A blagger’s guide: Love Island 2020
David Farnor | On 12, Jan 2020
Spring is here, which means for the first time, Love Island is breaking out its new, twice-yearly run in an attempt to dominate conversations around you even more. ITV 2’s reality dating series, which first premiered back in 2015 (technically, it’s a reboot of an earlier version in 2005), has grown to become a genuine sensation, becoming wildly popular in 2017 and even more so in 2018 and 2019.
This year, the same looks to happen all over again: the end of Season 5 upped the previous year’s average viewers by 1.65 million to 5.61 million. The final boasted a further 1.9 million simulcast requests on ITV Hub, with digital audiences a huge part of the series’ success: according to data from BARB, Love Island was second most popular on-demand programme in the whole of 2017 and the number one most live-streamed TV show of the year.
With eight weeks of relationship gossip and suntan on the cards yet again, that means you’re going to find it hard to avoid Love Island chat between now and Easter. Whether it’s your friends, your family or your work colleagues, here’s your Love Island blagger’s guide. Looking to join in the conversation without watching any of it? Jumping in halfway through? Here’s everything you need to know about Love Island in one handy place – for this week’s cheat sheet to all the talking points, click here.
What is it?
Love Island is a reality series that brings together 11 singletons all looking to find that special someone – and also bag a £50,000 cash prize. The only catch? They have to be in the house at the end of the summer to win it, something that requires them to win over both other Love Islanders and the viewing public.
How does it work?
Laura Whitmore replaces Caroline Flack to preside over the matchmaking, which takes place on the luxury Love Island villa, this time in Cape Town, South Africa. Every few days, the islanders are required to “couple up”, by choosing someone else they want to be paired with. With new islanders added throughout the series, and people able to couple up with people who are already in a partnership, there’s no guarantee that the people they start off with will still be their other half come the finale. The odd number of contestants, meanwhile, means that each week someone becomes the proverbial third wheel – they get dumped out of the villa and sent home. At the end of the eight weeks, the public have the final say on who wins the show and takes home the cash – and the winning pair can choose whether to share the £50,000 or take the whole lot for themselves.
When is it?
Season 5 of Love Island premieres on Sunday 12th January, with new episodes airing every night of the week on ITV 2 at 9pm. Each Friday sees the much-anticipated recoupling, which will send the odd singleton out packing, while every Saturday gives you a break from the gossip with a catch-up highlights show of the week’s events, plus some additional, unseen bits. Laura will also host Love Island: Aftersun, which will air live from London on Monday nights at 10pm.
When does it end?
With eight weeks of break-ups and make-ups on the cards, Love Island 2020 is on course to finish with a live finale on Sunday 8th March – watch this space for any changes to that.
How do I vote?
Love Island viewers can take part in all public votes via the free app, once per device.
Who’s on it?
There are 11 initial islanders to worry about knowing, and they’re all barely distinguishable from each other: essentially the same person but with different haircuts, nicely tanned, well toned, obscenely good-looking, and, of course, willing to go on TV to find a partner. For 2020, the show has responded to previous criticism by recruiting a more diverse line-up, although they remain all around the same age and there is a disappointing lack of variety in body sizes.
Here’s your rundown of the 2020 contestants:
Leanne Amaning
Lovely Londoner Leanne is looking for love! Let's hope she likes the look of our lads. 💕 #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/Mg5x5iLPMZ
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) January 10, 2020
Defining traits:
22 year old customer service advisor from London who says she is unpredictable, fun and charismatic.
Looking for:
I’m fun and want to find love but I’m not that
open, so I think I’m actually going into Love
Island to learn and change.
Siannise Fudge
This Islander's as sweet as… Fudge. Say hello to Bristolian beauty consultant Siânnise Fudge! #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/OIo2zb08zZ
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) January 9, 2020
Defining traits:
25-year-old beauty consultant from Bristol, who is “sassy”, “fun” and called “Princess Jasmine” by her friends.
Looking for:
A “tall dark and handsome” man who isn’ arrogant and will happily get a pizza and watch a Disney film with her.
