Amber Gill's long-time BFF Mart Tweedy is backing her and Greg O'Shea to win Love Island.
Mart said he's over the moon to witness Amber looking so relaxed and happy with the 24-year-old rugby player from Limerick, who came into the villa just when her drama with Michael Griffiths was coming to an end.
“He’s Irish with muscles, what’s not to like?” he told OK! magazine. Amen to that. “He’s such a gentleman.
“I think Michael only wanted her back because he saw her laughing and happy with Greg. He was jealous,” he said.
“It would have been difficult for Amber to build trust with Michael. I think it would have brought back memories of when she was hurt in the past.”
Tweedy is running Amber's social media account during her time on the show, also claimed that Amber would never have sex in the villa.
“Never in a million years. She’s been getting requests on Instagram from companies like Babestation and Pornhub,” he said.
I hope Greg and Amber are another Jamie and Camilla.. met at the last minute and have been together ever since, I love them together and she deserves it after what she’s been through in the villa #loveisland#amberandgregpic.twitter.com/SAzyFNoaZo
Maura’s Instagram following has boomed since she entered the Love Island villa a month ago.
The pair argued over his involvement in Jordan Hames' controversial decision to confess his feelings for India Reynolds after just making Anna Vakili his girlfriend, behind her back.
Hewitt told OK! magazine that she's adapting to the couple, but isn't confident that they'll last.
“It could be a summer romance, and then they’ll come back to reality,” she said. I do believe Maura likes him. I love that she’s upfront and feisty, but I think she’s a bit overpowering.
Eyal Booker was catapulted into fame last year after taking part in the phenomenon that is Love Island, the ITV2 reality show that's become beloved all over the world.
The 23-year-old appeared on Celebs Go Dating after his stint in the Spanish villa, and definitely knows his stuff when it comes to reality TV romance.
We caught up with the model and TV star at the launch of a massively-exciting essence lip collection. Their Lip Saviours range features 52 fabulous products including lipsticks, lipglosses, lipliners and liquid lipsticks.
Eyal Booker at the essence Lip Saviours launch in Dublin
Oh, did we mention that they're all under €4? essence have also created the ultimate lip look book to offer you dozens of options to create your signature look.
essence also prides itself on it's cruelty-free status, so you can mix and match to find your glamorous, natural, vibrant, glossy, understated or matte lip looks without worrying about animal testing.
Eyal Booker is representing the ground-breaking beauty brand, which sponsors both Love Island on Virgin Media player as well as the biggest pageant in the country; Miss Ireland 2019.
Of course, we simply had to ask him his opinions on our Irish exports, namely Longford lass Maura Higgins.
“I love the Irish contestants, I love Maura. I just loved her from the start. I think that the way she’s entered the villa, the way that she’s held herself, the things she comes out with; I think she’s a powerful, independent woman who’s proud of who she is and stands up for what she believes in and says what she wants. I think that that’s really inspiring for young women out there, and she’s a good influence and good person to have within the public eye and society”.
“She’s going to have a good career. At first, it took a little time to get used to her but now we can’t get enough of her. She’s contagious and just says it how it is. That goes a long way in this show.”
The latest controversy to shake the villa is, of course, the meltdown between Anna Vakili and Jordan Hames.
The model asked Anna to be his girlfriend only days ago, yet pulled India Reynolds aside for a chat (on Curtis' advice) to confess his feelings for her, while Anna was only metres away.
What does Eyal think was going through his head? The pair were dumped from the villa last night, but were they authentic?
“I don’t know where that’s come from (Jordan’s feelings for India), I don’t know what Jordan was thinking. They’ve screwed each other over within the process, you know when Anna left him for Ovie and then came back to him and now Jordan’s about to do the same. As much as they’re trying to make us believe their relationship, I don’t buy the reasons that they’re in the villa. I just think they want to be genuine but they’re actually just not that into each other.”
ITV bosses have faced numerous accusations that the reality show is a 'fix', with claims made against the honesty of each character.
In Eyal's time in the villa, he denies that the show every forced anyone into a certain narrative of hero or villain, womaniser or gentleman;
“They don’t try and create something that’s not there. They highlight some things over others, in terms of the edit. I wasn’t just this spiritual, tree-hugging guy but that’s a lot of what I was made out to be. You can’t all be the same, and they edit everyone a different way. There’s no one there saying ‘You should do this’ or ‘You should do that’.”
