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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Lucy Domachowski

Michael Owen says he had tense chat with Gemma when she unveiled Love Island plans

Michael Owen has admitted he didn't like watching his daughter Gemma kissing on Love Island and they didn't have the 'best of conversations' when she told him she was joining the show.

The football legend and father-of-four, 42, confessed he skipped watching some scenes where his 19-year-old daughter took part in racy challenges.

And the 42-year-old has told how he was worried about the public’s view of her after she appeared on the ITV2 dating show.

Gemma was coupled up with Luca Bish, and the pair finished the competition in second place behind Ekin-Su and Davide.

The teen, who was recently revealed as PrettyLittleThing’s new ambassador, left the island with Luca but the pair are yet to make their relationship official.

Michael has opened up about his daunting feelings as he watched his eldest daughter “kiss” the boys on the show.

“It wasn't the best of conversations when she first asked me about going on Love Island," he told Ok!.

“She's pretty sensible and she's a good kid and I had no worries," Michael said. "I just didn't bring myself to watch some of the challenges and things like that.

"I don't like seeing my daughter kiss people, but I probably watched 30 to 40% of the show. On the days that I didn't watch, I was on the phone to the wife [Louise] at five past 10 asking, 'how did she do?'

Michael said he is proud of his daughter as she has 'done well' and that he knows she had a good time on the show.

Brighton-based fishmonger Luca, 23, was introduced to the ex England star earlier this month.

Gemma's beau was reported to have been "really nervous" to meet him after being getting to know Gemma's mum Louise when she came into the Love Island villa.

Gemma says the meeting with Michael, the former Manchester United , Liverpool and Newcastle goal getter, went really well.

Gemma told Capital FM: “It was so nice. It was quite a chilled environment, I mean it was on holiday with my family so it wasn’t that chill, but we just had a few drinks just at the hotel reception, it wasn’t awkward at all they got on really well.

“My mum and brothers and sisters had already met Luca, but my dad had been watching the show so he already felt like he knew him and, to be fair, I did tell Luca everything about my whole family so he felt like he already knew them as well.”

The beauty says there is no rush for them to become official.

She explained: “We’re going to get official first and then definitely in the future we’d like to move in, once everything has settled down a bit.”

Previously, a source has told The Sun that Luca was anxious about coming face-to-face with her sports star dad.

"Luca has been nervous about meeting Michael which is, of course, totally natural," they said.

"He adores Gemma and knows that he has to impress."

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