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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Polly Hudson

Love Island: The highs and lows from Casa Amor to Adam Collard's return

Let's be honest: it hasn't been a vintage Love Island year. Let's be even more honest: any Love Island is better than no Love Island at all.

Launching on the night Boris Johnson survived that No Confidence vote, wonder how many of the finalists will be shocked when they leave and discover he's out anyway?

You know, once someone has explained who Boris Johnson is, of course.

Even though it hasn't quite zinged, there will definitely be a gap in viewers' lives at 9pm tomorrow.

It's provided eight weeks of ­entertainment, even if some of it made you throw things at the telly and lose all hope for the human race, we’ll miss it when it’s gone.

Let's remind ourselves of the high - and low - lights of Love Island 2022…

Boys suck or whatever

Some of the boys, including Dami Hope and Andrew Le Page, sparked a backlash for their behaviour (ITV)

Women's Aid have released statements warning about toxic male behaviour - and the Casa Amor fallout was a next level display of it. Watching it, it was hard not to despair of all men, generally and forever.

No male came out of it well, but Jacques, Dami and Andrew were fully smitten with their girls - Paige, Indiyah and Tasha - before Casa.

Their feelings seemed genuine, they appeared like they couldn’t have been happier or more settled and committed.

Then, the second their girls were gone, they cracked on with new ones, in the most heartless manner imaginable. They slept in beds with the new girls, and became intimate to varying degrees.

Then, when the original girls came back with new men, who they had not gone a sixteenth as far with, the boys were furious. They were aggressive, sneering and dismissive, furious at being betrayed with zero awareness that they had done the exact same and definitely worse.

They shamed the girls, made them feel guilty, and ultimately – the bitterest pill of all – got away with it.

Golden boy turns

Luca Bish and Gemma Owen have attracted attention over their relationship (ITV)

Luca was pretty much a saint during Casa Amor.

Yes, he egged the other boys on to cheat in a very clear, and instantly noticed by everyone, bid to win the show – and consider for a moment how blatant something must be if even Love Island contestants clock on to it.

But by comparison to the rest of the blokes' antics, Luca came out smelling of roses. And then, slowly, another side of him began to emerge.

He sulked with Gemma because Billy flirted with her. He treated Tasha like dirt, judging her far more harshly than Andrew even though Andrew had behaved worse and their relationship was none of Luca's business anyway.

He fumed when Gemma took part in a challenge which involved – natch – lap-dancing, punishing her with the silent treatment.

Luca and Gemma insist they will make it as a couple on the outside.

As long as she sits in her house with the curtains drawn, never speaking to or even looking at any other man ever again, they may be right.

Putting all her ex in one basket

Gemma's ex Jacques O'Neill had made a surprising arrival into the villa (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

As if poor Gemma hadn't suffered enough, when looking at the next Bombshell, who was sitting with his back to her, she remarked that he looked like her ex.

And whadda ya know, turned out it was her ex-boyfriend, Jacques. This girl’s taste in men is worse than Katie Price.

Luckily it wasn’t that awkward – Gemma gritted her teeth and carried on.

And her new bloke Luca and Jacques got on like a house on fire, because they’re so similar, which is not a compliment...

Davide gives viewers the ick

Viewers weren't keen on Davide Sanclimenti dating Gemma (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

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Now that he is the new nation’s sweetheart, it is complicated to remember that when OG Bombshell Davide entered the house, he turned our stomachs.

The girl the 27-year-old chose to steal and couple up with himself was Gemma... aged 19. Yuck.

Worst decisions ever

Danica Taylor showed an interest in Luca initially (ITV)

Bombshell Danica had her pick of the men. She had the advantage of coming in late, so could watch the show, and get a proper idea of the real lay of the land.

Even if she hadn't, it would have been obvious Luca and Gemma were unbreakable because they never left each other sides.

And so, she chose to couple up with… Luca. He was furious, ignored her, and re-coupled with Gemma at the next available opportunity.

Next, she asked Jay if he felt there was a spark between them, and he gently made it clear that from his side there definitely was not. So next re-coupling, obviously Danica chose… Jay.

Ekin-Su and Davide forever?

Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide have been on a rollercoaster of a relationship (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

This couple have been on and off so many times it would have quickly become boring if they didn't bring hilarious drama and catchphrases to every uncoupling and re-coupling.

Davide has called Ekin-Su - in his thick Italian accent - a "liyyyyyyyyaaaaaaarrrrrrr!" and "actreeeeeess!". He also said she was "as fake as Louis Vuitton from China".

Ekin-Su had great comebacks, but her best line was when Casa Amor wannabe - and son of Ronan Keating - Jack was kicked out. Hugging him to commiserate, Ekin-Su reminded him that "life is a rollercoaster".

Ekin-who?

Ekin-Su has become a fan favourite (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Ekin-Su made it clear she meant business as soon as she walked in the door, uttering Reality Show Cliché No456: I’m not here to make friends.

Actually, because everything Ekin does is a little bit extra, what she actually said was, "I'm not here to make seasonal girlfriends, I'm here to make the love of my life," even though the last bit of that doesn’t really make sense.

She stole Davide from Gemma, and crawled along the balcony floor to stay out of sight of everyone else to snog new boy Jay.

He'll be back

Adam Collard became the first islander to return (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Love Island has never brought anyone back but for some reason that changed, bafflingly with a contestant Women's Aid had released statements about due to his treatment of women.

But never mind that, eh? Repeating on us like a cheap burger, it was Adam Collard from the 2018 series.

Somehow despite being in his twenties in his original appearance, he now seemed to look 47. Karma?

At least they provided popcorn

Indiyah Polack, like fans, found Movie Night made interesting viewing (ITV)

Movie Night – where Islanders see clips of each other talking behind backs, and worse – is always incredible viewing.

This year was no different, and Indiyah's stunned, open-mouthed face when seeing some of what Dami had been up to in Casa Amor became an instant meme - one that will live on long after we’ve forgotten her name, never mind how to spell it.

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