Love Island launch episode sees first coupling of 2023…

Love Island launch episode sees first coupling of 2023 with show shake-up and twist

Love Island is back for 2023 with a winter edition of the popular ITV2 dating show. Series 9 will be filmed in South Africa with new presenter Maya Jama at the helm.

Among those taking part this year include payroll administrator Anna-May Robey from Swansea, Michelle Keegan body double and Bond star Olivia Hawkins, farmer and TikTok star Will Young, and student and influencer Tanya Manhenga.

Also in the 2023 line-up are science and PE teacher Kai Fagan, makeup artist Lana Jenkins, financial advisor Ron Hall, hair stylist Tanyel Revan, airport security officer Shaq Muhammad, and TV salesman Haris Namani. You can see the Love Island 2023 line-up in full here.

As usual, the launch episode will see this year's 10 singletons head to the villa where a coupling ceremony will take place. This year will see a role reversal as the girls pick which boy they want to couple up with. Last year, the public voted for the first coupling.

In a first look ahead of tonight, Maya invites the boys to gather at the fire pit and quizzes them on what they’re looking for. She asks: "Is everyone excited, be honest, how many press-ups did we do this morning?"

Shaq answers: "I'd say at least 75," before Maya asks: "Shaq, have you got a type?"

Ron Hall, Shaq Muhammad, Haris Namani, Kai Fagan and Will Young (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"Not specifically," he replies. "I go for more personality and vibes but she's definitely got to be funny, funny is top of my list, I love it."

Kai adds: "I am looking for a wifey," and Haris reveals: "I've never been in a relationship."

Ron says: "For me it's all about if they are nice girl." Will then tells Maya: "I wanna settle down, I think it's time to bring a girl back, introduce them to the animals."

Maya says: "I think I've found out enough, are you lot ready to meet some girls?"

Inviting the boys to stand before her by the pool Maya then says: "Well boys, it is time to couple up, the girls will come in one by one and I'll ask you to step forward if you fancy them. Each girl will then decide which boy she wants to couple up with. It's that simple. So who's ready to meet our first girl?”

One by one Tanya, Anna-May, Lana, Olivia and Tanyel make their entrance into the villa. Once the couples are formed, Maya says: "We now have five lovely couples but will you stay together or will your heads be turned?"

As Maya makes her exit from the villa, she says: "Don't forget finding your perfect match is never that simple, trust me I know."

Maya is, of course, referring to the bombshell twist which will see one of two late arrivals head to the villa to shake things up. The vote was opened to the public last week to send either 25-year-old Ellie Spence, a Business Development Executive at a law firm from Norwich, or Tom Clare, a 23-year-old semi-pro footballer from Barnsley, into the villa. You can read more about Ellie and Tom here.

A teaser for the twist reads: "As night falls and the Islanders get to know each other a little better, it’s not long before news that the public have been voting for the first bombshell reaches the freshly formed couples.

"But which bombshell will it be and how long will the Islanders have to wait before meeting the newest arrival?"

Love Island starts Monday, January 16 at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.

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