Whilst it would be completely normal to assume contestants on Love Island are looking for their idea love match, this wasn’t lthe case for one of last year’s favourites, Luca Bish.
Speaking to OK! exclusively, the 24 year old told us that he “didn’t go there for a swim and to fall in love.”
Every year thousands of singletons around the country apply for a place in the villa in the hope of finding the one, but as the ITVX show has grown in popularity, some viewers have questioned whether certain contestants are searching for a mega-bucks clothing line deal, or a boost in social media numbers, rather than a romantic soulmate.
Luca said: “I went in there for the experience on the whole. If I found love then that was a bonus – and if I came out with a load of followers and opportunities then obviously that’s a bonus too.”
Despite coming across as loud and confident on our screens, Luca doesn’t know if a life in the spotlight is for him.
He said: “I’m not really cut out for that influencer life and I actually shy away from it. But if someone tells me they’re going in the villa to fall in love because five previous contestants have had babies after meeting partners on the show, and some have got married, they must be watching the Disney Channel and believe in happy endings.
“I’d say 99.9% of people go on Love Island for a change of life and hopefully to come out with a few more social media followers.”
Luca left as runner-up with his Love Island other half Gemma Owen, but sadly their relationship didn’t go the distance and they split last November.
Despite the failed romance, the cheeky chap has plenty of exciting things ahead, including a stint on Celebrity Masterchef. He also has plans to break into the sports industry using his boxing talent or, if he can manifest even bigger plans, have his own chat show similar to James Corden’s The Late Late Show, which until recently was aired in the US.
Luca, who is OK!‘s Love Island correspondent this year, also recently dished the tea on the latest ITV2 series.
Addressing hilarious rumours that he’s secretly Mitchel Taylor’s ‘long lost twin’, Luca doesn’t agree and said he “ain’t having it.”
Many show fans have drawn similarities between the pair – both in looks and in Mitchel’s behaviour towards Molly, which is similar to how Luca acted with Gemma in 2022.
Speaking on OK!‘s TikTok Luca also confirmed that Medhi, who, at the time of writing, is coupled with Whitney, is his favourite to win if he stays in for the long game.
Love Island airs tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
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