Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde walked away with £50,000 on Monday (11 July) night, after being named the winners of the 2016 series of ‘Love Island’.
The couple were topped to win, thanks to their status as the villa’s only remaining original couple, and following heartfelt speeches, in which Cara declared that she’d love to have a family with Nathan, Caroline Flack crowned them this year’s champions.
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Speaking before being named winners, Cara told her boyfriend: “Nathan the carpenter. I want to start by thanking you for being here.
“I never thought coming in here I’d meet someone as special as you, let alone walk in and find my soul mate on the first day.
“I’ve opened up to you about things that I never have before. I know some people think you don’t have that side, but you do – and that’s my Nathan.
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“I wanna look back on this in 30 years time and show our grandchildren how we met and that we used to be banging. We’ve got this far, let’s keep going on this crazy adventure, still making memories and let’s one day make some babies.”
ITV
After triumphing, the duo were understandably emotional, with Nathan telling host Caroline: “For once in my life I’m speechless.”
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Cara added: “He better not leave me when we get back. I’ll be so pissed off.”
You and us both, Cara.
Turning his attention to his girlfriend, Nathan added: “I think she deserves a massive round of applause for putting up with me. There are a handful of people in the world who would do it and I found her on ‘Love Island’.”
This year’s series has been a huge success, and fans needn’t be sad for too long, as TV bosses have already confirmed plans for a 2017 series.
In an official statement, Rosemary Newell, Head of Digital Channels and Acquisitions for ITV said: “’Love Island’ has come back so strong this year, and become unmissable viewing, particularly with younger viewers, which is our focus on ITV2.”
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Chloe Jasmine and Stevi Ritchie ('The X Factor')
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Although they briefly split up when the series was still on the air, they rekindled their romance before long, going on to become 'Celebrity Big Brother' housemates, and appear in a series of totally-natural and not-staged photo sets, just like this one.
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Off the back of 'I'm A Celeb', Katie and Peter were omnipresent for years, with reality shows, fragrances and yes, even an ill-advised album to their name. They split in 2009, and recently reconciled, after a feud which lasted more than five years.
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Here they are with Lorraine Kelly, the lucky ducks.
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Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff ('Strictly Come Dancing')
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When we're blowing out the candles on our birthday cake this year, we'll be wishing for a re-enactment of this exact photo, with us in place of Kristina.
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Rebecca Ferguson and Zayn Malik ('The X Factor')
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Despite their seven-year age gap (Zayn was just 17 at the time), they stayed together for a number of months, with the 'Pillowtalk' singer eventually going on to date Stephanie Davis and Perrie Edwards.
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Karwai Tang via Getty Images
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She and Pasha announced 10 months later that they were an item.
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Steverly tied the knot a year after leaving the 'BB' house, but months later, it was reported that they had already split.
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Sadly, they split the following summer, admitting they struggled with their long-distance relationship.
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Mark Robert Milan via Getty Images
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However, they split up a year later.
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Their highly-public split was followed a few years later by both of their arrivals in the 'Ultimate Big Brother' house, and while it looked like a reunion could be on the cards, it eventually never came to fruition.
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The two were partnered together, eventually revealing that they were an item.
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Richard Lewis via Getty Images
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The pair were together for six years, even having a daughter in 2010, but announced they were going their separate ways in July 2013.
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Grace and Mikey have been together since the end of their series in 2006, and have two children.
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