Love Island contestants express love for George Knight as departure revealed
By Casey Cooper-Fiske, Press Association Senior Entertainment Reporter
Love Island contestants have expressed their love for George Knight after his departure from the show for “private reasons” was revealed.
ITV, which airs the reality show presented by Maya Jama, announced on Thursday that Knight would be leaving the programme just days after he joined it as a bombshell alongside fellow contestant Yasmin Hadlow.
Bombshells are contestants who are brought into the villa after the series has begun.
In Sunday’s episode, contestant Lorenzo Alessi tells his fellow islanders: “George has left the villa for private reasons and won’t be coming back.”
Fellow contestant Robyn Langton replies: “George, we love you.”
During his short time on the show, professional footballer Knight, 28, made a move on quantity surveyor Langton, 21, and asked if she wanted to share a bed with him in the hideaway.
Langton, who was coupled up with electrician Samuel Workman, 25, told him the move was “ballsy” and that she needed to think about it, before declining the offer.
In an Instagram post speaking about his departure on Friday, Knight said: “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.”
During their time in the villa, Knight and Hadlow were tasked with the secret mission of dumping two of the other contestants from the island within 24 hours.
Announcing Knight’s departure on Thursday, an ITV spokesperson said: “For private reasons, George has left the Love Island villa.”
Love Island, which has aired since 2015 when it was revived from the 2000s TV show of the same name, sees 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.
