New series of Love Island: All Stars begins
By Jenny Garnsworthy, Press Association
The new series of Love Island: All Stars is set to begin, with all the contestants meeting face to face – including two who it emerges have already been messaging each other.
The third series of the ITV spin-off dating show was due to kick off on Monday but was delayed until Thursday after wildfires led to the villa being evacuated and filming postponed.
Thursday night’s episode sees host Maya Jama welcome the islanders to the villa in South Africa and ask if any of them already know one another.
Tommy is quick to answer: “I’ve never met Jess but we’ve been messaging recently… we tried to meet up a few times.”
But Jess, acting surprised, replies: “Did we?”
It later emerges that Ciaran has also previously messaged Jess.
The All Stars version of the reality show follows the same format as the original ITV dating programme, but features contestants from previous series returning to the villa in a bid to find their match and win the prize pot.
Jess, 25, is a former winner, along with Millie, 29.
Series 12’s Tommy, 22, is also competing, along with Helena, 29, who appeared on the original format of the show last summer.
They will be joined by Jack, who appeared on the eighth series of the show, alongside series 10 finalist Whitney and series 11 islanders Ciaran, 23 and Sean, 26.
The All Stars line-up is completed with Charlie, 31, from series four, Belle, 27, of series five, Leanne, 28, from series six, and Shaq, 27, from series nine.
Thursday night’s episode will also see the islanders play a game involving the girls having to hand out sashes to the boys, with some saying “Good” and the others having “No good” written on them.
The girls are instructed to kiss the boys who they give the “Good” sashes to.
And later on Jama reveals that the public have voted for how they think the girls and boys should be coupled up.
The new series is reportedly filmed in the South African town of Franschhoek.
The show will be broadcast on ITVX from 9pm.
