It’s only been six months since we closed the door on the last series of Love Island, but just like that, the villa has been filled up with new contestants for us to obsess over during the next six weeks.
Sunday’s opening episode introduced us to the 12 singletons before they coupled up for the first time, as well as marking the first appearance of new presenter Laura Whitmore.
And what would the first episode of a new series of Love Island be without a twist, which came in the form of the show’s first-ever female twins.
As ever, social media was alight with the musings of the show’s millions of fans, who shared hilarious commentary on the goings on.
Here’s the 22 main takeaways from the first instalment of Island action...
1. Things were a bit awks for those watching on the ITV Hub
2. The sound of the theme tune was like a comfort blanket
3. Although, hearing it in January just felt wrong, at least to start with anyway...
4. But it didn’t take long at all for everyone to come round
5. However, some felt like their minds were being messed with, and they didn’t care for it
6. And others thought producers had missed an real opportunity with their first winter series
7. New host Laura Whitmore slotted in perfectly for many
8. But for some, she did not pull off the slo-mo walk in quite the same way as Caroline Flack
9. When Lewis Capaldi’s ex-girlfriend Paige was introduced, people already spotted an opportunity for a Casa Amor bombshell
10. The rejection of Nas during the coupling up ceremony was hard to take
11. This response to Ollie’s brags about his wealth and his next door neighbours was inspired
12. Within minutes of arriving, Siannise had already coined one of this year’s catchphrases
13. Connor and his veneers soon became the most famous set of teeth in the UK
14. When no-one spotted the (obvious) similarity between Sophie and her sister Rochelle Humes, she was clearly dying for someone to ask her about it
15. Mike already has everyone completely in love with him
16. And we were not at all prepared for his moves
17. Connor’s OTT reaction to Sophie’s joke about his threesome did not go down well
19. While the twins’ entrance was certainly unexpected (to the Islanders, at least), there were some who were expecting more
20. No-one was buying it when they claimed to never fight over lads
21. And people are not ready to see them break up two of the existing couples
22. Although, perhaps they’ll chose to couple up with this mystery man
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2.
Love Island 2020: Meet The New Batch Of Contestants
Callum Jones(01 of11)
Open Image ModalAge: 23
Job: Scaffolder
What do we need to know? Describing himself as a “cheeky chap” (good grief) with “builders’ banter” (good grief!), Callum originally hails from Manchester, saying he “always” fancies girls with “dark hair, tanned skin, red lipstick and white nail polish”. Well, it’s good to not be too specific, isn’t it?
Callum says he loves to cook, which could well make him popular in the villa, and warns he’s “prepared to go pretty far to get the girl”. (credit:ITV)
Connor Durman(02 of11)
Open Image ModalAge: 25
Job: Coffee bean salesman (amazing).
What do we need to know? Connor recently returned home after four years of living in Australia, an experience that he says has really helped him grow up.
“I’ve got so many new and different life experiences,” he says of his time in Australia, where he briefly worked as a “naked waiter”. “I’ve had two big relationships, one good, one bad. I think I’ve gone through a lot. I’m mature now and I know what I want.”
He says his ideal woman has a “big personality” and “easy going”, but should also be “loving” and not “embarrassed to show it in front of people”.
Connor is also a romantic, revealing he once surprised a girl on a first date with a reserved spot at an outdoor cinema to watch A Star Is Born with a bottle of champagne. (credit:ITV)
Eve and Jess Gale(03 of11)
Open Image ModalAge: 20
Job: Students and VIP hostesses
What do we need to know? Well, there’s two of them, for one thing. Eve and Jess are the first female twins to ever grace the Love Island villas, but they’ve already insisted that we won’t see them fighting over guys in the villa, as they’ve got “so much respect” for one another.
“Some boys will be messaging me and Jessica at the same time,” Eve revealed. “I don’t think they think we talk.”
Punctuality is apparently an issue for both sisters (good luck to Love Island bosses getting them out of bed for tasks), while they’ve both named Anthony Joshua as their number one celeb crush. (credit:ITV)
Leanne Amaning(04 of11)
Open Image ModalAge: 22
Job: Customer service advisor
What do we need to know? Originally from London, Leanne describes herself as a 10/10, joking: “If you don’t love yourself, who will?”
