Exclusive
TRUTH IS OUT
Love Island Curtis’ Lothario re-brand is a flop & Gabby’s ‘tongue-pokes’ show TRUE feelings about Marcel, expert says
Including whether two pals could leave the South African villa as new lovers
IT was the biggest moment millions of fans were eagerly waiting for - the arrival of 12 sexy singletons looking to give romance another chance in the Love Island All Stars villa.
The ITV2 series kicked off in style last night with a dozen faces from previous seasons headed to South Africa for some winter sun and romance.
12
12
The hit show, which includes a controversial star, a newly-single lad, a series two OG and a stunning model in the line-up, has already sparked soma drama - with cheat Marcel Somerville and his ex Gabby Allen put together in an awkward couple by the public.
However, this wasn't the only bizarre twist Love Island fans saw on their TV screens last night and the episode was full of ''some of the most awkward body language performances''.
And according to expert Judi James, the Season 2 cast are not here for finding their one and only - and instead, they will turn the sunny South African villa into a warzone, with fiery arguments and bombshell moments.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous thanks to , the body language expert said: “There were the moments of scripted grimness, like the great Gabby/Marcel ‘cheating’ reunion.
read more on love island
''But then there were the subtler clues about off-stage romantic treachery when we heard whispers about ‘She slid into my DMs’ or ‘He messaged me when he was with another girl’, teeing up the fact that, if only half of the other parties mentioned are waiting to drop in as vengeful bombshells this series could be less about love and more about open warfare.''
The ITV show, hosted by presenter Maya Jama, was riddled with toe-curling moments then, but here are five of the most awkward looking...
LUCA BISH – OOZING AWKWARDNESS
12
12
Although 25-year-old Luca Bish fell in love during the summer series in 2022, and came runners up to Ekin-Su Culculoglu and the Italian hunk Davide Sanclimenti, his romance with Michael Owen's daughter Gemma was short-lived.
But while he may have stolen Gemma's heart, Luca failed to make any impressions last night, with viewers left baffled as the Brighton lad looked very miserable upon his arrival.
Most read in Celebrity
“Luca’s body language is puzzling as he must be the first contestant on Love Island who looks as though he was forced there on the end of a pitchfork,'' Judi said.
''Luca arrived looking fed up and the body language signals between him and his fellow arrival Olivia suggested some kind of dreadful tension.
Watch the moment Maya Jama flirts with Curtis Pritchard as fans can't get over his glow up
''Luca barely forced a smile and as the pair walked together into the villa, he turned his head to look as far away from Olivia as possible.''
When speaking about his relationship with Gemma, the ''pointless'' star ''sounded bitter'' - and it all got even worse when he was branded ''a red flag'' by two female contestants.
According to Judi, the young lad ''showed at least three signals of belligerence in the red flag game, standing with his arms folded in a barrier ritual that mirrored ‘red flag man’ Marcel’s gesture before performing an angry-looking shrug and barking ‘Me?’ when he was handed a flag.
When being teamed up in a new couple with Olivia, Luca's body language was even ''more awkward than Marcel and Gabby’s'', with the 25-year-old old thrusting his hands into the pockets, ''in a gesture that suggests a desire to hide''.
''When Olivia’s name was called, he looked away and down and his mouth turned down at the corners in a micro-gesture of misery.
''There was a weak fake smile that dropped quickly in a denial gesture.
But, Judi noted, it had nothing to do with being paired up with ''the most controversial star'' - ''he looked awkward about being on Love Island''.
CURTIS’S BAGGAGE-DUMP
12
12
The dancer, 28, is featuring back on our TV screens six years after he dated Maura Higgins for nine months before breaking up at the start of 2020 after Curtis was accused of cheating on her.
The influencer, from Stoke-on-Trent, stunned viewers with his epic makeover, proudly showing off a six pack, defined biceps and impressive shoulder muscles.
But according to Judi, the physical transformation is not the only that Curtis desperately wants to impress fans with - and the toned lad, who also donned a new hairdo, wants viewers to ''prove'' that he's a changed man.
''Curtis seems to be re-branding himself and that involved the quickest and most awkward moment of deleting the past as he tried to put it all behind him as soon as he set foot in the villa,'' the expert said.
Love Island All Stars 2025 official line-up
Love Island All Stars is returning to TV for season 2.
Here we take you through the line-up of Islanders' who are set to go into the villa so far.
- Scott Thomas - season 2 (2016).
- Marcel Somerville - season 3 (2017).
- India Reynolds - season 2 (2017).
- Gabby Allen - season 3 (2017).
