How Adam Collard went from Love Island’s ‘biggest player’ to settled down with Laura Woods after proposal and baby news
Adam and Laura recently took a very exciting next step in their relationship
THE saying might go ‘once a player, always a player,’ but Adam Collard has very quickly proven that that’s not always the case, after gaining his ‘player’ reputation after his Love Island stints.
Just two years ago, gym enthusiast Adam was back on the reality show that made him famous, for round two, as he tried to show his co-stars and the public alike that he’d changed, in his pursuit for ‘the one.’
But Love Island star Biggs Chris wasn’t having any of it.
He said in an exclusive interview with us at the time that Adam’s “bad boy side will never leave him.”
Adding: “Adam has proven himself to be a gentleman but he’ll always flip into the bad boy.”
But fast-forward two years, an engagement to TV presenter Laura Woods and a baby on the way later, and it looks like Adam’s ‘bad boy’ Love Island persona has been left firmly in the past.
Adam claims to have had 25 girlfriends, yet the “influence of stability” – as relationship expert Jo Hemmings puts it – Laura gives off, has been the cornerstone of their blossoming romance.
A friend of Adam’s told The Sun: ” Adam had an eye for the ladies back in the day and was reluctant to settle down, but when he met Laura everything changed.
“He knew pretty quickly that she was The One, and since then he is a changed man.
“He’s grown up a lot, he was still a boy when he first went on Love Island but now he’s a grown man. His priorities are so different now and he’s going to make a great husband and dad.”
Love Island take one
Adam was accused of gaslighting girls during the 2018 series, which is when he rose to fame.
In that same series, a domestic abuse charity released a statement around the personal trainers’ treatment of law student Rosie Williams, declaring there were “warning signs in his behaviour”.
During his time on the show, Kendall Rae-Knight caught Adam’s eye as he arrived as a bombshell.
But the reality hunk ended up leaving the villa with Zara McDermott and the pair dated for eight months before splitting.
At the time, it was reported that Zara and Adam called it quits on their seven-month romance following crisis talks over Adam’s wild partying with Jack Fincham, Sam Bird and Instagram model Brittany Archer.
Announcing the split soon after, Zara wrote: “Sometimes in life, you just aren’t enough for someone; no matter what you do for them or how much you try to be.”
A source said at the time: “Zara wasn’t happy after discovering Adam was out with the group that included Brittany.
“As a girlfriend it isn’t always comfortable to see your partner partying with other women you don’t know.
“They ended up having a big argument over Adam’s antics and he’s since gone home to give them some space.”
Adam’s romances
Adam next dated Sarah Godfrey – an Irish fitness influencer.
The pair were enjoying a luxury holiday in Bali for Adam’s birthday back in 2019, and he treated his fans to a view of his bare backside in an Instagram picture.
Meanwhile Sarah was also nude as she showed off a teasing glimpse of the top of her bum poking out of the water.
But despite their fun in the sun and nude photos to impress fans, they parted ways after a few months in January 2020.
Adam told OK! Magazine at the time: “Nothing bad has happened at all.
“We still have mutual work interests and I want to see her do well with whatever.”
As well as Sarah, Adam has also been linked to Towie star Demi Sims.
The hunk joined some of his fellow Islanders and celeb pals to support Sam Bird at the launch of his new single at the time.
And lived up his ladies’ man reputation as he enjoyed a very flirty night cuddling up to Laura Anderson and Demi Sims.
As they left the venue in London, Adam was seen wrapping his arm around Laura, before they started play fighting in front of the cameras.
He was then seen hanging out with Towie star Demi – wrapping his arms around her and at one point even appeared to give her a kiss.
Love Island take two
So it was back on Love Island in 2022, as 6ft 5 former Islander Adam gave it his best shot at finding love and defended his relationship reputation to potential love interests at the time, Paige Thorne and Gemma Owen, – saying he’s “never cheated” on an ex.
And, like the first time, Adam ended up leaving the villa with a stunning girl by his side.
Adam made it the final week with Welsh beauty Paige, but their relationship wasn’t to last in the outside world.
Adam admitted he “choose the right person to stay on the show” and confessed he had a gameplan when he originally entered the villa the second time round.
Addressing Adam’s comment, one fan asked Paige during an Instagram Q&A: “Does it hurt that Adam is saying it was his game plan all along to couple up with you?”
The paramedic hit back at Adam and said some people are just better at being “game players” than others.
She said: “Only things that hold value in your life can hurt you.
“Let’s not forget it was a game show, some were just better at playing it than others.”
From one dating show to the next
Adam was accused of having a “showmance” on hit E4 show Celebs Go Dating with Lottie Moss.
They had an on/off relationship during filming – but it swiftly ended once the cameras stopped rolling.
They broke show rules and got together while supposedly heading out on dates set up by the matchmaking agency.
However Lottie and Adam ended things after the show, and the OnlyFans star has since slammed the Love Islander.
How Laura Woods tamed Love Island bad boy Adam Collard
HE was one of Love Island's most notorious bad boys - but one woman seems to have changed all that.
