Bombshell’s late arrival leaves Mehdi and George vulnerable

Love Island is back for its 10th season, meaning two months of Turkey teeth, snakey behaviour and lots of snogging.

The new summer series featured a major twist for the launch episode as the public voted for which contestants they wanted to see coupled up, but the vote was soon criticised by many fans after the show’s Black stars were paired with each other.

Maya Jama is back on hosting duties after she made her debut on the winter edition earlier this year.

The first batch of contestants in the villa include model Ella Thomas and semi-professional footballer Tyrique Hyde. In last night’s episode, it was revealed that the pair already knew each other before they went in.

One newcomer, Molly Marsh, joins 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…

Key points

Meet all the contestants, including the new bombshell

10:21 , Ellie Harrison

Last night’s launch saw the arrival of Zachariah… who is going to “steal” one of the contestants in tonight’s show

Love Island line up: Meet the contestants and couples of the 2023 summer edition

Public vote for couples raises eyebrows

08:15 , Ellie Harrison

Love Island fans have been joking about their “shock” at the public having voted for the Black contestants on the new series to couple up.

Love Island fans criticise public vote after Black contestants coupled up, again

Watch: First Look at Love Island as contestants enter the Villa

06:23 , Tom Murray

Molly is the show’s latest ‘nepo baby’. Who else has there been?

05:20 , Tom Murray

21-year-old Molly is the daughter of Janet Marsh, an actor who has had several roles in ITV’s Coronation Street over the years, and featured in series like Bodies, Where The Heart Is and Still Open All Hours.

She previously told OK Magazine that her mum had “only done small day player roles” and insisted that she has not given her daughter any advice for appearing on television.

Find out what other contestants had famous parents here:

All of the nepo babies that have appeared on Love Island

Which Love Island couples have stayed together?

03:13 , Tom Murray

It’s the tenth season of Love Island so what better time to look back on all the couples we’ve loved and lost over the years?

Who else was quietly devastated when Dani and Jack split up? Are Ekin-Su and Davide still together?

These important questions answered and more, here:

All the Love Island couples that are still together now

What place does Love Island have in 2023?

02:15 , Tom Murray

Has Love Island finally given us the ick? That’s the big question pondered by The Independent’s Isobel Lewis in this comment piece.

“The suicides of two former contestants, Sophie Gradon in 2018 and Mike Thalassitis in 2019, as well as the suicide of former presenter Caroline Flack in 2020, showed that the fun wasn’t as harmless as it seemed,” Lewis writes.

“Contestants thought they were having a fun summer gossipping by a pool, but left the show to find themselves national hate figures, their social media feeds flooded with abuse. The air had been sucked out of the villa, its toxic ripple effect now impossible to ignore.”

Love Island can’t hide from its ugly past – what place does the series have in 2023?

How long does Love Island go on for?

01:22 , Tom Murray

Love Island’s 2023 summer series is expected to run for eight weeks as usual. If the series follows the usual pattern, the grand final is expected to take place on 30 July.

If previous instalments are anything to go by, the final four couples will have visits from their families before the winners are crowned and given the chance to share or steal the £50,000 prize.

Who is the first Love Island bombshell?

Monday 5 June 2023 23:16 , Tom Murray

Zachariah Noble is this year’s first bombshell.

He’s a 25-year-old personal trainer and basketball player from South East London. Here’s his welcome interview with ITV in full:

Why Love Island and why now?

I always say, ‘you only grow as a person when you take yourself out of your comfort zone’ and I think it’s something that’s so far out of my comfort zone, I’d be silly not to give it a go. Being 25, I’m at a crossroads where I’ve been having fun, but I also want to have the peace and harmony that comes from being with the right woman.

What do you think you’ll bring to the Villa?

I’m a very chilled out guy and I’m completely myself 100% of the time. I’m quite straightforward and never struggle making friends, I like to look after people.

What’s your ‘elevator pitch’ for why someone should want to date you?

I’d just shout out ‘What else do you need, babe?’ I’m pretty tall and I’m confident in myself. In this day and age I think being genuine is rare and I’m very genuine. What you see is what you get.

Why would you say you’re single?

I’m not going to be young forever and it would be nice to meet someone and get some good holiday pictures whilst I’m still looking half decent!

How would friends/family describe you?

I think they would say that I’m a lovely guy, hard-working, competitive, and confident. My friends would definitely say I’m the guy they can rely on to bring the banter.

Best / worst date story?

I was asked to go to a museum once on a date, but I walked around so unimpressed that I accidentally made it really apparent I didn’t want to be there. I don’t go on many dates, I haven’t been on one for quite a while so it will be nice to go on some in the Villa.

What gives you the ‘ick’?

I’ve got two and they’re both really stupid; Bad handwriting – I’ve got terrible handwriting so they’d need to have better handwriting than me and twerking, I really don’t like twerking!

Do you fall in love quickly?

I do believe in love at first sight, I think that you can sense people’s energies as soon as you meet them.

Love isn’t something you pick to be in, it’s something that happens when it happens.I wouldn’t say I’m closed off but I like things to be really natural and organic.

What are the most important things you look for in a partner?

The most important things are that someone is genuine and they also have good banter.

Tell us something not many people know about you?

My cat is a huge part of my life, I honestly love him. He’s called Frank, I named him about ten years ago – his full name is Frankie G Swagger Don I treat him as if he’s my son, I’m going to miss him so much when I’m in the Villa.

This year marks series 10 of Love Island. Do you have a favourite show moment from any of the previous seasons?

When Amy returned from Casa Amor and said to Curtis; ‘I was coming back here to tell you I loved you.’

If you had to pick two celebrities to be in the Villa with you as fellow Islanders who would they be and why?

Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot and Meagan Good. Meagan was my childhood supercrush.

If money was no object, what would be your ideal first date?

Even if money wasn’t an option, I think the first thing you want to find out is what someone is like as a person ,so you don’t want to splash too much anyway. I’d be happy with a nice person.

Monday 5 June 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…

Monday 5 June 2023 22:25 , Tom Murray

Maya is back! What now…

Monday 5 June 2023 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.

Monday 5 June 2023 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

Monday 5 June 2023 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.

Monday 5 June 2023 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…

Monday 5 June 2023 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!

Monday 5 June 2023 21:29 , Tom Murray

Jess and George are our first couple of season 10. Cheers, the general public. Onto the next!

Monday 5 June 2023 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…

Monday 5 June 2023 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

Monday 5 June 2023 20:35 , Tom Murray

What does the villa look like this year?

Monday 5 June 2023 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.

Video: First Look at Love Island as contestants enter the Villa

Monday 5 June 2023 19:15 , Tom Murray

Who is Love Island host Maya Jama?

Monday 5 June 2023 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

Monday 5 June 2023 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

Monday 5 June 2023 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?

Monday 5 June 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

Monday 5 June 2023 15:33 , Ellie Harrison

The full lowdown on presenter Jama’s background and career to date…