I visited my daughter on Love Island – producers gave us 3 strict rules and warned me over racy scene, says Tamer Hassan
MEETING the parents is always nerve wracking - especially if they are a tough guy movie star.
When Belle Hassan’s Layer Cake actor dad Tamer came into the Love Island villa in 2019, he left her then-boyfriend Scot Anton Danyluk quaking in his flip flops.
As Islanders enter the final week of the ITV show, the meet the parents episode is looming.
Usually the mums and dads flood into the villa the episode before the final which falls on August 1 this year.
Now star Tamer Hassan, 54, shares what really goes on behind the scenes of the iconic episode and reminisces on his appearance in season five.
The actor said he almost didn’t appear on the show as he was filming The Witcher in the UK at the time.
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He said: “I never wanted to go into the villa but said yes when Belle got on the show thinking I could pull out later.
“But then when it’s your daughter it’s so hard to say no - I just do as I’m told.
“I asked my managers if I should do it and they all told me ‘go in and just be a dad’ so I did.”
His appearance followed Danny Dyer’s appearance via video link the year before when daughter Dani paired up with pen salesman Jack Fincham.
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He said: “It made sense for Belle to go in the year after Dani.”
“And Danny had already paved the way so I knew what to expect.”
Mum & dad warned not to blab
Tamer revealed all parents - famous or not - are asked to sign non disclosure agreements.
He said: “It’s the last week and that can be a real game changer in the show.
“So you’re banned from social media and you are not allowed to tell anyone if you are going into the villa or not. It might give the game away."
This year Michael Owen revealed he WON’T be meeting Gemma’s boyfriend Luca Bish, 23, and will leave the task to his missus Louise.
He told : "My wife will do that duty. I’ll represent the horses and she’ll represent the daughter.”
But Tamer raised an eyebrow, saying it could be a double-bluff: “There are embargoes in place on what you can and can’t say when.”
Parents get merry in hotel pool party
The day before filming Tamer and wife Karen were flown out by production to a Mallorcan hotel - where they then met the other parents.
He said: “Production told us other parents were staying in the hotel so we went down to the pool and started introducing ourselves.
“I bought everyone drinks and made sure they got merry. Then we all went for dinner - it was a great group of lovely people.
“I’m not good with strangers so it was a great way to get to know everyone.
“All the wives were chatting away while the dads just chilled out.
“It was like a Love Island party within Love Island.”
But Tamer says he never met Anton’s mum Sherie Ann and uncle David as they flew in the day of filming.
They had on-screen laughs as Sherie Ann presented Belle with a razor - after she was filmed shaving Anton’s bum on the show.
But in reality the four parents struggled through filming under the baking heat.
Three rules for Islanders' parents
Tamer said: “Filming felt like a lifetime because it was baking hot. It felt like two or three hours but it was about an hour.
“We were all soaking wet.”
He also revealed parents and their kids are directed where to sit and what to do over loudspeaker.
Tamer said: “They say over the Tannoy, 'Can Belle’s parents move to the pool area’ and tell you what to do over the speakers.”
When they went in they were told not to talk about game-playing on the show, the audience’s reaction and not to talk to ANYONE apart from their child and partner.
But cheeky Tamer couldn’t help but bend the rules.
Tamer said: “As I was leaving I had a little bit of banter with the boys on the way out - I could tell they were excited to meet me so I couldn’t say no.
“Evidently they were fans of my films.”
Parents' 'look away now' warning
But Tamer said he got on with producers throughout the series and was even given a heads up on some of the more racy moments - including the famous lap dance challenge.
He said: “They phoned me up before and just said ‘hey Tamer you might want to brace yourself for tonight’s episode - it could be a bit raunchy’.
“I don’t know whether they did that with all the parents or whether they were scared of angering a Millwall fan.
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“I did watch it in the end as Belle gave a lap dance but look, it’s show business.
“I was really proud of Belle and she handled herself so well - she’s a strong independent woman.”