Eve and Jess Gale
Great things come in pairs – like identical twins Jess & Eve! 👯♀️ #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/bVzAvOxsQQ
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) January 7, 2020
Defining traits:
20-year-old Student and VIP Hostesses from London – they’re the first twins to on Love Island together. Jess is “fun, confident and spontaneous”, Eve is “confident, chilled out and easy-going”.
Looking for:
An “alpha male” who is “switched on” (Eve) and someone who is “confident, not cocky” and “kind and respectful and on the same intelligence level” (Jess).
Shaughna Phillips
Politics babe Shaughna is on a campaign to find love – and someone who'll get on with her mum, of course. 👏 #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/dG5lYdcCiT
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) January 9, 2020
Defining traits:
25-year-old democratic services officer from London, who is “chatty, funny and clever” and not afraid to talk about shocking things.
Looking for:
Someone who is “funny, a little bit smart, not smarter than me as I’d get really annoyed”, plus someone she can watch the news with and have a conversation about it. Plus someone who gets along with their parents and who dresses nice and looks nice – although “looks aren’t everything”.
Sophie Piper
It's goodbye Essex, hello South Africa for sizzling young single Sophie! 😎 #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/lwzaqraZtZ
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) January 8, 2020
Defining traits:
21-year-old medical PA from Essex, who is “kind, fun and energetic”, but needs her eight hours of sleep every night.
Looking for:
Someone “kind with something about them, someone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously and is “confident but not cocky”.
Paige Turley
"Naturally flirty" Paige is hoping to find someone different in the villa. Hopefully this songbird can find a man that's in tune with her! 🎙️ #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/I3x6RX0seh
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) January 11, 2020
Defining traits:
22-year-old singer from West Lothian, who is flirty, loud, and is always on her phone.
Looking for:
Someone with “a bit of banter” and knows what they want.
Mike Boateng
Police Officer Mike can lock us up and throw away the key! 😍 #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/XjeqzZjqiW
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) January 11, 2020
Defining traits:
24-year-old police officer from London who “confident, charming and charismatic”.
Looking for:
Someone who is ambitious and has personality, and is beautiful – he has a new year’s resolution to find a serious relationship.
Connor Durman
Fancy a cuppa? Pour us a hot cup of coffee bean salesman Connor! ☕️ #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/FswRejcDQC
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) January 10, 2020
Defining traits:
25-year-old coffee bean salesman who has been living in Australia for four years and is “funny, weird and honest”.
Looking for:
Someone outgoing with a big personality and needs to be both family-oriented and has to fit in with his mates.
Callum Jones
Scaffolder Callum says his smile is his best feature, and tatt's a fact! 😁 #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/2XgKbUQm0a
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) January 8, 2020
Defining traits:
23-year-old scaffolder from Manchester who describes himself as a “cheeky chap” with “builder’s banter”.
Looking for:
Dark hair, tanned skin red lipstick and white nail polish. Nothing too specific, then.
Nas Majeed
This sexy sports science grad says: "If I think you're pretty, I'll tell you you're pretty." Nas what we like to hear. #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/jiBPtWNnph
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) January 9, 2020
Defining traits:
23-year-old sports science graduate (and builder) from London, who says he is funny, caring, considerate and “different to guys who have been on the show before”.
Looking for:
Someone cute and funny who can match his energy.
Ollie Williams
Banging bod? ✅
Deep blue eyes? ✅
Heir to Cornwall's Lanhydrock estate? ✅
Ollie's ready to be Lord of the villa! #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/evY4Owoxmf— Love Island (@LoveIsland) January 7, 2020
Defining traits:
23-year-old land owner/heir from Cornwall, who calls himself “an alpha male” and “attention seeking”, and has already caused controversy with the public after The Sun unearthed pictures of him trophy hunting.
Looking for:
Someone “blonde, athletic and funny”.
Things to say in conversation this week
– I’m not sure about this twice-yearly idea – maybe that’s too much beach body readiness
– Why don’t they have any plus-size contestants?
– Did you hear about Ollie and the photos of him hunting animals?
– I’m rooting for Laura Whitmore after she was brought in at the last minute to replace Caroline
– Do you think the twins have a psychic connection? Does that count as cheating?
Love Island is available live and on-demand through ITV Hub.
