The world has changed since the rapid onset of COVID-19 pushed everyone indoors, sparked fears of social contact and the abrupt cancellation of life as we know it.
However, as we return to some semblance of normality, one thing that remains uniquely preserved is the Love Island format and its tanned, toned, tattooed and toe-curlingly awkward crop of not-so-hopelessly single contestants.
With the show’s winter edition returning to South Africa’s glorious Cape Town following a three year absence on Monday evening, all appeared to be well as the first couplings of the series took place.
But with our current crop of contestants currently showing less chemistry than a secondary school English lesson, a questionable bombshell making an unwelcome arrival and new host Maya Jama already proving to be the hottest girl in the villa – what next for this series?
Hold on to your phones, but don’t check your texts. MailOnline is here with a blow-by-blow account of the ITV2 show’s latest eventful instalment.
Here we go: Love Island is back for a second winter series in South Africa’s glorious Cape Town
TOM CRACKS ON – BUT VIEWERS AREN’T IMPRESSED!
Love Island fans were left unimpressed by the arrival of new bombshell Tom Clare in the villa.
The hunky footballer, 23, was a late arrival to the South African abode on Monday, but he’s already ruffled a few feathers by kissing three girls during a dare challenge.
But tuning into the episode on Tuesday, viewers were left unimpressed by Tom’s presence in the villa, with one remarking: ‘Yeah Tom is boring. All that height for nothing.’
First impressions: Love Island fans were left unimpressed by the arrival of new bombshell Tom Clare in the villa
After Maya announced his arrival in the villa during the debut show, there was plenty of anticipation among the islanders about his next move, especially since it was revealed that he’s get to steal one girl from the boys.
And as he got to know the girls, Tom was quick to leave the ladies intrigued, especially as he told them that he was 6ft 5.
However, despite Tom only being in the villa for a short time, fans at home were less than impressed with the new arrival, with some calling him ‘boring’
Taking to Twitter, one viewer wrote: ‘I’m not really impressed with Tom,’ while another remarked: ‘Yeah Tom is boring. All that height for nothing.’
All eyes on him: The hunky footballer was a late arrival to the South African abode on Monday, but he’s already ruffled a few feathers by kissing three girls during a dare challenge
Uh oh: But tuning into the episode on Tuesday, viewers were left unimpressed by Tom’s presence in the villa, with one remarking: ‘Yeah Tom is boring. All that height for nothing’
‘Bombshell isn’t bombshelling’ tweeted a third unimpressed watcher, as a fourth carped: ‘Tom is hardly a bombshell. He’s just shell.’
A fifth commented: ‘As lovely as I’m sure Tom probably is, how the hell is he this year’s bombshell partner stealer pls? The standards are dropping every year I swear.’
With another person tweeting: ‘Kind of bored of Tom already.’
Tom certainly had an eventful start to his Love Island stint as he spent his first day pulling each girl for a chat.
Reaction: However, despite Tom only being in the villa for a short time, fans at home were less than impressed with the new arrival, with some calling him ‘boring’
Bombshell: Tom certainly had an eventful start to his Love Island stint as he spent his first day pulling each girl for a chat
Over at the fire pit Tom asked: ‘How are you guys in your couples?’ to which Tanya replied: ‘Everyone is still getting to know each other.’
Tom nodded in agreement as Tanya then asked: ‘How tall are you?’ to which he replies: ‘6’5, I like to be the little spoon though…’
Meanwhile, Olivia Hawkins also showed her interest in Tom as she gushed: ‘Oh my god, the height on Tom is very nice. Who doesn’t like a six foot five man?’
Things heated up around the fire pit as the Islanders played a game of dares, with Tom being urged on to lock lips with the women he fancied the most.
The footballer chose Tanyel, Lana Jenkins and Olivia to share a kiss with and pulled the girls for chats the following day.
Pucker up: After Tom entered the villa as a bombshell during Monday’s cliffhanger ending he was able to lock lips with three girls of his choice in Tuesday’s Love Island (pictured with Tanyel)
Smooch: Tom wasted no time getting down to business when the challenge got going (pictured with Olivia)
‘IS WILL CRYING?’
They may have been in the Love Island villa for less than 24 hours but the Islanders have already got to know each other rather intimately.
And during a game of dares, Will Young looked less than impressed as he was forced to watch ring girl Olivia Hawkins snog surprise bombshell Tom Clare on Tuesday.
Tom was urged to kiss the three woman he fancied most when the farmer was caught watching on looking completely heartbroken.
Heartbroken: During a game of dares on Tuesday’s Love Island, Will Young looked less than impressed as he was forced to watch Olivia Hawkins snog surprise bombshell Tom Clare
Fans were quick to notice his expression and rushed to Twitter to ask: ‘Why does Will look like he’s about to cry’.
Another wrote: ‘Will looks like he’s about to cry poor thing’.
Following the game around the fire pit, Tom said in the Beach Hut: ‘After that first night, I snogged three unreal girls so yeah, can’t go to wrong with that.’
Will and Olivia were coupled up after she was ditched by the popular hunk Kai Fagan, during the launch show.
‘Poor thing’: Fans were quick to notice his expression (centre) and rushed to Twitter to ask: ‘Why does Will look like he’s about to cry’
‘Will looks so sad’: ITV viewers flocked to social media to ask why the farmer looks like ‘he might cry’
The pair left fans cringing as they shared a toe-curling hug after being coupled up failing to convince viewers that they were a legitimate match, with many insisting that they had zero chemistry.