Other criticisms made against the show involve the noteworthy emphasis on physique and appearance. Does Eyal think the show has contributed to the continued popularity of beauty pageants like Miss Ireland?
“Pageants have always been popular and I think with social media and the world that we live in, they can grow even quicker and bigger because there’s accessibility to a wider audience. I think Love Island showcases the fact that it can reach such a vast and big audience. It encourages other people to get on social media and get on platforms and use that platform in order to further themselves."
Amy Hart recently posted an Instagram snap of a charity who she works with closely, but trolls commented that the image was 'boring'. Social media presence is a huge part of Love Island stars' careers when many of them leave, but do they control who they work with and their brand?
According to Eyal; “We have complete control. When I came out of the villa, I got a management because I needed to manage everything that was going on. They try and guide you in a direction that they see fit for you but also a direction that you see fit for yourself. It’s just a discussion that you have. We have incredible platforms when we come out, and I think charity is a big thing on people’s minds and people want to use their platform for good as well. It’s something that a lot of people go into and become ambassadors for because, as much as you’re reaping the rewards of having such a huge platform and getting all of these brand deals, you also want to give back to people in less fortunate positions."
He continued; "Charity is a nice thing to do, I’ve always worked with them but now I’m doing on them on a bigger scale because I’ve got a bigger audience.”
“I work with World Vision, very closely. I’m an ambassador for them, and I also work with the RSPCA and Dog’s Trust. I’ve always loved animals, all animals, and animal welfare. World Vision is to do with young children and their families in areas of conflict or disaster, and it’s about sending emergency response and helping them further themselves. Children are the future, they’re the generation who are going to shape our world and who are going to be here when we’re not. Providing them with the best possible tools in order to have the best and brightest future is essential for our world to get better and better.”
Another problematic aspect of the show, arguably, is their continuous sponsorship from fast fashion brands. The stars wear different ensembles every day in the villa, with companies like I Saw It First working with the reality show.
I love Love Island, I just do, (call me a sucker for a fairytale in a thong) but I hate its sponsorship & promotion of fast, throwaway fashion – which surely can’t have been made by people paid enough or treated… https://t.co/R1zEKyk8w8
Once the Islanders leave the villa, many of them will work with branding constantly, showing a materialistic lifestyle via their social platforms. Does Eyal see an issue with this side of Love Island life?
“It’s an interesting one, I actually hadn’t heard that until now. I think there’s two sides to this story. I think that everyone’s individual style and fashion showcases the fact that you can self-express and be who you want to be, and dress and wear what you want to wear. I think fast fashion is affordable for people, but at the same time, fast fashion is one of the biggest polluters of our environment. It contributes to huge amount of emissions and pollution and adds to climate change."
He continues; "It’s one of those things where we want instant gratification and we want to be able to purchase all the things that we want for a low price but we don’t really see at which cost we’re getting them at and how detrimental it is to our environment. I’m in a Catch 22 about that one, I work with some fast fashion brands and I would like to think I’m an environmentalist and I care about our planet. I think there’s a balance that we can find within it. Although fast fashion, although it’s been around for a while, it has only just come into play and become as popular as it is. It’s about us starting to regulate that and coming on board with how we as a society consume things and over-consume things.”
“Through omnipresent product placements and advertising, #LoveIsland has turned into fast fashion’s biggest advocate.” https://t.co/5I3HBXVln7
Does he do his homework on the brands that he associates with, when it comes to ethics?
“essence is cruelty-free which is part of the reason I’m at this event. I couldn’t be an ambassador for, let’s say the RSPCA who campaign against animal testing, and then a brand who test on animals. We’re only human and we make mistakes, we overlook things, but we try as hard as we can to highlight the things that align with me and then we go from there.”
The show is undeniably heteronormative, and excludes the majority of the population.
"The fact that it would be such a big deal is testament to the fact of how far we’ve got to go." https://t.co/oV0USsKTYs
With Love Island spreading Stateside and now to South Africa for the winter edition, does he think these expansion moves could mean an LGBTQ+ version could be in the pipeline soon?
