Luca Bish 's father has thanked his friend Nick Cave for his supportive letter regarding the fishmonger's stint on Love Island.
Michael Bish has described the singer-songwriter's recent open letter regarding Luca and the ITV2 show as a "very classy gesture" amid "some of the hatred" that has been posted across social media platforms.
He also admits he doesn't think Luca - who is coupled up with Gemma Owen - will win this year's series of Love Island, and claims his son has had a "rough ride" throughout his time in the Spanish villa.
Michael's comments come in the wake of Nick's emotional open letter regarding all things Love Island, in which he details how Luca's parents previously supported him as he grieved the loss of one of his children.
Nick, 64, and his wife Susie tragically lost their son Arthur at age 15 in 2015 after the teen fell from the top of a cliff in Brighton.
Arthur took hallucinogenic drugs before he stumbled off the cliff, plummeting 60ft. He was rushed to Royal Sussex Hospital but later passed away.
In Nick's recent letter, the Where The Wild Roses Grow singer explains how in the wake of Arthur's tragic death, Luca's mother Maria "turned up on our doorstep with a tray of lasagne and basically looked after us".
He goes on to explain how Luca "was a school friend of our twins, Arthur and Earl" and although he is not watching this year's series of Love Island, he hopes the 23-year-old fishmonger is crowned the winner.
Speaking about Nick's letter, Luca's father told the MailOnline: "Luca has had a rough ride this week but I would like to say thank you to the Cave's, they are good friends."
He goes on reveal that while he doesn't speak to Nick much, his wife Maria is close with the singer's wife Susie and speaks to her several times a week.
Michael continues to explain how Luca was "quite close" to Nick's son Earl before going on to discuss some to the abuse he claims has been directed at his son over recent weeks.
Luca, who has recently been accused of bullying on the show, has divided viewers recently, with many unimpressed with his reaction to girlfriend Gemma speaking to other men and his treatment of dancer Tasha Ghoudi.
Michael admitted he doesn't think his son will win the show next month, but he "might get to the quarter finals" depending on public support.
The star's father added that while Luca may be "oblivious" to negative social media posts, his sister - who is running his online accounts - has read "some of the hatred that's spewed out".
"It wasn't nice and for Nick to do that off his own back just to show some support is a very classy gesture," Michael admitted when discussing the singer's letter coming in the wake of the online abuse.
Nick, who also tragically lost son Jethro earlier this year, explained his relationship with the Bish family on his personal website earlier this week when answering questions from fans.
The singer penned an emotional update replying to two separate fans asking respectively if he had been watching this year's series of Love Island and to explain the major difference between himself and wife Susie.
"At the moment, the defining difference between Susie and me is that she watches Love Island, and I don’t. Susie watches Love Island because we know one of the contestants, Luca. Luca was a school friend of our twins, Arthur and Earl," Nick wrote on his website, The Red Hand Files.
"As a consequence, Susie and I became friends with Luca’s parents, Maria and Michael. Maria is an antique dealer. Michael is a fishmonger. Luca is a fishmonger too."
He continued: "After Arthur died, in the early days of that terrible, chaotic first week, Maria turned up on our doorstep with a tray of lasagne and basically looked after us. She barely said anything to us. She made us cups of tea. She cooked for us. She was just there."
Nick recalled Maria being "the one constant through a time of horror and confusion" and how he will "never forget her kindness".
"These people, Luca’s parents, are as good as people get, and they love their son, Luca. So, Susie watches Love Island and cheers him on, and hopes that he will win," Nick wrote when concluding his reply.
I also hope that Luca wins, and wins soon, because then I can get the f****** TV back."
*Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITV Hub
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