
And while her mum may also be an actress, the mother-daughter duo appear to still have a rather down-to-earth life, as Molly reveals they actually live on a farm.
"I live on a farm with my mum, dad, sister, grandma, grandad, aunty, uncle, cousin, cousin’s husband, their baby and chicken" she explained.
Molly will be joined in the villa by Dublin real estate agent Catherine Agbaje.
Catherine Agbaje
The 22-year-old, who is the only Irish contestant confirmed to be taking part so far, describes herself as "fun, flirty and chatty" and works in commercial real estate in London for Kalmars, having moved to the UK city in 2021.
Catherine says: "I’m always smiling, I’m always happy, I’m always laughing. You’ll always see me with a smile on my face."
When asked to share something not many people know about her, Catherine added: "My teeth are real, people always think they are veneers! I had braces when I was younger."
"I have two degrees, I have my undergrad and my masters in Psychology and Sociology and Real Estate."
Her bosses at Kalmars in London describe her as a person who has "brought her enthusiasm, people skills and driven energy to the retail, decentralised office and industrial teams at Kalmars."
"Catherine enjoys travelling, socialising and trying out all the fine dining spots London has to offer," according to her work profile at the UK company.
Catherine qualified with a masters degree in Real Estate Development and Investment from the University of Greenwich following her move from Dublin to London in 2021.
Host Maya Jama will preside over all the villa action this summer, whilst comedian and narrator Iain Stirling returns to voiceover.
Bosses will be hoping that this series delivers some seriously punchy and explosive moments after its winter show struggled to attract viewers, garnering some of its lowest ratings in seven years.
However, the series did follow a record-breaking 2022 season with bucket loads of drama - largely thanks to its fiery winning couple Ekin-Su and Davide.
The couples won't get to choose who they couple up with this year. In fact, it will be the public who chooses who will be partnering up for the start of the new series.
Ruchee Gurung
Beautician Ruchee Gurung has become the first Islander to be announced.
Asked why she wants to join Love Island, the 24-year-old from Sutton said: "I’m single and looking for love, and it’s the perfect opportunity for me to find someone. I’m a relationship kind of girl, but so far it’s not worked out for me.
"So I’m looking forward to hopefully finding the right person in the Villa."
Asked what she doesn't like, she admitted: "Guys with no ambition. I also get the ick if I see a guy wearing white jeans and red trainers. Another one is super skinny jeans when they look like leggings.
"Fashion is such an important thing for me. If I go on a date and the guy isn’t wearing something I like, I’m going home."
Tyrique Hyde
Semi-professional footballer Tyrique Hyde is hoping to find love this summer.
Asked what he'll bring to the villa, he said: "I’ll bring vibes, confidence, good energy and honesty. I don’t sit on the fence, if I have an opinion I will speak up. I’m also not afraid to go after what I want."
He is also pals with former Islander, Toby Aromolaran, as he added of the pair's close bond: "Toby is one of my best friends, we grew up together and were in the same class at school."
George Fensom
George Fensom is a Business Development Executive from Essex.
He's hoping to bring the vibes to the villa this summer, as he reveals: "I’m the first person to bring the vibe up, I’m always dancing, I’m always the one who wants to go out.
"My go-to dance move is what I call the Dad Dance, I’m gonna bring dad jokes and dad dancing to the Villa."
He'd love to couple up with someone like Megan Fox and share the villa with Anne Hegerty from The Chase. He added: "I’m going to go with a little sweetheart called Megan Fox, if you’ve seen Transformers. The second would be Anne Hegerty from The Chase, I wouldn’t crack on with her but I’d have a laugh with her. I’d also like Nigella Lawson to cook something sexy."
Mehdi Edno
Mehdi Edno is hoping to use his French language skills to impress the other Islanders in the villa.
However, he won't be focusing solely on looks to find his new partner. He explained: "Looks are important but they aren’t everything, a good sense of humour and someone who is outgoing and up for an adventure is what I’m looking for."
Asked if he's now ready to find love, he added: "Yes. I’ve been busy for the last few years with work, and doing my Masters degree but now I’m done with the busy schedule, and ready to find love."
Ella Thomas
Model Ella Thomas has brushed shoulders with some very famous people including Brad Pitt.
"I'm the whole package, I know what I want in life and I’ve got a big heart," she said of what she can offer the boys before issuing them a warning: "I’d let the boys know that I’m wifey material so don’t play with me!"
She has starred in a music video and even acted alongside Hollywood star Brad Pitt.
"I’ve been in a Headie One and Burna Burna Boy music video and I was once an extra in World War Z. I was 12 years old when I filmed it and got to meet Brad Pitt which was cool," she shared.
Mitchel Taylor
Gas engineer Mitchel Taylor describes himself as a gentleman.
Asked why someone would want to date him, he said: "I thrive on being a gentleman. I’ll shower you with flowers, I’ll take you on dates, I’ll fill your bedside drawer with your favourite sweets and chocolate. I’ve been single, I’ve had my fun and now I want to settle down."
But food in your teeth gives him the ick.
"Food in your teeth and counting coins in your hand- when a girl stands at the bar counting out the coins to pay for a drink, it’s not for me!"
Jess Harding
Aesthetics practitioner Jess thinks she makes a "really good girlfriend", saying: "I've got quite a big personality and I’ve got a heart of gold. I can stand up for myself if I need to. I’m honest, and I love, love. I’m also a really good girlfriend."
The Londoner said every boy is giving her the "ick" at the moment, adding: "I feel like it’s fate because I’m saving myself for Mr Right in the Villa!"
André Furtado
The 21-year-old business owner from Dudley says he's "charming, I’m going to bring good looks and some language lessons."
"I’m going to teach the other Islanders Portuguese, Spanish and a little bit of Creole. I think I’ve got every slice of the pie."
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