NEVER mind about the Love Island stars having a type on paper – it seems the producers do too!
Eagle-eyed fans of the hit ITV2 dating show – which kicks off on Monday – have noticed a trend over recent years when it comes to the singletons who arrive in the villa.
This year’s Love Island cast are looking very similar to previous series
Without fail, Love Island pays homage to its ‘tribes’ – from the cheeky chappie with the funny job, to the gorgeous girl with the famous dad.
And the stars of the 2023 summer series are proving no different, with the likes of Molly Marsh and Tyrique Hyde filling the shoes of predecessors Dani Dyer and Finley Tapp.
Here we reveal the Love Island casting trick that proves you really are seeing double every year.
So have you spotted the ones so far?
The ‘types’ so far…
The estate agent
Catherine Agbaje is just one of many estate agents to have graced the villa
Estate agent Catherine Agbaje is hoping she’ll prove hot property in the villa this year.
But at least she can find a home in the ever-expanding club of Islanders to share her job, with Andrew Le Page representing the realty gurus last year.
Although he’s been doing his selling out in Dubai, he’s one in a long line of real estate agents to enter the villa.
Previous, Faye Winter was an estate agent in Devon, and Tyler Cruickshack had the same job back in his hometown of Croydon.
In 2020 it was Southampton estate agent George Day – part of the Casa Amor line-up – while 2019’s resident saleswoman was Harley Brash.
The footballer
Tyrique Hyde is the obligatory footballer this year
How could any series kick off without a resident footballer in the villa?
This time it’s Dartford midfielder Tyrique Hyde, who has promised to bring “vibes, confidence, good energy and honesty”.
He follows in the footsteps of dad Micah, who played for Watford in England’s top division – as well as a raft of Islanders.
Aaron Simpson, who paired up with Millie Court in season seven, previously turned out for Hem Hempstead Town, while 2021 star Luke Trotman was even called up for England youth matches.
Finley Tapp won with Paige Turley in 2020, but angered his team Oxford City after disappearing mid-way through the season.
The girl with the famous parent
Molly Marsh isn’t the first Love Island star with a famous parent
Love Island producers know that having someone with a well-known relative will get people talking, and ensure one of their cast has famous connections every year.
This year, beautiful Molly Marsh fits the bill, thanks to her actress mum Janet, who has appeared on Coronation Street and Open All Hours.
In previous series, we’ve had EastEnders star Danny Dyer’s daughter Dani Dyer – who eventually won – and Belle Hassan, daughter of Tamer Hassan.
Last year, viewers were left eagerly awaiting the moment Gemma Owen dropped in the fact she’s the daughter of former England footballer Michael Owen.
Meanwhile Tommy Fury and Curtis Pritchard both have famous brothers.
The blonde bombshell
The blonde bombshell is a must for any cast of Love Island
You’d be hard-pressed to find a guy on Love Island who doesn’t say his type is “blonde” – and producers always deliver.
Glam beauty salon owner Jess Harding is all set to turn heads this series, with a source telling us: “Jess is one of the most glamorous islanders ever and is sure to be a big hit with the boys and viewers.”
In the past they’ve had stunning model and dancer Tasha Ghouri, former Miss GB Zara Holland, and Liberty Poole.
And who could forget Molly-Mae Hague, who swooped in the villa and stole Tommy Fury from under Lucie Donlan’s nose?
The beefcake
Mitchel Taylor is the latest in a long line of beefcakes to enter the villa
There are some men who go into the Love Island villa that even straight men find it hard to resist.
Hunky plumber Mitchel Taylor is one of the stars revealed to be going into the villa this summer and is already being described as “this season’s Davide”.
Italian stallion Davide Sanclimenti was so good-looking last year that he didn’t even feel the need to reveal his job, just announcing: “I’m Davide and I’m Italian.”
Other memorable hunks include Adam Collard from series four – who was 22 years old, but looked about 35.
