As the Love Island villa opens its doors to a new bunch of sexy singletons, host Caroline Flack reveals why she NEVER gives love advice
Summer 2018 will be a tough one to beat. Britain was in the grip of a heatwave, football really looked like it was coming home and reality TV hit Love Island had us all hooked. So, get ready, for the temperature to rise again this week, as Love Island is back!
Caroline Flack returns as host as a new bunch of sexy singletons head off to a luxury villa on the island of Majorca for two months of sun, sea, coupling-up… and breaking-up! Each Islander will be hoping to find 'the one' and, together, follow in the footsteps of last year’s winners Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer, scooping a £50,000 cash prize and the title of Love Island champions 2019.
Here, Caroline Flack, 39, teases what’s in store in the new series of Love Island…
You must really look forward to this time of year…
Caroline Flack: "It’s so exciting. When I get together with the production team it’s like: ‘Here we go again!’ We know each year we’ve got to step things up to that next level. And in terms of the Islanders we have this time, we really have stepped it up. There’s already that buzz around that this is gonna be a brilliant series!"
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Do you think the Islanders will go into the villa with some kind of game plan?
CF: "You can maybe go in there with a plan but this show is about love and you can’t plan love! You don’t know who you’re gonna meet, how you’re gonna feel, what emotions are gonna come up. That’s what’s so organic about this show, things happen as they happen. I should know…"
What do you mean?
CF: "When I was 21, I was like: ‘I’m gonna be married by 29, I’m gonna meet a tall, dark and handsome guy, who’s gonna sweep me off my feet and then, by 32, I’m gonna have kids and all the rest of it’. Well, that hasn’t happened! But that’s what makes love exciting and what makes this show exciting."
What advice would you give the Islanders?
CF: "Well, it’s never love advice, because I don’t think I’m qualified to give that! It’s always just about how to handle things like Twitter and Instagram. I tell them: ‘Don’t answer back!’ I really just advise them on how to deal with life after Love Island."
There’s been a lot of press coverage recently about the aftercare offered to those who appear on shows like Love Island. What are your thoughts?
CF: "There’s a duty of care that this show has to all the Islanders. There’s always someone for them to talk to before and afterwards. When Love Island started in 2015, things like Instagram weren’t so prevalent, so as the media landscape changes, we have to change with that. Having been in this industry myself for over 15 years, I know how difficult it is suddenly having your life all over the media. It IS difficult, which is why there will be more aftercare for Islanders and more safeguards put in place."
Why do you think Love Island has become such a hit with viewers?
CF: "Because it’s a really simple show about a really complicated subject. It doesn’t matter who you are, we’ve all experienced falling in love and having our heart broken. In life, you’re either in a relationship or you’re not, so you can always relate to someone in the villa. Plus, people love a good holiday romance – ‘holiday goggles’ I call them. I’ve worn them many a time."
Carloine Flack reveals her favourite Islanders on Love Island!
A look back at the couples that have melted Caroline’s heart…
Scott Thomas and Kady McDermott (2016)
"When Scott asked Kady to be his girlfriend, I remember that being the most I’ve EVER cried. I was like: ‘He’s just asked her to be his girlfriend, that’s a good thing. So why am I crying?!’"
Chris Hughes and Kem Cetinay (2017)
"Love Island’s not just about coupling-up as a couple, it’s also about the friendships that develop and you’ve only got to look at Chris and Kem for that. This show is about those bonding relationships, not the falling out."
Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer (2018)
"People loved Jack and Dani and really wanted them to win – even taxi drivers would ask me: ‘What do you think of Jack and Dani?’ It’s nice to work on a show that’s got so much buzz around it. It’s a real privilege."
Love Island, fronted by Caroline Flack, starts on Monday June 3 and airs nightly at 9pm on ITV2.
