Love Island 2023 – live: Bombshell’s late arrival leaves Mehdi and George vulnerable
Prepare for Turkey teeth, snakey behaviour and lots of snogging, as Love Island is back for its 10th season.
The new summer series features a major twist for the launch episode as the public have been voting for which contestants they want to see couple up.
Maya Jama is back on hosting duties after she made her debut on the winter edition earlier this year.
Jama proved a warm and lively host for the winter show, which was filmed in South Africa and won by Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan.
The contestants entering the villa first for the summer edition include model Ella Thomas and semi-professional footballer Tyrique Hyde. In tonight’s episode, it’s revealed that the pair already knew each other before they went in.
One newcomer, Molly Marsh, is joining the list of “nepo babies” who have appeared throughout the show’s history, from Dani Dyer to Tommy Fury.
Find out all about the 2023 villa here and which former contestants are still together here.
And follow along for live updates on the launch episode...
Key points
Love Island: Last season’s winners and all previous champions
Love Island can’t hide from its ugly past – what place does the series have in 2023?
22:33 , Tom Murray
Jess and Ruchee have stepped forward – meaning they think they could be happier in a new couple. Enter Zachariah, the villa’s first bombshell! He’ll have 24 hours to get to know everyone before being able to “steal” a woman of his choosing. Game on...
22:25 , Tom Murray
Maya is back! What now...
21:53 , Tom Murray
The penny has finally dropped! Ella apparently had blonde hair when they met the first time. “You look better now... not that you looked bad then!” What a charmer.
21:47 , Tom Murray
So Tyrique and Ella “met” in a London nightclub... Has something happened already? He claims he doesn’t remember.
All the couples have officially been coupled
21:43 , Tom Murray
The last couples to round out the contestants are: Ruchee and Mehdi, and Tyrique and Ella. The public has done its part... for now.
21:39 , Tom Murray
Awkward... Ella and Tyrique have apparently met before in London. He doesn’t remember. Let’s hear the tea Ella!
Two more couples are in...
21:35 , Tom Murray
Molly and Mitchel, and Catherine and André are our next couples. Everyone seems chuffed so far. “Ultimate wingmen,” a very pleased André says of the public.
We have our first Love Island couple!
21:29 , Tom Murray
Jess and George are our first couple of season 10. Cheers, the general public. Onto the next!
21:21 , Tom Murray
No awkward line-ups this time! This year, the couples will be decided by... the public! So far in the house we have: Ruchee, Ella, Mitchel, Jess and André. Did the rest get lost on their way over?
Meet the full lineup here:
Here we go...
20:58 , Tom Murray
This is it folks, the tenth season of Love Island is about to begin. Thanks for joining us here at The Independent as we guide you through all the drama of episode one.
Watch: Behind-the-scenes at the Love Island villa ahead of new series
20:35 , Tom Murray
What does the villa look like this year?
20:05 , Tom Murray
The famous Love Island villa has been given another glow-up in preparation for the new series.
Its new look includes a fresh colour scheme and the return of the dog house, as well as new day beds.
The villa is tucked away off a dirt road in a remote area in the east of Mallorca. Love Island moved to the new property for the last summer series after the previous location, near Sant Llorenc des Cardassar in the east of the Spanish island, reportedly became unavailable.
Read more:
Video: First Look at Love Island as contestants enter the Villa
19:15 , Tom Murray
Who is Love Island host Maya Jama?
18:40 , Tom Murray
Maya Jama is taking the helm for her first summer edition of Love Island tonight.
In October last year, it was announced that Jama was taking over from Laura Whitmore as the show’s new presenter, getting her start in the 2023 winter series in South Africa.
Starting out as a DJ on Rinse FM, The Independent has tracked Jama’s remarkable rise to fame here.
Maya Jama, the effervescent star bringing a fresh burst of sun to Love Island
17:54 , Tom Murray
Itching for some merch? Our colleagues at IndyBest have put together this handy buying guide for everything from the iconic water bottles to suitcases.
Love Island couple’s who have gone the distance
16:35 , Ellie Harrison
We’ve compiled a list of all the couples from the show who still seem to be loved up...
All the Love Island couples that are still together now
Opinion: What place does Love Island have in 2023?
16:05 , Ellie Harrison
Has Love Island finally given us the ick? Isobel Lewis investigates...
Love Island can’t hide from its ugly past – what place does the series have in 2023?
Maya Jama’s pre-Love Island journey
15:33 , Ellie Harrison
The full lowdown on presenter Jama’s background and career to date...
Maya Jama, the effervescent star bringing a fresh burst of sun to Love Island
A look at the show’s history with nepo babies...
15:05 , Ellie Harrison
Remember when Gemma Owen casually admitted her dad was the football legend Michael Owen last summer? Or when the son of Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating gave away who his “old man” was?
Here’s a look back at all the nepo babies who have appeared on Love Island...
All of the nepo babies that have appeared on Love Island
Meet the contestants
14:33 , Ellie Harrison
From gas engineer Mitchel to beautician Ruchee, here are the new islanders...
Love Island line up: Meet the contestants of the 2023 summer edition
