Love Island’s Adam Collard and Paige Thorne in major announcement after leaving the villa

LOVE Island stars Adam Collard and Paige Thorne have revealed they are officially an item.

The pair, who got together in the villa after the departure of Jacques O’Neill, announced that they are now girlfriend and boyfriend.

Unlike the other Love Island stars, they ended the series with a question-mark hanging over their ‘official’ status.

But speaking in an interview, Adam, 26, opened up about the moment he told Paige, 24, she was his girlfriend when the cameras weren’t rolling.

He told : “The only time where we got to sit on the sofa. It was only us for the first time.

“I was like: ‘Right, I need to ask you now because it’s not for anyone’s benefit, apart from mine and yours.

“‘I do really want you to be my girlfriend.'”

Adam added: “I didn’t even ask her actually, I just told her. I just said: Right, so this is a thing now, please.”

Paige, who was sitting alongside him, laughed: “You just told me.”

There had been concerns about how long they would last outside the villa, with Paige determined to keep working as a paramedic in her native Wales.

But fans greeted the news they were taking the next step in their relationship, with joy.

One fan posted, on hearing the news: “I think they are actually one of the most well suited couples from this season and the producers did Paige a favour by bringing him in!”

Another agreed: “He is 100% besotted, he’s picked up so much of her mannerisms and a person only does that when they’re truly smitten.”

The new couple were among the Love Island stars out in force in London’s Mayfair last night for Tasha Ghouri’s birthday party.

The pair joined Dami Hope and Indiyah Polack and Andrew Le Page in Mnky Hse on Wednesday night.

They kissed for photographers in the way in to the swanky venue, after arriving hand in hand.

They then enjoyed food, shots and endless Instagram posts as the party continued until the early hours.