Love Island's Jacques O'Neill shocked viewers and his fellow Islanders on the latest episode of the ITV2 dating show after making the difficult decision to quit. He is the second person to walk from the 2022 series after Liam Llewellyn left the villa in the first week.
In emotional scenes on Tuesday, July 12, Jacques explained to Welsh paramedic Paige Thorne that he would be heading home as he wasn't being himself and wanted to be his best, which required removing himself from the situation. His decision came after a challenging week for the couple who were trying to get back on track after being rocked by Casa Amor.
While they both decided to stick together during the twist, Paige quickly learned that Jacques had "cracked on" with bombshell Cheyanne Kerr. Since then Jacques, 23, had been trying to win back Paige's affections and even penned a heartfelt message for the Swansea-born contestant in an attempt to reconcile their relationship.
Read more: Love Island Paige Thorne's friends speak out on Welsh star's decision after Jacques quits
The arrival of former contestant Adam Collard, however, saw things in the villa get a little tense. Even more so after Gemma Owen revealed to Jacques that the new bombshell had been "slagging him off". While confronting Paige about the situation he became short with her and rudely told fellow contestant Billy Brown to leave which caused further tension, reports Manchester Evening News.
The next morning Jacques told Luca that he was going to "try and get back to myself" but he finally came to the conclusion that he wanted to leave. In emotional scenes, he then explained to Paige: "You mean so much to me, you know that. I've been trying to put a brave face on but things are getting to me. Basically, like, I just wish I could finish my journey off with you in here, but I'm gonna go home today.
"I still want you to enjoy your time in here, just do what you need to do and listen, I'll be waiting for you," Jacques then said as Paige burst into tears. He added: "Just do what you have to do, don't even think about me."
With her voice wobbling, Paige told him: "Obviously I want you to be happy and it hurts me seeing you this way."
"I just know for us to work I need to get back to myself and the only way I'm gonna get back to myself is going home, so that's what I'm gonna do because I can't carry on like this," Jacques said. You can read more on this here.
After sharing the news with his fellow contestants around the fire pit, Jacques embraced the group with a hug before he was seen exiting the villa. But after viewers watched Jacques walk out, the episode's credits soon began to role with no preview or teaser trailer for Wednesday night's episode.
Baffled, one viewer wrote: "Huuuh where is my preview for tomorrow??? I endured this whole hour for no hope given for tomorrow." While another added: "No preview???? What a waste of time."
And a third commented: "What's bugging me that they didn’t even show us a preview for tomorrow night like what’s that all about."
Others theorised that the reason for the lack of a preview could mean another contestant has left the show. One fan wrote: "I reckon Paige is leaving too and that's why they didn't show a preview for tomorrow night..."
"Do we think we got no preview for tomorrow nights because Paige might have left too?" guessed another.
It comes after Paige's loved ones spoke out on the Welsh star's decision not to leave with Jacques. Posting on Paige's Instagram stories those looking after her account wrote: "Little note that #BeKind applies to Paige too. If she decides to leave the villa that's her own decision, she has no obligation to follow Jacques – this is her experience just as much as his.
"There is only 2.5 weeks left of her once-in-a - lifetime experience – let's not see her come out to any negativity." You can read more on this here.
Love Island continues at 9pm on ITV2 and ITV Hub. Episodes are available the following morning on BritBox. For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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