Love Island's New Series Kicks Off
At the start of this week, several singles entered the Love Island villa, where they have already begun forming connections.
The reality TV show has returned for its 13th series, and viewers can catch up on any episodes they may have missed.
Historically, only a few contestants from Northern Ireland have appeared on the show.
So, what is the experience of being on Love Island like?
Matthew MacNabb
Matthew MacNabb, a 31-year-old from Downpatrick, featured in series seven of Love Island.
In an interview with NI, MacNabb described his time on the show as enjoyable but "otherworldly in a sense."
"It's just so mad seeing the inner workings of it,"
he said, adding,
"It was really cool actually doing it."
Recently, MacNabb married professional dancer Laura Nolan. The couple met on Dancing With The Stars, not on Love Island.
MacNabb shared that he had just returned from San Diego when someone contacted him on Instagram, encouraging him to apply for Love Island.
"I wasn't an influencer or anything. I only had 1,500 followers,"
he explained, crediting a photographer friend for helping him get noticed and invited to participate.
He described the experience on the show as "definitely different," noting,
"You're locked up in this place for a month or whatever and you're sleeping in a room with 15 other adults."
He also mentioned the unique way contestants received instructions, referring to the producers' announcements over a speaker system as the "sound of God."
MacNabb commented on the unusual nature of discussing relationship matters so publicly, which is typically a private affair.
He humorously recalled his time on the show, noting that he still holds the record for the fastest breakup with his memorable "we're done" line.
Although he watches Love Island occasionally, MacNabb said,
"when you've been on the show, you look at it in a different way."
He also expressed a desire to see more contestants from Northern Ireland, stating,
"It would be good to see more people from the north on it because we're actually very naturally funny in our own way."
Adam Maxted
Belfast native Adam Maxted appeared on series two of Love Island.
He entered the villa as a bombshell, or new arrival, on day 11 and worked his way to fourth place alongside fellow contestant Katie Salmon.
In 2024, Maxted returned for the first series of Love Island All Stars, where he was coupled with Arabella Chi.
The pair finished in sixth place, leaving the villa one day before the show's final.
Maura Higgins
Maura Higgins, from County Longford, is arguably the most well-known contestant from the Republic of Ireland.
She gained fame as a finalist on the fifth series of Love Island in 2019, delivering memorable lines such as "why are you asking her that?"
Since then, Higgins has established herself as a reality TV personality, presenter, and model, appearing on shows including Dancing on Ice, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, and The Traitors US.
Other Irish Contestants
Seán Fitzgerald
Among this year's original lineup is Seán Fitzgerald, also known as Fitzy, a 25-year-old primary school teacher and GAA player from Galway.
Fitzgerald was part of Galway's All-Ireland squad, which was defeated by Armagh in 2024.
His participation followed a humorous "audition tape" he posted to his nearly 100,000 followers on TikTok earlier this year.
Speaking before the new series, Fitzgerald said,
"If I see someone I like: I'm going for it and nothing's going to stop me."
Love Island's Starting Line-Up
For those unfamiliar, Love Island's premise involves contestants coupling up and persuading the public to keep them on the island to win £50,000, all while seeking their ideal match.
This year's first 12 singles have entered the villa, and as expected with Love Island, there have already been plot twists and bombshell arrivals.