“I think it would take some time for people to catch on to. I’ve grown up within an entertainment, performing world, I don’t differentiate between anyone; your sex, the colour of your skin, your appearance; whatever you are, you are. But I think we, as a society, whether we like it or not are still evolving and still changing and becoming aware of the LGBTQ+ community. I think as much as I’d like to say that there’d be no stigmas attached and no judgements, if we see what judgements come from Love Island and how much stick people can get as heterosexuals, then we have to be realistic at what the response would be. I think that that’s the way it’s going to go, and eventually there will be all kinds of shows for all kinds of people, but we have to ease it in slowly.”
Love Island is setting quite the romantic scene tonight, as Maura and Curtis, Ovie and India and Greg and Amber all head on their final one-on-one dates before Monday's final.
Maura and Curtis head on their second date, after that weird orange picking incident earlier in the week.
Maura receives the text which tells the couple to head out of the villa, and Curtis is so above himself that he leaps into the pool. He says in the Beach Hut; "I’m just so excited, Maura makes me smile."
"She makes me happy and she makes me laugh. I could just look at her all day because she is absolutely beautiful."
Image: ITV/REX
Maura smiles as she says that "the last one went really well, so I’m sure this one will be even better!". Curtis asks Maura if she thinks her parents will like him, and she confirms the Mammy's love.
"Yes! Mammy would absolutely love you. I would be nervous to meet your parents." Curtis then reassures Maura that his "parents will love you." We bet.
"I know I don’t tell you a lot of the time that I like you, but I really do," Maura emphasises to the dancer. "You’re funny and I love your smile. When you smile, I smile."
"I’m a very lucky man,’ Curtis replies, before grabbing Maura for a dance before their date ends. Hmmm, didn't he have a similar date with Amy
Image: ITV/REX
Next up, it's #Gramber. The charming Irish lad and the fierce Amber. We heart them. Greg receives a text saying himself and the Newcastle beauty will be getting alone time at last, on a boat.
"I remember walking through the door on the first day and not liking anyone," Amber says in the Beach Hut ahead of their date. "And now I’m on my final date with Greg, who I actually really like."
"Me and Amber have really connected," Greg reveals in the Beach Hut. "We have each other’s backs and we’re really getting on. It feels really special to be here and to have met her." AWWWW.
Amber finally expresses to Greg how she really feels; "When we first met, I had an instant connection and that is something that I never get,’ she tells the Limerick rugby player.
Image: ITV/REX
He replies with the same emotion; I’ve never had an instant connection with someone," he tells her. "It was so easy with you. I’m just delighted that I got to meet you."
"I felt it straight away and I was just hoping you felt the same. I wouldn’t want to be on this date with anyone else," Amber says. "Look at you getting all soppy," Greg laughs.
"Doesn’t happen often so take it while you can,’ a bashful Amber jokes.
Finally it's Ovie and India's shot at a romantic outing. Ovie can't hide his happiness in the Beach Hut; "I’m excited about going on this date with India. I’ve been waiting a while for this. It has come at the ideal time.
Image: ITV/REX
It's India's first time outside of the villa since her arrival; "I'm so excited," she says. "It’s pretty hot outside and he’s hot, so I don’t know how much hotter it’s going to get!"
The couple walk down a candelit path to their date. "I would say this is a hell of a start to something," Ovie tells India before she opens up to him.
"I’m so glad you’ve been in the villa the whole time," she says. "It’s been an amazing experience but it wouldn’t have been half as good if you hadn’t have been there.
"I came in to meet someone but I didn’t expect to meet someone and get on with them and like them as much as I like you,’ India tells a delighted Ovie.
Image: ITV/REX
"You know I don’t know how to take compliments," he jeers. Ovie also tells India that he wasn't expecting to find love, and was fine with simply being ‘Amber’s guardian angel’.
"When I walked into that date, you stood out to me so clear," he tells her. "It really changed the whole experience for me. It’s brightened up my days."
India gushes over his respect for her security, saying; "Do you know what my favourite thing about you is? You’re always checking that I’m ok and you’ll just give me a little wink or a nod."
Damn, we love Ovie. Can he be a boyfriend to every woman in the world? Or guardian angel? Anything? Check out the preview below;
The 24-year-old charming Irishman has gained a huge amount of fans since joining the show last week, but no reference will be made to his granny's passing on the show.