- Elma Pazar - season 5 (2019) - born in 1993.
- Curtis Pritchard - season 5 (2019).
- Kaz Crossley - season 5 (2019).
- Olivia Hawkins - season 10 (2023).
- Nas Majeed - season 6 (2020).
- Luca Bish - season 8 (2022).
- Catherine Agbaje - season 10 (2023).
- Ronnie Vint - season 11 (2024).
Bombshell rumours
Each series brings with it a string of hot single bombshells making their epic entrance into the villa.
Here's who is rumoured to be going into the villa so far:
- Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu - season 8 (2022).
''Using Maya as his confessional he suffered from verbal and non-verbal diarrhoea, chattering on about ‘never cheating’ as it ‘broke my heart’ while performing eight slashing gestures with one hand to ‘prove’ that the previous version of Curtis had learned his lesson.''
The 28-year-old, who was coupled up with Amy Hart during his time in the villa but dumped her in memorable scenes after Casa Amor, has ''re-invented himself as some ‘Carry on flirting’ lothario'', said Judi.
''His leaning on one elbow chat-up of Kaz was an awkward watch as he ran through a textbook of Love Island quotes in the space of half a minute with gems like ‘What are you vibing?’''
But although the blonde beauty ''seemed to enjoy the chat-up'', Kaz had ''an expression of what looked like disappointment'', snatching ''the back of her head in a gesture of anxiety as she called him a ‘gentleman’''.
INDIA AND SCOTT’ PAIRING SIGNALS
12
12
The hunk, whose famous soap star brothers Ryan and Adam have previously appeared with him on screen, and the model may have been pals for years.
However, during the coupling when the public voted to pair Scott and India together, the ''awkward body language'' said it all - they didn't see each other as a romantic partner.
“Her hard blink and tempered smile as he was announced screamed awkwardness and there was a big spacial gap between them with no touch,'' Judi pointed out.
''India was rocking, suggesting inner tension and she stood with her legs crossed in a rather obvious sexual barrier and her hands clasped to avoid touch.
''His comment about ‘bombshell’ Ekin-Su and his DMs seemed to kick off their plotline and it’s hard to see which other guy Ekin-Su might opt for unless she’s back in full performative mode, bringing the drama with her.”
GABBY AND MARCEL’S DRAMA
12
12
It was, without a doubt, one of the most awkward moments in Love Island history when PT Gabby came face to face with Marcel for first time in six years following a cheating scandal.
"Oh my god," Gabby exclaimed as Blazin' Squad's Marcel swanned into the villa with Elma Pazar in a toe-curling watch.
The fitness coach, who swatted Olivia's hand clasp, suggested she felt both angry and awkward about being reunited with the dad-of-one.
But meanwhile 'Dr Marce', who on holiday, ''was all about arrogant body language and digging bigger holes verbally''.
''His ‘I don’t think I done anything wrong’ was a tumbleweed moment from the other girls.''
“Gabby’s two tongue-pokes were a signal of utter rejection, and her movements became angrily staccato, and her fingers began to pick when he said he had ‘No bad blood for Gabby’.
''When the red flag game started though he was using a praying hand gesture, rubbing them against his chin in a moment of panic.
''Marcel’s body language state after Elma’s ‘Hey Gabby, he cheated on you, didn’t he?’ became mainly a fig-leaf, crotch-cover pose.''
When the former lovers were paired off, Judi said ''there were some mutual 'ignore' signals'' - however, Gabby's ''added tongue-pokes of disgust'' and ''her fingers touching her eyes suggested she was close to tears''.
RONNIE VINT’S ACCUSATIONS FROM OLIVIA
12
12
While the 28-year-old footballer may not necessarily strike his fans as ''a naturally awkward guy'', even he had his moment last night on our TV screens - and just like with Luca, it too was Olivia-induced.
Judi said: ''When he was asked about Harriet his smile became asymmetric, suggesting mixed feelings, and he let out a sickly laugh before reverting to robotic footballer-speak.
When Olivia announced they had been DM-ing each other while Ronnie was still with Harriet, his ''signature tongue-lick-and-poke rituals began but the way he licked the corner of his mouth while doing a little leg-judder dance suggested he might be looking forward to the lurking drama''.
Out of all the six couples formed last night, Judi reckoned Ronnie and Elma were ''the only enthusiastic match'' we saw - and there could be some potential romance on the cards.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“They are hilarious together and her open mouth, his little jig, and their hug when they were paired off suggested some authentic bonding.
''On Love Island this should be a cue for a bombshell to split them up but currently they are the only happy watch on a very tense and awkward Love Island.''
Topics