Love Island contestant Paige Turley has opened up about her famous ex-boyfriend Lewis Capaldi, revealing he will be joking about her appearance on the show.
The 22-year-old was in a relationship with the Scottish singer when the pair were in their teens, with it rumoured his smash single Someone You Loved was written about her.
With Paige now looking for love on the ITV2 reality series, she revealed how Lewis will be supportive, having remained close to the star since their split.
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Love Island's Paige Turley
ITV
Speaking to HuffPost UK and other journalists in Cape Town, South Africa, ahead of entering the villa on Sunday, Paige said: “Lewis is quite funny so I think he will definitely make a joke of it. He might even vote for me!
“I would love to be a fly on the wall, not just for Lewis, but to see all my friends reactions, like what the hell is she doing on my television.”
Lewis has gone on to become a star across the globe since his romance with Paige, and while he is regularly away from their homes in Scotland, Paige said the pair still find the time to meet up when his schedule permits.
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Lewis Capaldi
SIPA USA/PA Images
She said: “Obviously he’s travelling a lot of the time so we never really get to see each other. He never really gets to see a lot of his friends. Time differences and stuff, but we see each other when we can.”
Paige, who appeared as a singer herself on Britain’s Got Talent at the age of 14 in 2012, also said she was not shocked to see how successful Lewis has become.
“Even through college before we got together and even when we did get together, I always kept saying to him, ‘It’s a matter of time’.
“Everyone that’s seen Lewis perform or heard his music, it was just a case of when.
“I can always remember in college when we had any songwriting units, it didn’t matter what the subject was about, give Lewis half an hour and he would come out with an amazing song. He’s such a talented writer. So it was no surprise.”
Paige also played down the speculation she is the girl that inspired Lewis’ breakout hit, Someone You Loved, saying: “Lewis has actually never said to me those songs are about you.
“People can relate to his music, but I don’t actually know. You’d have to ask Lewis.”
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Paige on Britain's Got Talent in 2012
ITV
And while she has dated one of the most famous men in the country, Paige insists she’s open about any potential relationship in the villa – but they must make her laugh, much like ex Lewis.
“If you line any of my exes up not one of them looks the same, so it’s like anything’s a goer,” she said.
“They’ve got to have a sense of humour. I like someone who’s ambitious, not even career wise, just like someone who wants to travel and see a bit of the world.”
Love Island begins on Sunday at 9pm on ITV2.
Love Island 2020: Meet The New Batch Of Contestants
Callum Jones(01 of11)
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Age: 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)
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Age: 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)
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Age: 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)
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Age: 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)
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Age: 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)
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Age: 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)
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Age: 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)
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Age: 22
Job: Singer
What do we need to know? Paige originally hails from West Lothian, and if that place rings a bell, that’s probably because it’s the hometown of chart-topping singer Lewis Capaldi, who just happens to be her ex.
"We went out when we were younger, I was about 17 or 18,” she explains. “We were together for about a year. It ended really amicably and we’re still pals.”
She now says she’s looking for a “tall, dark and handsome” man to find love with, naming Tom Hardy as her top celebrity crush.
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)
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Age: 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)
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Age: 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)