The Ireland Rugby Sevens player admitted that he can't hold back his opinions at times, like fellow Irish contestant Maura Higgins;
“I see something that I don’t agree with, I’m not able to hold it to myself – I always have to say something. I struggle to bite my tongue," he said.
His sister Laura told Today FM that Greg kept his arrival on the show a secret from his family.
"It's a shock to say the least. We found out with everyone else, he was completely secret the whole time so the shock was very large in our house last night in Corbally.
"Look, we’re happy for him, he’s clearly having such a good time so let's just see what happens," she added.
"He took off from Paris, he was over there, we did get a weird request for a couple pairs of shorts and sunglasses but we just thought it was for Paris and that he had met a lovely girl in Paris, but no, he was packing a bag for Majorca."
We're thoroughly enjoying this series of Love Island, but now it's time for some seriously mathematical analysis. Namely, about the ridiculous amounts of cash they're set to earn when they emerge from the villa.
We all know that the ITV2 reality show has produced a well of influencers who sell sponsored content for an array of brands, but how much exactly would they earn per Instagram post? What if they don't even have Instagram?
Apparently, influencers with 30,000-500,000 followers can pocket over
Influencers with 30,000 – 50,000 followers can anything up to €450 per post on Instagram according to a new study from digital marketing experts, while those with over 500,000 followers could be pocketing around €1,855.96.
Yeesh, that's serious dough. New data from Rise at Seven states that social media influencers are paid on average €0.0037 for every follower they have per post.
Considering the huge amount of sponsorship deals the Islanders attract once they're on the outside and how many followers they have (between 150,000 and three million currently), that's a huge amount of money.
Let's break it down by Islander to get some answers:
Greg O'Shea, 150,347 followers – could earn €558.18 per post
We're guessing by how unreal Greg is that his follower count is about to increase drastically this week. His manners, his Irish charm, his…abs. Him and Amber could go all the way and snatch the crown.
Chris Taylor, 149,000 followers- could earn €550 per post.
In conclusion, reality TV stars earn a shocking amount of coin per post due to sponsorship deals, and their lives delve into brands and marketing pretty fast once they leave Love Island.
Somehow, we can't envision Greg as a solicitor and rugby player showing off #spon on his Instagram page, but we could be proved wrong.
Amber Gill looks on her way to be shoved back into villa villain Michael's arms tonight, by none other than the King: Ovie Soko.
Well, we're about to snatch that crown right off his head for encouraging her to back to a toxic ex who is CLEARLY manipulating her to stay on the show for as long as he can.
In a shocking first look at tonight's Love Island, Ovie sits Amber down for a 'chinwag' (lol Curtis) about the upcoming recoupling.
FIRST LOOK
Amber has a HUGE decision to make between Michael and Greg, and her fellow Islanders have split opinions. It's time to recouple – but who will be the last man standing? #LoveIslandpic.twitter.com/tSda47C7cR
We all know that Gorgeous Greg from Limerick is the correct choice, and in a world of Michael's: Always pick Greg. Trust us.
We have to remember, however, that Amber is only 21-years-old, and is most likely going to return to the bad boy that broke her heart before she learns some valuable lessons.
The girls must decide tonight who they want to recouple with, and Amber has a decision to make. Manipulative Michael, or Gorgeous Greg? My Lord, it's so difficult to choose. So difficult. *Sighs*
Audiences are positive that the firefighter is choosing Amber so he can remain in the villa after refusing to leave with Joanna, for no reason at all. Hello, he wants the £50k.
Charming Irish rugby player and solicitor Greg O'Shea was sent in to put a smile back on Amber's face after Michael stomped all over her heart by dumping her for Joanna, and the pair get on super well.
Fans are devastated to see that Ovie is Team Michael, seeing as Ovie is one of Amber's closest friends and confidantes.
He tells her: "Greg's come in and he's been absolutely wonderful but ok, if you pick Greg you're playing it safe. Going back with Michael, you heart could get shattered again but you like him more than Greg. That's the reality."
Amber comes face to face with Michael and Greg in tonight's recoupling, with the two boys as the final pair standing. Does this mean that whoever she doesn't choose will be dumped from the villa?
