Love Island expose to shock fans as Maura Higgins and Olivia Attwood tell all

WHEN news broke that Channel 4 was making a documentary to peek behind the veil of Love Island, it ruffled feathers.

And it has become clear the makers of Reality Check: Life After The Limelight do not intend to tread lightly.

The programme will feature interviews with contestants who struggled when their moment of fame faded, as well as those whose lives flourished after the Island.

A talent agency source has revealed that the names on producers’ wish list include Maura Higgins and Olivia Attwood.

Maura, a finalist from 2019, is favourite to host ITV’s much-hyped reboot of Big Brother, while Olivia has landed her own reality and factual series for ITV2.

The insider said: “Channel 4 approached our agency looking to sign up people who went back to their normal jobs after the show but also the names that became rich and famous. Maura Higgins has been asked and Olivia Attwood too.

“I was surprised to hear those two names as they both still work really closely with ITV, but I suppose if Channel 4 is including success stories, then you don’t get much better than them.”

Love Island: Aftersun regular and podcaster Will Njobvu is being looked at as host.

The insider added: “They said Will was most likely to be host, which makes total sense as he’s someone most of the Islanders know and trust already.

“We were told that the documentary will air before Winter Love Island.”

Love Island has made millionaires out of some of its cast, with Molly-Mae Hague said to be worth £6million.

But others were forced to return to their regular jobs after modelling and social media contracts dried up.

And then there are the tragic stories of Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon, who took their own lives.

ITV boss Kevin Lygo recently defended Love Island, which this summer attracted more than 1,500 Ofcom complaints, saying programmes that provoked debate and discussion were important. It sounds like Channel 4’s take on the show will do just that.

. . . FOR SI CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU . . .

HE’S the king of Saturday night TV so it’s fitting that Simon Cowell has duetted with the king of rock and roll himself.

Thanks to computer wizardry, Simon and Elvis teamed up on screen for the series finale of America’s Got Talent.

Keen not to let their boss hog all the limelight, judges Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara joined in as backing singers.

The weird moment came as part of virtual reality act Metaphysic’s battle to win the 17th series. Despite making the panel laugh, it failed to win over America as Lebanese dance group took home the trophy.

The all-female act had been given a fast pass to the final after bagging Sofia’s Golden Buzzer during the audition stage of the ­competition.

Simon was joined at the live show by fiancé Lauren Silverman and their eight-year-old son Eric.

The couple are thought to be planning a lavish but intimate wedding ceremony.

Panicky joe’s pint of order

JOE LYCETT has revealed that a thought process he uses to combat panic attacks helped him when he annoyed viewers on Laura Kuensssberg's new politics programme.

The comedian, who mocked PM Liz Truss on the BBC1 show earlier this month, told how one moment of anxiety was so bad, he thought he was having a heart attack.

Joe said on the Chatabix podcast: “If I went to the pub I’d get the feeling I was going to vomit all the time because I couldn’t even enjoy a pint.

“I got it in my head I couldn’t even drink a pint of beer any more, so my therapist said, ‘Your homework is to have a pint of beer’. That first beer was really tricky but now I’m back to normal. I know it’s nonsense and it’s my brain playing tricks on me.

“And that’s helped me a lot in situations like Laura Kuenssberg’s programme, when everyone’s looking at me like, ‘You f***ing p***k’ and I’m like, ‘OK. I’ll be uncomfortable for a while, but it won’t be forever and it will probably pay off’.”

Laura said she wants him back on, so I think he’s right.

AN EK’ OF A TREAT FOR JACK

JACK GREALISH had already shown his appreciation for Love Island beauty Ekin-Su Culculoglu by littering her Instagram page with “likes”.

So his birthday wish seemed to come true when the two were spotted in the same club on Saturday night.

Jack was out celebrating his 27th with pals at London club Tape while Ekin-Su was with her Love Island beau Davide Sanclimenti.

A source said: “Jack wasn’t shy about hitting ‘like’ on Instagram when Ekin was first announced. It’s fair to say he’s a fan. Ekin thought it was hilarious at the time.”

It would have been the first chance for football ace Jack to chat to Ekin-Su face to face as she has been working non-stop since being crowned winner of the ITV2 show.

CALLUM’S CREATURE COMFORT

FANS of All Creatures Great And Small are delighted the 1930s vet drama is back on our screens – and they are showing their appreciation.

Callum Woodhouse, who plays wayward young vet Tristan Farnon, says viewers are so obsessed with the remake based on the classic books that they even send in clothes they’ve made for him.

The actor, who also starred in ITV’s The Durrells, wore some when All Creatures returned for its third series on Channel 5 last week.

He told Yours magazine: “A couple of his signature tank tops were actually knitted for me and sent in by viewers.

“I’m thinking of wearing them as myself, maybe to a Sunday brunch or something. I really love his clothes. I wish men still dressed like him. I’d like to wear his suits in real life.”

Maybe followers watching at home will knock out some of those too.

Tatt’s not unusual

ANNE-MARIE has revealed she has a tattoo which is a personal tribute to fellow Voice judge Sir Tom Jones.

She asked the singing legend, whose hits include It’s Not Unusual, to write “We’ll be okay” before getting it inked on herself.

Anne-Marie showed off the tattoo on her hand to the studio audience on the ITV talent show, saying: “All my tattoos are written by friends – and I got Tom’s.”

She added that most of her body art is written by people who she has learned from.

Tom and Anne-Marie struck up a close bond after she replaced Meghan Trainor on the programme last year.