Love Island winner Paige Turley hopes the new contestants use the experience to find love the old fashioned way, like she did.
It’s two-and-a-half years since the singer and her beau Finn Tapp, 22, won the winter series of the hit ITV2 show and the pair are still loved up.
The couple are one of a handful of islanders whose relationship has stood the test of time, which Paige, 24, puts down to having to get to know each other face to face and not through social media.
The 2012 Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist, who hopes at least one Scot will be thrown into the mix to spice things up, said having a good conversation is a recipe for success when it comes to finding a soulmate.
Paige, from Fauldhouse, West Lothian, said: “We found love on the show. We are proof the whole idea of Love Island does work.
"We’ve been together for two-and-a-half years and are still going strong. For us, the show did exactly what it said on the tin.
“We are not the only success stories – look at Jamie Jewitt and Camilla Thurlow from season three who are married and have just had their second baby.
“Being locked away for several weeks in the sun without a phone, the internet or social media is extremely liberating and allows people to get to know each other the old fashioned way – through the art of conversation.
"Going back to basics and having to chat face to face means you can make stronger bonds.
“Hopefully there will be two islanders this year who will couple up on the show and survive outside the villa. That would be so lovely to see.”
Paige, who has forged a successful career as a singer since leaving the villa, said both she and Finn have cleared their diaries for the next 10 weeks so they don’t miss a minute of the new season, which starts tomorrow night on ITV2.
Despite being a diehard fan of the show, the former sales assistant admitted she has yet to watch a single episode of the series they eventually won as she can’t bear to hear herself speak.
Paige, who used to work in Forty Clothing in Glasgow, said: “We are so excited about it starting. There is a new villa and lots of great new islanders. Our social lives will come to a halt for the 10 weeks it’s on.
“Hopefully we will get the chance to be on Aftersun, where past islanders get to comment on what is going on.
"We were massive fans of the show before we went on it and we still are. We can’t sing its praises enough.
“There is one season I haven’t watched – my own. Finn has seen it all but I haven’t. I can’t bring myself to watch it and know I never will as I cringe when I hear my voice on the telly.
“When I came out, I discovered I had been subtitled the entire show and that there were some things I said which Iain Stirling, who lived just 30 minutes down the road from where I grew up, didn’t get either.
"I think I will continue to give it a miss. I’ve seen a few clips on YouTube and that will do me just fine.”
Paige, who once dated chart-topper Lewis Capaldi, is delighted by the diversity of this year’s islanders, including the show’s first deaf contestant, Tasha Ghouri.
The singer also said that she was looking forward to seeing how former footballer turned TV pundit Michael Owen’s daughter Gemma gets on – but admitted she had never heard of the Liverpool and England striker.
Paige, who lives in an apartment in Manchester with Finn, said: “It’s brilliant that the show is going to have its first deaf contestant. I think it is great the show is moving forward and being more diverse.
"They are helping to take away stigma and giving young people positive role models from diverse backgrounds to look up to.
“Having a diverse mix of people represented is good. We just need a Scot in there. It’s such a shame there are no Scots in the opening line-up but I’m sure they will throw one or two in later on to shake things up a bit.”
She added: “I don’t recognise any of the folk who are going in but I’m excited to see how all their personalities unfold. Although we have been given a snapshot, we won’t see what they are truly like until they’re in there.
“Finn is really excited that Michael Owen’s daughter is going in. Apparently he is a football legend and England star? I am clueless when it comes to football but ask me anything about music.”
Paige is delighted that producers have decided to do away with the food challenges and dress islanders in pre-loved clothes rather than fast fashion.
She said: “I have never been so glad to hear they are getting rid of the messy food tasks as I hated them with a passion. They were awful.
"It’s great that they are also moving with the times and thinking about sustainability and the environment when it comes to the outfits.
“The best advice I can give the new islanders is to go in there, be themselves and have fun. It is very overwhelming for the first few days but is a great opportunity and they should make the most of it.”
Paige, who is busy working on her music, is recovering from minor surgery to fix an old sports injury.
She said: “Finn has been pulling his hair out playing nurse but I am on the mend and off all medication. It was an old sports injury I got during Covid which kept giving me bother.
“I’m back on my feet after a couple of weeks bossing Finn about from the couch. I’m walking a bit slower but am good.”
Paige, who is an ambassador for Action For Children, has been doing as much charity work as she can.
She said: “The last few weeks I have been focusing on my charity work. It’s great that I get to work with all these amazing brands but I also want to do what I can to help worthy causes.
“I saw a video on Twitter of the soup kitchen run by the Homeless Project under the Hielanman’s Umbrella in Glasgow.
"I could not believe how many people needed the food they supply. I got in touch and Finn and I will be heading up their soon to do some volunteering.
“With everything that is happening in the world, there is a need to break the stigma of using food banks, so any way we can help, we will.”
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