And who can forget Alex Bowen, who managed to bed Zara Holland on his first night in the villa, causing her to lose her Miss GB crown.
Another season four beefcake was Jack Fowler, who hooked up with Laura Anderson and Laura Crane during his short time in the villa.
The ones to look out for…
The man-eater
Nothing causes more drama in the villa than the self-proclaimed man-eaters!
Nothing causes more chaos in the villa than a bombshell who comes in, confessing they don’t care about making friends and just want to get to know the men – the self-proclaimed man-eaters.
Winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu waltzed into last year’s series, saying “I’m not here to make seasonal girlfriends” and flirting with every man in her sight.
In the past, that job has gone to Maura Higgins in the 2019 series and Megan Barton-Hanson the year before.
And, while they may not always be the most liked, all three immediately provided the drama the show needed! Who will stir the pot this time?
The girl-next-door
Paige Thorne was the girl next door of last year’s series
As well as the self-proclaimed man-eaters, there are the sweet, innocent, down-to-earth girls who prove popular every year.
Last year’s member of the Girl-Next-Door tribe was Paige Thorne, who had fans cringing when she innocently told Italian hunk Davide Sanclimenti show much she loves reading “mafia books”.
In previous series we’ve had the loveable Amy Hart, who left Love Island heartbroken after Curtis Pritchard dumped her post-Casa Amor.
Millie Court eventually won season seven with Liam Reardon – but not before she too had her heart broken by him in Casa Amor, when he kissed Lillie Haynes behind her back.
The one who makes stupid comments
It wouldn’t be Love Island without a guy making some silly comments
It wouldn’t be Love Island without Joey Essex-style daft comments and catchphrases that viewers will be repeating all summer – and inevitably find their way onto a T-shirt.
Last summer we met Liam Llewellyn, who introduced himself to viewers by claiming he thought Elton John was two people – “Elt and John” – for 20 years.
He also asked how raisins are turned into grapes: “Raisins and grapes, like… how are they the same thing? How do you dry the grape? Is it a hairdryer? It is it a towel? I don’t know.”
Many fans compared him to previous Love Island runner-up Toby Aromolaran, who insisted you can “manifest your shoe size”.
Speaking to his fellow Islanders, he said: “I have a theory that the foot size is down the mental state. Yeah. I have a firm belief.
“When you was younger, I believe that if you wanted to be a size, you could dictate the size of your thought due to your thoughts.”
Chris Hughes – from series three – was another who came out with some dumb but loveable quotes – like saying the Spanish for tomato and garlic was “Tomato…e” and “Garlicio”.
The Scientist
Love Island has been accused of being dumb, so a clever scientist is a must-have
Ever since it began in 2015, Love Island has been criticised by snobs for dumbing down the nation. Many scoffed when it was revealed more people applied to be on the show than to Oxbridge universities.
So producers make sure they prove the haters wrong by putting at least one scientist in the villa every year.
Last series we’ve got Dami Hope, who is a senior microbiologist.
In series five we had scientist Yewande Biala and pharmacist Anna Vakili, while nuclear systems design engineer Wes Nelson was a favourite in series four. Bring on this year’s brainbox!
The Cheeky Chappy with an odd job
Luca Bish, Jack Fincham and Chuggs all fit the cheeky chappie criteria
Introducing himself as “Luca Bish, who works with fish”, the Brighton fishmonger solidified himself as last season’s resident Cheeky Chappie with the funny job.
We previously had stationery salesman Jack Fincham, who tried to woo Danny Dyer’s daughter by telling her all about how he sold pens for a living.
Jack and Dani won the 2018 series – and Jack promptly quit his day job.
We’ve also had Chuggs Wallis – real name OIiver – who strolled in halfway through the 2021 series boasting of his bucket hat business and explaining his nickname was a conflation of “cuddles and hugs”.
Unfortunately, he lasted just 48 hours in the villa!
