Love Island returns to screens this week as a host of hopeful singletons are looking for love. ITV’s hit dating show is back for its ninth series, with its winter edition seeing the contestants heading to South Africa in a bid to find their Mr or Mrs Right.
This series marks the debut of TV and radio presenter Maya Jama, 28, who takes over hosting duties from Laura Whitmore following her departure last year. The new series of Love Island will see a James Bond actress, a farmer, and the show’s first partially blind contestant all enter the villa.
Here's everything you need to know, including when it airs and who is taking part.
READ MORE: How to watch Love Island even if you are not in the UK
When is Love Island on TV?
Love Island airs at 9pm on Monday, January 16. You can watch it on ITV2 and ITVX.
Love Island Winter line up in full
Olivia Hawkins
Olivia, 27, is an actress and ring girl from Brighton. She starred as a waitress alongside Daniel Craig in 2021’s No Time to Die, and has also been a body double for Emma Watson and Michelle Keegan.
Olivia says she is “loyal, confident and bubbly,” and will bring “fun vibes” to the villa – as well as a “bit of drama.” She has never been in a relationship so is entering the villa ready to “settle down and find the love of [her] life.”
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Kai Fagan
Kai, 24, is a science and P.E. teacher from Manchester. He was schoolmates with Marcus Rashford and his cousin is former Coronation Street actor Dean Fagan.
As a Jamaican citizen, Kai played rugby 7s for the Carribean nation, and currently plays semi-professional rugby for Burnage RFC. He said the Love Island villa is the “perfect” place to make a connection with someone and is hoping to find someone who meets his “high expectations.”
Tanya Manhenga
Tanya, 22, is a biomedical science student and influencer from Liverpool. She says she falls in love quickly but keeps her cards close to her chest.
Tanya is “spontaneous, fun and confident,” and won’t be insecure about the boys chatting to other girls – so long as they “don’t try anything funny.” When asked what she will bring to the villa, she said: “I’m super nice, but don’t let it fool you.
“I want to be friends with everyone but if you’re gonna be cheeky I’m the sort of person that will give it back.”
Ron Hall
Ron, 25, is a financial advisor from Essex. He thought he would be settled down and married by 27, so with time running out he is entering the villa to “force [himself] into that intense environment.”
Ron is the first partially-sighted Love Island contestant, after a football injury sustained when he was eight left him blind in one eye.
“There are so many people worse off than me,” he said. “If anything, losing something like that makes you realise that. It’s not hindered me in any shape or form. It’s a good conversation starter I must admit.”
Tanyel Revan
Tanyel, 26, is a hair stylist from North London. She is looking to be pushed out of her comfort zone to find someone who isn’t her “typical ‘bad boy’ type.”
She says she is funny, loud, feisty and charismatic. She can fall in love quickly but likes being kept on her toes – it’s ”the chase” that she likes.
Tanyel’s dream dinner party guests are Jennifer Lopez, Channing Tatum, and Piers Morgan, who she thinks is “so sick” because of how “direct and honest” he is.
Shaq Muhammad
Shaq, 24, is an airport security officer from London. He is hoping to leave the villa with his “future wife,” and isn’t scared to step on people’s toes to get what he wants.
Shaq says he wears his heart on his sleeve and falls in love “very hard, very fast” if he finds someone he clicks with. He said: “I’m a very emotional person. Sometimes that can be a bad thing. It can be a blessing and a curse.”
Lana Jenkins
Lana, 25, is a make-up artist from Luton. She was in a relationship with I’m a Celebrity star Owen Warner, but after almost three years of being single, she is hoping Love Island will produce her very own “love story.”
She said: “I’m looking for something that’s a bit deeper, something more serious that could turn into something long term and hopefully a little love story.”
Lana also speaks Spanish and can cook a “mean” paella. But whatever you do, don’t trip over in front of her, as she says that is “an instant turn off.”
Will Young
Will, 23, is a farmer from Buckinghamshire. Having grown up on a farm, “cheeky chappy” Will has found it difficult to juggle relationships and work.
He says he “isn’t a big dater,” but can be “super romantic” for the right girl – and can also lamb a sheep. Will reckons David Attenborough would be perfect to play him in a movie.
“Imagine hearing his calming voice talking while he’s feeding the animals,” he said. “His top off, some short shorts… he would rock it.”
Anna-May Robey
Anna-May, 20, is payroll administrator from Swansea. She describes herself as energetic and a chatterbox, and is entering the villa hoping to broaden her horizons and find a different type of guy.
She isn’t afraid to get in someone’s way and says she falls in love quickly, adding: “I become obsessed with someone when they don’t like me. But, when they start giving me the attention that I want I’m not interested anymore.”
Haris Naman
Haris, 21, is a TV salesman from Doncaster. He reckons he “ticks a lot of boxes” and boasts a “100 percent strike rate” with women, but has just never “found the spark.”
Haris claims to be different from other men, saying: “I’m a unique guy, the way I act; confident, not awkward, especially with the girls. I’m friendly, I’m very respectful as well.”
He is also very competitive and says his claim to fame is his mum telling him he looks like Ronaldo.
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