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Love Island U.K. is back after 18 months. The first episode introduced the first 10 Islanders, who are all single and looking to find love this summer. They also have their eye on the £50,000 cash prize at the end of their summer romance. After some awkward introductions and unlikely pairings (justice for Hugo!) at the beginning of the episode, Love Island U.K. season 7 got well and truly underway. Newsweek has everything you need to know about the events of Love Island U.K. episode 1.
Day 1 of Love Island U.K.
The First Coupling Up of the Season
And now, introducing ten sexy singletons to the revamped Love Island villa.
First, we meet the girls, strutting in in the six-foot-high summer sandals, letting out "woos" for prosecco, and calling each other "babe" because they've clearly forgotten each other's names.
We have 25-year-old civil servant Sharon Gaffka, waitress Liberty Poole, 21, Scottish model Shannon Singh, 25, fashion blogger Kaz Kamwi, 26, and 26-year-old lettings manager Faye Winter.
The girls are tasked with stepping forward for the man of their dreams (when will the roles ever reverse?) and the boys are faced with what they act like is a life or death decision. Will they pick one of the girls who stepped forward or will they pick a girl who has absolutely no interest? Here we go!
Liberty steps forward for Jake Cornish, a 24-year-old water engineer with a foot fetish. How romantic.
Luxury events host Aaron Francis, 24, is next, who catches the eye of Faye and Kaz—a lucky man indeed. Aaron decides to make his mark and picks sweet little Shannon. Read the room, Aaron, she isn't interested.
P.E. teacher Hugo Hammond, 24, is next. The man who you'd want to take home to your mother is totally rejected from the five girls but chooses Faye anyway.
Toby Aromolaran, a 22-year-old soccer player who plays for a social media team called Hashtag United (what!?) enters next, dressed in a matching shirt and shorts. The girls are clearly being picky as no one steps forward for him. He then throws poor Hugo under the bus and decides to couple up with Faye, leaving Hugo single for good.
And next, we have the "heartthrob" of the original ten Islanders. Brad McClelland, 26, with his piercing blue eyes and toned physique, grabs the attention of Liberty, Faye, and Sharon who all step forward. It's okay, Jake's pride is just about still intact.
As the days go on, Brad quickly makes it to the top of the list for being one of the most boring Islanders the show has ever had but not before earning my respect for stealing Faye from Toby, putting Toby on the reserve bench with Hugo.
A bombshell arrives in the villa
Here comes the big twist everyone has been waiting for. Yes, you guessed it, a bombshell has entered the villa.
Chloe Burrows, 25 and a financial services marketing executive has sent the boys a voice note, tasking them with sending someone to go on a date with her.
Putting on the front of a collective unit (we see through you!) the boys go to meet Chloe as a group. It's a fight for who is the alpha male in the group, with nobody coming out on top.
Chloe, who seems just lovely, is judged instantly by the rest of the girls, and Faye is not happy especially when she spots Brad looking in Chloe's direction — the claws are out, and Faye's about to bring some much-needed drama.
Before the second episode ends, Chloe is tasked with coupling up with one of the boys, which means one girl will be left single. Not that the girls are complaining, it's safe to say these Islanders have nothing in common with each other.
The teaser trailer for episode two teases plenty of drama as the boys get to know Chloe. Another game of dares also goes wrong and we may just be treated to our first fight of the series.
Love Island U.K. drops daily on Hulu
About the writer
Molli Mitchell is a Senior SEO TV and Film Newsweek Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on ... Read more