Love Island unveils renovated villa

ITV has released photos of the newly renovated Love Island villa ahead of the show’s return to screens next month.

The show will return for its eleventh season on Monday 3 June with a host of brand-new singletons looking for love.

Host Maya Jama will preside over all of the villa action, while comedian and narrator Iain Stirling returns to voiceover duties.

“I’m so excited to return to Mallorca this summer because it feels like we’ve had a big gap since the winter series,” said Jama.

“I’m ready for it, the fans are waiting, there’s lots of anticipation and I can’t wait to meet this year’s Islanders. Love Island is the official start of summer.”

When asked about what she is hoping to see, Jama replied: “I’ll be honest, I’m hoping for drama.”

“I want loads of love and happy couples at the end, but I do want to be entertained so I’m hoping for lots of fiery moments,” she continued.

When asked for her advice to the contestants, Jama added: “My advice would be to just go for it!

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you don’t want to have any regrets so go for it. Make all the connections you can, you can always dash them if you don’t feel like it. You’ve got to live it up in there.”

On Monday, the first 12 contestants of the new series were announced.

Love Island returns to screens on Monday 3 June at 9pm on Virgin Media Two and ITV.

The contestants are:

Sean Stone

The 24-year-old sweets salesman from Hertford says now is the “perfect time” to take part in Love Island and “the one thing that is missing is my soulmate”.

Modestly describing himself as “the full package”, he says his family and friends would consider him to be “very loving, caring and thoughtful”.

Harriett Blackmore

The 24-year-old dancer and personal shopper from Brighton says she will be entertaining for the boys in the villa and a “really good friend” for the girls.

As for her ‘claim to fame’, she says: “Being a bit of an IT girl in Brighton. I’ve done personal shopping for the rapper Arrdee and one of my best friends is Saffron Barker, the YouTuber.”

Ayo Odukoya

The 25-year-old model from Canning Town says Love Island “seems like something to have a go at”. “Of course, you can’t go wrong trying to find that love again – that is something that would be amazing to find if possible,” he continues.

Ayo reckons he will bring “excitement and joy” to the villa. “I think people would have someone to come to and talk to and feel comfortable being around or to have a laugh with. I think I’m somebody everyone would take to,” he adds.

Jess White

The 25-year-old retail manager from Stockport’s friends “are in relationships, settled down with babies”. “I just want to meet somebody and to be able to do all of that stuff too,” she says.

She describes herself as “hard work” and “not easily pleased”. “I think that can sometimes put people off me because I am quite loud and you can hear me before you see me. Some men love that though,” she adds.

Ciaran Davies

The 21-year-old surveyor from South Wales reckons he’s “mature enough for something serious with the right girl”.

The self-proclaimed “wind-up” once pretended to be Liam Reardon from series seven to get into a club while holidaying in Malia. “It worked and we ended up getting a private booth and free drinks all night,” he says.

Mimii Ngulube

The 24-year-old mental health nurse from Portsmouth says she’s tired of dating and speaking to people on social media.

Mimii says she’s a “girl’s girl” and will be a good friend to have in the villa. “I’m a girl’s girl. My girls are my rocks and I’m theirs so I’ll be a good friend as well as going in there to find a man,” she says.

She describes herself as being “loving, supportive, considerate, empathetic, loyal” and with a “big heart”.

Patsy Field

The 29-year-old office administrator from Orpington says she’s “finally ready to find a sexy man” and admits that her friends and family would describe her as “the loudest person in the group”.

Patsy was born with a condition called Erb’s Palsy, but “it doesn’t define who I am” and it has “never held me back”.

Ronnie Vint

The 27-year-old semi-professional footballer from South East London has had two serious relationships in the past but more recently has been focusing on his career. He’s on the hunt for someone “that’s family-orientated, caring and career-minded”.

Ronnie has connections to 2017 Love Islander Olivia Attwood and her husband Bradley Dack. “I call Olivia my big little sister, she always looks out for me,” he says.

Nicole Samuel

The 24-year-old accounts manager from Aberdare reckons she’s going to have one of the biggest personalities in the villa, saying: “I’m pretty out there.”

Nicole became a world champion dancer in 2011 and was a professional street dancer.

Munveer Jabbal

The 30-year-old recruitment manager from Surrey is “quite picky” and has “high standards”. He admits that dating is “horrible” in London.

His ‘claim to fame’ is being friends with Piers Morgan’s son, Spencer. “We met when I moved to Fulham in 2018,” he explains.

Samantha Kenny

The 26-year-old makeup artist from Liverpool says she will “definitely bring some fire” to the villa and admits to being “very opinionated” and “really bubbly”.

Samantha says she doesn’t “get out enough”, as she works weekends and “tall, dark and Cockney is my type”.

Sam Taylor

The 23-year-old hair stylist from Chesterfield wants “the opportunity to find a real connection with someone”. “I’ve been looking for that connection for quite some time, but I’ve never really found it,” he continues. “I’m hoping I find that spark in the villa.”

Describing himself as deep, Sam says his fellow contestants shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. “You wouldn’t look at me as a tall guy covered in tattoos and think that I make girls’ hair look pretty for a living,” he explains.

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