It seemed Olivia wasn’t too impressed with Will from the start as her head was already turned for Haris Namani, 21.
The ring girl admitted to already ‘frienzoning’ Will and that the farmer is just ‘not my type’.
Dancing Queen: Love Island viewers rushed to Twitter during Tuesday’s episode to slam Will Young’s less than impressive dance moves
SIT DOWN WILL! THE FARMER’S NIGHT GOES FROM BAD TO WORSE – COURTESY OF SOME CRIMINAL DANCING
Love Island viewers rushed to Twitter during Tuesday’s episode to slam Will Young’s less than impressive dancing.
The farmer popped a few impromptu moves as the singeltons played a wild game of dares around the fire pit.
While some fans described the dancing as ‘criminal’ others compared him to The Office’s David Brent.
The game saw some islanders mimics orgasms and kissing, while Will found himself bogeying in front of the other hopefuls.
Awkward: While some fans described the dancing as ‘criminal’ others compared him to The Office’s David Brent (pictured)
Boogie: The farmer popped a few impromptu moves as the singeltons played a wild game of dares around the fire pit
Following some awkward wigging and bum shaking, taking to Twitter one viewer wrote: ‘What’s this man doing! It’s not dancing I’ll tell you that’.
Another shared a GIF of Ricky Gervais’ iconic dance from the 2001 BBC Sitcom declaring: ‘[This is] Will Dancing’.
A third wrote: ‘Someone tell Will to sit down and stop dancing’ and a fourth joked: ‘Will is dancing like a worm’.
‘Will please stop dancing’ another viewer pleaded with another joking’ that dance was criminal’.
However other viewers loved what they saw calling his moves those of a ‘free spirit’.
LOL: His wild moved left his fellow islanders and viewers in hysterics
SHAQ TAKES AN EARLY PIE
Love Island viewers sided with Tanya Manhenga after she turned down a kiss from Shaq Muhammed during Tuesday’s episode.
The model, 22, and airport security officer, 24, coupled up during Monday’s episode and although they like each other, Tanya is making him wait for romance.
Shaq approached Tanya while she was chatting with the girls and asked to speak with her on the terrace.
They quickly began flirting and Shaq told Tanya he wanted to kiss her, but she said he would have to wait.
Awkward: Love Island viewers have sided with Tanya Manhenga after she turned down a kiss from Shaq Muhammed during Tuesday’s episode
Couple: The model, 22, and airport security officer, 24, coupled up during Monday’s episode and although they like each other, Tanya is making him wait for romance
Viewers seemed to largely agree with Tanya’s reserved approach, pointing out they hadn’t even known each other for a full day yet.
One said: ‘Good girl Tanya it’s not even been 24 hours,’ while another added: ‘Shaq getting humbled in the first 24 hours’.
A third viewer wrote: ‘Shaq rolling in his sleep with no kiss,’ while a fourth said: ‘es Tanya don’t five it to ‘em easy’.
Another wrote: ‘Shaq already wanting a kiss from Tanya? Hold up, relax babe you haven’t even been in the villa for a full 24 hours and you’re already begging for a kiss? Tanya run’.
Reaction: Viewers seemed to largely agree with Tanya’s reserved approach, pointing out they hadn’t even known each other for a full day yet
The following morning, Tanya discussed the moment while chatting with the other girls on the balcony.
She said: ‘He was like, I want my own kiss now. We were close. I was like, no, I think you’ll have to wait.’
Shaq was undeterred and later told fellow islander Ron: ‘If I’m being honest, the more I see her, the more I’m feeling her. We’ve barely spoken today but when I look at her I’m like, I’m feeling you.’
It comes amid the news the Love Island villa is reportedly set to be rocked by the immiment arrival of two new bombshells.
Cosy: Shaq approached Tanya while she was chatting with the girls and asked to speak with her on the terrace
The newcomers risk throwing the current couples into chaos just after bombshell Tom Clare is set to split one of the pair’s up on Tuesday’s episode.
A source told The Sun: ‘Love Island aren’t messing around this year and two new bombshells are heading into the villa to stir things up.
‘It makes the show really exciting to watch and gives those in the villa a chance to stray if they’re not content with the person they’re with.
‘Three bombshells in one week is huge for Love Island and it is going to make life in the villa very interesting indeed.’
‘I thought he was at least 27’: The reality show fans were left less than convinced that Tom is 23-years-old as the islanders got to know the newcomer more in the South African villa
YOU SURE ABOUT THAT TOM?
Love Island viewers demanded ITV to check bombshell Tom Clare’s age as they accuse him of lying during Tuesday’s episode.
The reality show fans were left less than convinced that Tom is 23-years-old as the islanders got to know the newcomer more in the South African villa.
The new cast member came under scrutiny on Twitter as viewers claimed the hunky footballer is ‘lying’ and is at least 10 years old than he says.
‘Stop lying’: Taking to social media, fans joked: ‘Tom must be 23 in dog years because ain’t no way??’
‘Tom is not my age mate’: The new cast member came under scrutiny on Twitter as viewers claimed the hunky footballer is ‘lying’ and is at least 10 years old than he says
One wrote: ‘I refuse to believe Tom is 23. We need to see his passport,’ while another wrote: ‘Tom must be 23 in dog years because ain’t no way??
‘Tom is not my age mate stop lying,’ a third said. A fourth confused fan added: ‘Tom’s 23!?!? I thought he was at least 27’.
‘Tom cannot be the same 23 as me. Why…
Leer la nota Completa > Love Island 2023: All you need to know about episode two
