Love Island 2022 has officially kicked off and a new batch of contestants have entered the villa in Majorca for the eighth series of the popular ITV2 dating show. Among those taking part this year is Swansea paramedic Paige Thorne, student Liam Llewellyn from Newport, and international dressage rider Gemma Owen, who is the daughter of football legend Michael Owen.
This year's first bombshell, business owner Davide Sanclimenti from Rome, has also entered the villa and two more late arrivals, Afia Tonkmor and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, have joined the line-up. You can read more about the new girls, here.
Liam, who hails from Newport, will go on dates with both Afia and Ekin-Su before they enter the villa on Thursday night after he was chosen by the public. The student is currently single after Davide decided to couple up with Gemma, leaving him without a partner.
Read more: Liam Llewellyn's famous dad reacts to former Love Island star's sweet message
Following recoupling, Liam said: "I was a bit gutted. It's a punch in the stomach type feeling. You never want that." His reaction left many viewers at home vowing to protect him at all costs, with many taking to social media, reports Hull Daily Mail.
One viewer said: "We have to protect one islander every year and this year it’s deffo Liam." A second added: "NOT LIAM GETTING BOTH DATES! Public you understood the assignment."
And a third commented: "So happy for you Liam. If this boy gets kicked out of the villa, I am protesting outside ITV."
In scenes set to air tonight, Liam will get to know both Afia and Ekin-Su. Speaking in the Beach Hut, Liam says: "It's a massive booster, definitely what I needed, I am buzzing now, I can’t wait to meet the girls.
Meanwhile, Afia and Ekin-Su await Liam’s arrival in the candle-lit courtyard and first up is Afia. Liam is quick to compliment the new arrival saying: "I like your vibe, you’re just a laugh, a bubbly, outgoing girl and that’s exactly what I want."
Up next is Ekin-Su and the flirtation is there from the offset as she says: "You’ve got really nice eyes, the colour of the sea, almost like you can kind of swim in it and get lost.”
Liam playfully quips back and asks: “Are you getting a bit lost?” Ekin-su replies: “Maybe I am”, and later adds: “Your eyes are just hypnotising me, I love blue eyes.”
Love Island continues at 9pm on weeknights on ITV2 and ITV Hub. Episodes are available the following morning on BritBox. For more showbiz and television stories, get our newsletter here.
