Love Island will be back on our screens next week, as a host of brand-new singletons embark on their journey looking for romance. The highly anticipated ninth series will return to ITV on Monday, January 16, with new host Maya Jama at the helm.
So far, the dating show has welcomed its first ever partially sighted contestant, as well as a TikTok famous farmer and Michelle Keegan's body double. The Islanders aren't the only new faces viewers will be tuning into, as broadcaster Maya takes over the reins from Laura Whitmore, after she stepped down from the dating show last year.
The series, which will be filmed in South Africa, is gearing up to become the best yet, with many changes in place including a social media ban, and a rumoured returning Islander. But who has been confirmed to enter the villa? Let's take a look..
Ron Hall
Ron, 25, is a financial advisor hoping to bring "fun and charisma" to the villa. "I just want to be naturally myself in there, have good times and make memories," he said.
The Essex-born star is blind in one eye due to a football injury when he was eight. He explained: "I went in for a header and got kicked in the face. I've got two different coloured eyes, one blue and one green.
"It's added to my character, there are so many people that are worse off than me. And 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."
Tanya Manhenga
Tanya, 22, was the first contestant to be announced in this year's line-up. The student, who hails from Liverpool, is looking for a boyfriend and thinks that "being in a villa with lots of different people will help me work out who it is I may want".
Opening up about her skin condition, she said: "I have Vitiligo, which is a skin pigmentation, you may not even notice it. It's on my lip and I have a stripe on my hair. Not many people know that but I think it’s quite cute. I don’t care about covering it up all the time, I think it’s a vibe."
Will Young
Will, 23, is farmer from Buckinghamshire who has previously struggled to juggle work with relationships. "Love Island will give me time away from the farm to solely go out and find love," he said. "I think I'm at the time of my life where I'm mature enough to go and find a wife."
Olivia Hawkins
Olivia is an actress from Brighton and has set her sights on finding love in South Africa. The 27-year-old says she'll bring fun vibes to the villa as she shares her interesting claims to fame.
She revealed: "I did a film with Jason Statham and had a nice 10-minute convo about life. I've been a ring girl for KSI, I played a waitress in James Bond with Daniel Craig and I've also been a body double for Michelle Keegan and Emma Watson."
Tanyel Revan
Tanyel, 26, is a hair stylist from North London who hopes to bring her "energy and confidence" to the villa this series. On why she's a catch, Tanyel said: "I'm hard to get, confident, funny, charismatic, good looking and happy. I’m also a very loyal person, what is there not to love?"
Kai Fagan
Kai, 24, is a science and PE teacher who is "looking for the right girl". The Manchester-born contestant says he is "single by choice" and admits his "high expectations" of women may have something to do with it. "I don't feel I should commit to someone unless I'm absolutely buzzing over them, because it's not fair on them," he said.
Lana Jenkins
Make-up artist Lana, 25, is hoping to find the one on the ITV dating show as she heads to South Africa. Speaking about her romantic past, she said: "I fall in love quickly. I tend to know quite soon if I could fall in love with that person and then, as long as everything is going well, I’ll probably tell them I love them in about a week."
This won't be Lana's first TV stint, as she appeared as an extra in the ITV comedy Benidorm when she was just six years old and living in Spain at the time.
Anna-May Robey
Anna-May, 20, from Swansea is on the hunt for a boyfriend in this year's series. The Payroll administrator, who hasn't had much luck in real life, thinks Love Island "is a good way to meet someone".
On how her friends and family would describe her, she said: "Energetic. I’m always running around singing and screaming. My parents are always like, 'Shut up!' I work from home all day so I don’t really speak to people in person for two or three days a week, so when my father comes home, he’ll want to sit down and chill out, and I’m there chewing his ear off! I would definitely say I am a chatterbox."
Shaq Muhammad
Airport security officer Shaq admits that he hasn't had "the best luck" with previous relationships. The Londoner, 24, hopes his fortunes are about to change as he jets to South Africa to meet the "love of his life".
Something not many people know about Shaq is that his favourite film is the 2010 romance drama Dear John. "Every time I watch Dear John I cry," he revealed.
Haris Namani
Haris, a TV salesman from Doncaster, is hoping to meet his Mrs Right in the villa! He said: "I'm different, 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.
"Anyone who meets me, I don't think they have anything bad to say about me. I don't give them that bad impression to say, 'Oh, I don't want to speak to him again.'"
Winter Love Island is set to begin on Monday, January 16, 2023. The show will air on ITV2 and ITV Hub at 9pm.
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