Love Island couples have ‘no chemistry’ & ‘authentic’ winners are already obvious – but one star is raising red flags
IT may have only just begun – but Love Island fever is already sweeping the nation.
For the first time, the couples were paired together through a twist, which saw them ranking the opposite sex on who’d be the best partner – from best to worst.
And psychologist and relationship expert Jo Hemmings believes she’s already worked out who’s going to win the show, as well as which couples are headed for doom.
On top of that, she’s exclusively revealed why Joey Essex’s arrival is set to throw the cat amongst the pigeons – and which girls may be the most competitive.
The Islanders’ first challenge saw them split into girls and boys, before ranking which person of the opposite sex was closest to relationship material, based on first impressions alone.
After the brutal game, host Maya Jama broke the news that the couples would be determined by their rankings, so the singletons who’d been voted the highest would be together, and so on.
Mimii Ngulube and Munveer Jabbal were ranked as the best relationship material, leaving them together, while at the other end were Harriett Blackmore and Ciaran Davies.
And Jo thinks this twist was a “stroke of genius,” as it showcased the best and worst traits of each contestant.
She explains: “You got one extreme with Munveer and Mimi, who did look like a sublimely cool couple, but they were just the beautiful people who got put at the top.
“When they that were put together, you didn’t get any real sense of chemistry between them but at the other end, Harriett and Ciaran somehow actually leaned into each other about their situation and got on quite well.”
‘NO GIRL CODE’
She adds: “It meant the less competitive islanders decided to get on with their lot and the most competitive were in an unseemly hurry to turn this around, so they get the person they actually fancy onside as fast as possible.”
It seems Samantha Kenny – who’s currently paired up with hairdresser Sam Taylor – may be one of the more competitive contestants, as Jo says she’s showing “some real red flags” already, gunning for Ronnie Vint, who’s in a couple with Jess White.
She adds: “Samantha clearly fancies Ronnie, and got stuck in a disconnected, no-eye contact, awkward couple with Sam.
“She definitely didn’t fancy him.
“She lost no time in launching herself in there, taking Ronnie to one side, pushing Jess out of the picture, who didn’t seem to mind.”
Jo continues: “I think she knows what she wants. She’s not afraid to get it, or the toes she might have to tread on to get there.
“So I think that marks are out already, as someone who may not be the most popular because she’s maybe not got all the girl code you’d like to see in someone.”
WINNERS ALREADY?
While there are many couples who Jo thinks aren’t long for this world – there are two contestants she already thinks could win the whole show thanks to their undeniable chemistry.
However, they’re not actually coupled up just yet.
Mimii was voted most likely to be girlfriend material by the boys, and was paired with Munveer , who also came top.
Meanwhile, Ayo Odukoya is in a “no-chemistry couple” with Patsy Field.
Jo says: “Ayo’s eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw Mimii – and he’s having none of her relationship with Munveer.
“He made instant and major moves on Mimii after being put into a no-chemistry couple with Patsy who already seems in a friend zone.
“While Mimii is more mature, careful and guarded with how flirty she allows herself to get with him, it’s clear she fancies Ayo.
“The feeling is very much mutual with them, and I can see them lasting the course.”
“They are both open and authentic, and could even go all the way to the finish line – and this is coming from someone who said Davide and Ekin-Su would win when no one thought they would!”
JOEY’S BOMBSHELL ARRIVAL
But the biggest twist of last night’s Love Island came in the shape of former TOWIE star Joey Essex entering the villa as a bombshell.
The 33-year-old reality TV veteran has already stolen another boy’s girl, leaving them dumped from the villa – which will be seen in tonight’s episode.
And Jo thinks his arrival will allow viewers to quickly work out which girls are the most fame-hungry, and who’s actually looking for romance.
She tells us: “I do think he’ll show his vulnerable side very quickly, which will attract the kinder girls, Nicole, Jess, Patsy and Mimii to get friendly with him.
“As he’s four years older than even the oldest girl in there, I’m not sure he is going to ruffle feathers too much, but he’s much-loved.
“I think viewers will try and protect him and we don’t want to see him get hurt.
“And that will determine who might think that coupling up with him could be tactically useful for them and those girls that are genuinely looking for romance.”
Love Island's winners
Where Love Island winners are now...
- Winter All Stars 2024: Tom Clare and Molly Smith – still together.
- Summer 2023: Sammy Root and Jess Harding – split up in October 2023.
- Winter 2023: Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan – engaged.
- 2022: Davide Sanclimenti and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu – split in January 2024 after a very turbulent relationship.
- 2021: Liam Reardon and Millie Court – split in July 2022, but got back together.
- 2020: Paige Turley and Finn Tapp – split in April 2023, and briefly got back together earlier this year, before splitting up again.
- 2019: Greg O’Shea and Amber Gill – split just five weeks after winning.
- 2018: Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer – split in April 2019.
- 2017: Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies – split 132 days after the show ended.
- 2016: Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde – split briefly but got back together when she had their first child. Now married with two kids.
- 2015: Jessica Hayes and Max Morley – split six weeks after the show ended.
Jo thinks Joey may not be the only celebrity bombshell this year, which is going to change the group dynamics.
She says: “I think a lot of the bombshells and senses are going to be other celebrities of some sort, which is really going to mess with minds in there.
“Even if they’re coupled up and relatively happy, it sorts out those who really are in there for fame, and to rub shoulders with fame, and those who are genuinely looking for love.
“So think throwing in a few celebrities will definitely be quite divisive.”