Love Island pro footballer says ‘family comes first’ after quitting show
By Carla Feric, Press Association Entertainment Reporter
Love Island contestant George Knight has said his “family comes first” after leaving the villa for “private reasons” just days after joining the show.
The professional footballer, 28, joined the ITV reality programme in Tuesday’s episode as a bombshell along with Yasmin Hadlow, 23, and the pair were given the secret mission of dumping two of the other contestants from the island within 24 hours.
It was announced that Knight had left the show on Thursday “for private reasons”, and he has since shared a post on Instagram saying that he will not be going into any “further detail” surrounding his shock departure.
Knight shared his promotional image from the show on Friday night, as well as a snap alongside a family member, and wrote: “Family comes first, always.
“Leaving the @LoveIsland Villa was a decision made in order to be with my family. Out of respect for them, I’d prefer not to go into any further detail.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out with kind messages and support! It genuinely means a lot.”
Bombshells are contestants who are brought into the villa after the series has begun.
Knight made his entrance on Tuesday’s show, and during his brief stint in the villa he got to know his fellow contestants and spoke about his life and dating preferences.
He made a move on quantity surveyor Robyn Langton, 21, and asked if she wanted to share a bed with him in the hideaway but she told him the move was “ballsy” and that she needed to think about it, before declining the offer.
The islanders later found out about the bombshells’ secret mission, after it was revealed that the duo picked model Samraj and videographer Ellie to be dumped from the island.
However, it was revealed in last night’s episode that Samraj and Ellie were given another chance at love and, in a shock twist, they were sent on dates with two new bombshells: Priya, 25, and Kavan, 21.
It was also revealed on Thursday that electrician Kavan is the brother of property broker Aidan, 23, who is already in the villa.
In the ITV show a group of contestants looking for love live in isolation from the outside world, where they must couple up with another islander to survive on the show.
The winner is voted for by viewers.
Love Island returns on ITV2 and ITVX on Friday at 9pm.