She also says she’s done with “rude” men, claiming: “I’m good with banter but if someone is too rude, I don’t like it.”
Interestingly, Leanne says she doesn’t consider herself a particularly open person, and hopes being in the Love Island villa can change that, saying she’s looking for a Gerard Butler type on the show, and insists: “If I want something, I’ll get it.” (credit:ITV)
Mike Boateng(05 of11)
Open Image ModalAge: 24
Occupation: Police officer
What do we need to know? Mike is confident that he can charm the girls in the Love Island villa this winter, describing himself as “charming and charismatic”.
Referring to himself as an 8/10, he notes: “I have piercing eyes that look into your soul.”The London-born police officer says he’s looking for an “ambitious” and “beautiful” women with “lots of personality”, naming Rihanna and Beyoncé as his ideal woman.
We’re not sure they’ll be in the villa, Mike, but we do have a former BGT semi-finalist and Rochelle Humes’ sister, if that works for you? (credit:ITV)
Nas Majeed(06 of11)
Open Image ModalAge: 23
Job: Builder
What do we need to know? A sports science graduate, Nas says he’s not like anyone who’s ever been on Love Island in the last five years, noting: “I’m funny, always myself, caring and considerate. I’m a well-rounded person.”
Naming Aladdin and Charlie’s Angels star Naomi Scott as his ideal woman, Nas says he’s on the look-out for a girl who is “cute and funny” and can “match his energy”.
We can apparently look forward to Nas “laughing in awkward situation” and showing off his party trick of... bird noises. Interesting. (credit:ITV)
Ollie Williams(07 of11)
Open Image ModalAge: 23
Job: Land owner / heir to the Lanhydrock estate
What do we need to know? The first ever member of the aristocracy to appear on Love Island, Ollie’s dad is the “Lord of the Manor of Lanhydrock”.
He explains: “When my father passes away or abdicates, as the eldest child, I will take on the titles and the estate. I’m the heir of Lanhydrock.”
Ollie says he knows how to throw a “bloody awesome party” (“think Gatsby but with better fireworks,” apparently), and describes himself as a 10/10 for looks, naming his body as his best feature “closely followed by his wit”.
Asked for his best chat-up line, Ollie offers: ”‘Do you know Polzeath beach in Cornwall? I own it.’ That’s it. Chat up line, done.”
We reckon he’s going to be a one to watch this series... (credit:ITV)
Paige Turley(08 of11)
Open Image ModalShaughna Phillips(09 of11)
Open Image ModalAge: 25
Job: Democratic services officer (oooh!)
What do we need to know? Shaughna describes herself as “always right” and says she’s looking for a guy who’s smart, but still not quite as smart as herself.“I want someone I can watch the news with and have a conversation about it,” she explains, perhaps revealing in the process that she’s never actually watched an episode of Love Island.She also says her best feature is her lips (“I spent enough money on them!” she jokes) and says she has a zero-tolerance attitude to cheating, after her last boyfriend was unfaithful to her. (credit:ITV)
Siânnise Fudge(10 of11)
Open Image ModalAge: 25
Job: Beauty consultant
What do we need to know? Not only does she boast the best name in Love Island history (Siânnise Fudge, how fabulous), Siânnise also goes by the nicknames “Eyebrow Queen” and “Princess Jasmine”, claiming she’s “looking for her own Aladdin”.
Originally from Bristol, Siânnise says her ideal man is Anthony Joshua or “90s Leonardo DiCaprio”, commenting that she’s “experienced quite a lot of men” and therefore “knows what she’s looking for”.
Describing herself as “sassy and fun”, she also says her party trick is the moonwalk, which we can no doubt expect to see her break out in the villa at the first available opportunity. (credit:ITV)
Sophie Piper(11 of11)
Open Image ModalAge: 21
Occupation: Medical PA
What do we need to know? First of all, as you can probably see for yourself, Sophie is the sister of former The Saturdays star Rochelle Humes, and has actually been rumoured for Love Island once or twice in the past.
After finally landing a spot in the villa, Sophie says she’s looking for someone who’s “kind with something about them” and who “doesn’t take themselves too seriously”.
Another Anthony Joshua fan, Sophie can also balance a Malteser in her cheek dimples which she describes as her best feature (the dimples, not the trick). (credit:ITV)