Personal trainer Adam Collard, 28, has been dating Euro 2024 presenter Laura Woods, 36, since 2023.
The former loverat has called her “The One,” spent Christmas with her – the first time he’s done so with a girlfriend since he was 21 – and kept their relationship relatively out of the limelight, seemingly on Laura’s wishes.
It’s a far cry from the man who admits himself he’s been “ruthless” in the past, claims to have had 25 girlfriends, and spent many years partying and juggling flings with girls including Zara McDermott and Lottie Moss.
Relationship expert Jo Hemmings says: “He’s now 28, he’s a professional with a job, and I think he just went off the whole idea of ever realistically meeting somebody on a TV show.
“He’s now met somebody who is also a professional, and is only on TV as a byproduct of what she does in sport.
“He’s got himself in a comfortable place. Financially, he’s older, he’s more mature, he’s more settled.
“He once played into this roguish character that people saw him as, and became a parody of himself. But look who’s laughing now.
“He’s got a fabulous girlfriend, they’re in a long term relationship, he’s well off, he’s still in the public eye, and he’s getting on with his life in the way that I think he always wanted.”
Speaking last year after their split, Lottie made her feelings known about her former flame as she took a scathing swipe at him in a new interview.
The star revealed that she and Adam are no longer on talking terms and said: “I hope he finds happiness – deep down in that cold shell of a soul.”
After the show, it wasn’t long before Adam had moved on with Laura.
Adam and Laura’s love story
Adam and Laura began dating in October 2023 and kept a low profile, after Adam appeared on E4‘s Celebs Go Dating weeks before.
Loved up with Laura, Adam fell hard and fast for the TNT presenter as last year he quickly called her ‘The One’.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun about his romance with Laura, Adam said: “The first time we met – I’ll hold my hands up – I did DM her first and got a reply but then nothing ever happened.
“Then she called us out for basically leaving her on read.
“It’s hard to meet people, isn’t it? I’m from Newcastle and eventually we met up, and then went on a very undercover date, and obviously what comes out in the press, comes out in the press, but it’s not always the full story.
“I’m kind of glad in a way as well, as I feel like there’s an element of having to hide too much now.”
Relationship expert Jo Hemmings says: “He’s now 28, he’s a professional with a job, and I think he just went off the whole idea of ever realistically meeting somebody on a TV show.
“He’s got himself in a comfortable place. Financially, he’s older, he’s more mature, he’s more settled.
“He once played into this roguish character that people saw him as, and became a parody of himself. But look who’s laughing now.
“He’s got a fabulous girlfriend, they’re in a long term relationship, he’s well off, he’s still in the public eye, and he’s getting on with his life in the way that I think he always wanted.”
“He’s now met somebody who is also a professional, and is only on TV as a byproduct of what she does in sport.”
Their loved up romance has been all over their social media since they began dating last year, and seen them share snaps from romantic trips away including Mexico, Amsterdam and skiing.
By Christmas, Laura’s parents had also given the seal of approval for their relationship as he spent the holidays with her, joking that “luckily they don’t read many papers”.
Yet even before that, Laura and Adam enjoyed a romantic getaway to Amsterdam, Holland, which saw them checking out a rude restaurant, enjoying a trip down the city canal’s and relaxing in a spa.
However, everything came to a head recently as they announced the wonderful news that Laura, 37, is expecting a baby.
The TV presenter and award-winning journalist shared a picture of an ultrasound on Instagram, complete with her French bulldog peeking over the top.
They have largely kept their relationship out of the public eye, which for notorious ladies’ man Adam, 28, seems to suggest he has turned a corner in his romantic life.
When they aren’t grafting, they have often been seen enjoying one another’s company on holiday.
Following their trip to Amsterdam, their next getaway in February saw them skiiing on the famous French Alps, though Laura revealed it resulted in a few “near-death experiences”.
In March, during the international break, the pair changed lanes by jetting off together for some sun and sea at Tulum Beach in Mexico.
Adam and Laura shared a number of snaps from the holiday, including one of Laura planting a kiss on Adam’s cheek while they were at a restaurant before also revealing what their favourite food was following a date night at Checkpoint Ciao.
The following month, Laura shared a selfie from the Tulum trip featuring Adam with the caption: “Things I love.”
Adam has made no secret of his desire to have kids, but declared he would not be plastering them all over social media.
He previously said: “I’m protective, whether it’s Laura, or my family, my friends. I want to get married. I want to have kids as well.
“I’ve always thought, what type of person will I be? How can I protect my kids?
“Obviously I’ve never had a kid, but I don’t think I’ll be plastering it all over [social media].
“I want them to have a fair fight and a chance not to be judged straight away.”
Then from one exciting milestone to the next, the couple got engaged.
Adam got down on one knee on a beach in Cornwall, and Laura was delighted to say yes.
She later took to social media to announce her engagement.
Laura wrote: “And just like that…💍💫 You make me happy @adamcollard 🤍
“Thank you @carbisbayestate – the place we fell in love and now the place we got engaged, you made it so special What a summer x”
