Ibiza club owner Wayne Lineker has divulged that he dated Love Island winner Ekin-Su before she found fame on the hit reality show.
The 60-year-old, younger brother of former footballer Gary, revealed on the Saving Grace podcast, that he went out with the Turkish beauty a few years ago after they met in Nando’s.
He dropped the bombshell over halfway through his chat with Grace Keeling when talk turned towards the popular ITV show.
“I’ve not watched it for a few years, but I did actually date the winner of Love Island, Ekin-Su, loads of times,” he blurted out to his shocked host. “
“She stayed with me at Seven Pines. It was pre-Love Island and we used to have such a laugh.”
Wayne said he was shocked when he saw her on the show, but added “I knew she’d do really well as she’s absolutely hilarious in real life”.
He went on: “We just laughed and we’ve got so many funny stories. I pulled her in Nando’s. She walked in and I was like f*** she’s fit.
“I actually air dropped her my number and I went ‘text me’.
Grace asked him: “How did she know it was you?”
He told her: “I was the only one there. Then she walked out of Nando's, walked down the road. I could still see her.
“If you see someone you’ve just got to go in deep.”
Ekin, 28, went on to star in Love Island last summer and won the eighth series alongside Italian Davide Sanclimenti.
Wayne previously appeared on Celebs Go Dating and grew close to Chloe Ferry.
His previous long relationship was with model Danielle Sandhu, who he was engaged to marry before they split in 2018 after four years together.
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