Love Island is officially returning for its 13th summer, with ITV revealing the first Islanders heading into the Mallorca villa ahead of the show’s launch on 1 June. Maya Jama returns as host for the new season, which premieres on ITV2 and ITVX in the UK, US viewers will be able to stream the series on Hulu.
This year’s opening line-up includes 12 Islanders from across the UK and beyond, all entering the villa in search of romance. The first Islanders are Aidan Murphy (23, Kent), Angelista (24, Staffordshire), Ellie Chadwick (24, West Lothian), Jasmine Müller (27, Dubai), Lola Deal (28, Kent), Lorenzo Alessi (28, Hertfordshire), Mica Harris (21, London), Ope Sowande (27, Lincolnshire), Robyn Langton (21, Liverpool), Samraj Toor (25, Birmingham), Sean Fitzgerald (25, Galway), and Sam Workman (25, Dudley).
A New Summer of Twists, Bombshells and Villa Drama
According to ITV, the new series will once again see Islanders forced to “couple up or clear out” as bombshell arrivals, shifting loyalties and surprise twists shake up villa life throughout the summer.
Ahead of the launch, Maya Jama shared what she thinks makes a great Islander, saying authenticity matters far more than trying to play the perfect game. “The ones who really resonate are the people who understand who they are or at least aren’t afraid to find out in front of everyone,” Jama said. “Confidence helps, but authenticity is what carries someone through.” She also advised contestants to “stay open, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to be true to yourself.” Wise words!
The new season marks another huge summer for the reality show, which ITV says has now surpassed 2.5 billion streams on ITVX since first launching in 2015.
eBay, Boots and Google Pixel Return as Villa Partners
Several major brands are also returning to the villa this year, including eBay as headline sponsor. The partnership will once again focus on pre-loved fashion, with Islanders styled in curated second-hand looks throughout the series. Boots returns as the official hair and beauty partner, while Google’s Pixel 10 Pro will once again serve as the villa’s official phone, complete with upgraded AI camera features designed to capture every dramatic recoupling and late-night terrace conversation.
For CultureCues, Love Island returning every summer has basically become a TV tradition at this point. Whether it is your favourite show or your secret guilty pleasure, there is sure to be romance, awkward chats, fiery recouplings and inevitable memes. The show still knows exactly how to dominate the conversation once the sunbeds come out. Let’s just say we are fully prepared to spend the next few weeks shouting “I’ve got a text!” at the television and pretending we are not already invested.
Love Island UK Season 13 premieres on ITV2 and ITVX on 1 June.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.