Greg O’Shea has hinted there could be more Irish people yet to enter Love Island - and said he has been contacted by new contestants looking for advice.
The Limerick man took part in the show as a late arrival in 2019 and went on to win the series alongside Amber Gill, after just two weeks in the villa.
But his advice to newcomers this season is simple – “be yourself” and “remember that your mother is watching’.
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The 27-year-old rugby ace turned reality TV star said: “A few people going in this year have contacted me asking for advice and tips, and it sounds really cliche, but I’m just telling them, ‘you have to just do your own thing and be yourself’ and they are like, ‘ah come on’.
“So I gave them like the ins and outs of like how they get you from the airport and into the villa and where you sit before hand, how the producers are going to be with you and the stuff you won’t see at all, even when it comes to eating food and lunch and all of that and what happens there.
“And leaving the villa on Saturdays.”
Speaking to former Miss Ireland winner Holly Carpenter on Filter Free podcast, he added: “There was one guy in particular, I literally was like, ‘man, just remember your mother is watching and then act accordingly’.
“And also treat girls like you want your sister to be treated and you will always make the right decision then, because you never want your sister to be disrespected in any way and you are not going to start being vulgar in front of your mother. So just do that’.
The fitness enthusiast, who is currently focusing on his new fitness app, Bettr with Greg, which often features classes with his mother, who is a pilates expert, added: “That’s how I approached the situation and it seemed to work. But I also think Irish people are very well mannered and friendly and I think that’s why we have done well on the show, myself and Maura [Higgins] and others.”
Dami Hope, a 26-year-old microbiologist from Dublin, is currently flying the flag for the nation on the show this year.
And last night he and Amber Beckford turned up the heat on their Love Island relationship – sharing their first kiss after ‘serious’ chats.
Tipping more Irish personalities to shake up this new season in the same way, presenter Greg said: “I’m excited to see Irish people in it this summer because it really mixes it up.”
And while Greg said he won’t be running to watch the TV every night, he will be keeping an eye on the new stars set to arrive.
He added: “Now that I know the ins and outs of it and how it all operates I don’t have the draw to it I used to, but if it is on the TV I will drop in and out of it and keep up to date.
“Just out of respect for being an advocate for the show. And there is a couple of Irish people going in I’ll watch just to know how they are getting on.”
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