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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Ellie Kemp

ITV Love Island's Shaq Muhammad - the 'catch' who wears his heart on his sleeve

Love Island is back to heat up our miserable, cold winter, returning to our screens on Monday (January 16).

It's all change this series, as not only are the islanders jetting off to a new location, but there is also a new host. A luxury villa in South Africa will be home to the contestants for the next eight weeks, as they embark on their journey to find 'the one' - and have the chance to bag £50,000.

Meanwhile TV and radio presenter Maya Jama is taking over as host from Laura Whitmore, who announced she was stepping down from the show in August following the last summer series. Among those taking part in the ITV reality show is airport security officer Shaq Muhammad.

READ MORE: Winter Love Island line-up revealed in full

The 24-year-old from London admits he wears his heart on his sleeve and is hoping to find his future wife on Love Island. Explaining why he's entering the villa, Shaq said: "I haven’t had the best luck with previous relationships.

"So I thought, why not be in the sun and potentially meet the love of my life? Hopefully I do come out with my future wife. The person I hope to marry one day. Hopefully she’s in the Villa."

He describes himself as an emotional person which can be 'a blessing and a curse,' adding: "If I find someone I click with, I fall very hard, very fast. Sometimes that can be a bad thing."

But Shaq thinks of himself as a catch and says he always gets on with his partner's parents. He said: "I’m a great boyfriend. I’m very kind and thoughtful. Parents always love me. They say, ‘He’s a good person, you should marry him!’ Once I’m with someone I’m always all about that person. I’m very vocal about that."

Shaq has been single for almost two years as he hasn't had a real spark with anyone he's dated for a while. He said: "I have dated, but no-one’s just clicked fully on all levels with me.

"I’m not one to rush into a relationship if I don’t feel like it’s right for me. I’m not saying you have to tick every single box, we just have to vibe and be on the same level. So, until I meet someone like that, I’m going to stay single."

And the ladies better watch their manners in the villa because being rude gives Shaq the ick. He said: "I don’t like rude people. It automatically puts me off. That and slang words - if you call me ‘bro’ I’m off, that’s a complete turn off, I can’t handle that."

Shaq can be found on Instagram as @Shaq24s_.

Entering the winter Love Island villa alongside Shaq are ring girl Olivia Hawkins, student Tanya Manhenga, hair stylist Tanyel Revan, makeup artist Lana Jenkins, payroll administrator Anna-May Robey, TV salesman Haris Namani, teacher Kai Fagan, financial advisor Ron Hall and farmer Will Young.

This year the show will be hosted by Maya Jama, 28, after Laura Whitmore left the series last year. Laura, 37, took over from her friend Caroline Flack in January 2020 to present the first ever winter series and continued hosting after Caroline's tragic death in February 2020.

ITV bosses have also announced several changes to the show including a social media ban. In a show's first the contestants will have to disable their social media accounts during their time on the show in a bid to protect both them and their families from online abuse.

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