Well, there are an even number of girls and boys in the villa, so probably not. When news of the recoupling broke in the villa, Greg, grinned at her and told her: "You have a decision to make here."
Smiling back, Amber had a twinkle in her eye as she proclaimed: "F*ck." We hope that translates to: "F*ck, I can't wait to leave Michael standing there on his own like a total mug, same as he did to me."
The firefighter who is now an enemy of the state after dumping Amber brutally after Casa Amor for Joanna Chimondies, and treating her like dirt afterwards, only to confess as soon as Joanna gets axed that he still has feelings for Amber.
Hmmm, how convenient? We're guessing he'd do absolutely anything to remain in the show.
The manipulative 27-year-old isn't fooling anyone, especially with his lies last night about having "found what I've been looking for" comment referring to Amber.
As soon as Belle told him that Joanna wouldn't be waiting around on the outside for him, he does a 180 and heads straight over to Amber, interrupting her chat with new boy Greg.
Amid all this chaos, the islanders got a text revealing that the next recoupling was looming, and it's the girls' chance to pick the boys this time.
Viewers spotted in the teaser for tonight's episode that Amber is positioned at the fire pit announcing her choice, but Greg and Michael were the last men standing.
Did they not just spoil it by showing the last two guys? #loveisland
Yes Shannon, yes they did spoil it. The other boys were therefore already picked by the other girls, and fans are now attempting to work out who Amber will choose.
The show gave a little too much away, making it too obvious which girls were paired with which boys.
One Twitter user wrote:
“Hate how the producers fix it so that the one torn between two people just happens to choose last and it just happens that none of the other girls have picked either of those two boys even though there's a few single girls in there?”
It's CLEARLY Michael's time to leave the island, seeing as he already should have walked out with Joanna after choosing her over Amber. He made his bed, and didn't lie in it…Rude.
Plus Irish rugby player Greg O'Shea is an absolute gentleman who could treat a lady right, and has been nothing but respectful to Amber since he met her at the Hideaway.
Maura agrees with the public's choice of Greg, after seeing how emotionally abusive Michael was to Amber over the last few weeks. We all know how dirtbag ex-boyfriends crawl their way back in, though…
Well, it's safe to say we're not exactly over the moon about this latest news.
Love Island stars Amber Gill and Michael Griffiths have been pictured kissing passionately (albeit in a challenge) for the first time since their Casa Amor break-up in tonight's episode.
Michael eventually admits that he still has feelings for her only days after his former partner Joanna Chimonides was dumped from the villa, calling him a 'snake' in the process. Dead right.
Firefighter Michael chooses Amber to take part in a challenge with him called Men at Work, where the male Islanders must compete to be named Buffest Builder.
Each boy has a chance to passionately kiss their partner at the end of the challenge, and Michael didn't waste a speck of time.
The couple seal the deal, and a reconciliation between them looks more likely than ever. WHY, GOD? WHY? He's a toxic, manipulative man and Greg is far better.
Michael interrupted her chat with Greg to confess his feelings before the pair teamed up for the Buffest Builder game. *Sigh
Image: ITV/REX
"The situation that I am in now has given me time to clarify a few things in my head. It’s given me time to think and realise ‘I do like Amber'," he said to Amber.
"I can only apologise about how I was over the last few weeks. I’m just letting you know that I do still like you.” Amber is understandably stunned by his admission.
Greg unfortunately just gives her a peck on the cheek in the challenge, and Amber says in the Beach Hut that she wishes he'd have full on kissed her. Us too, Amber. Us too.
Apparently, Love Island star and newly crowned villa villain Michael Griffiths has EVENTUALLY confessed that he still has feelings for Amber Gill.
This random U-turn is pretty chaldish to us, not to mention manipulative. The lad dumped her savagely for Joanna Chimonides after bitching about Amber behind her back, treated her like dirt, blamed her for Joanna leaving and made her cry.
Why is he choosing now to admit he was wrong? Ever since he made his decision to stay in the villa, there have been rumours flying that he couldn't let his ex-flame Amber go.
In tonight's show, Michael finally admits he still likes Amber during a chat with a stunned Curtis, Ovie and Jordan. Ovie called Michael out for telling Amber to "sit down" rudely the other night, because he's a KING.
He says: "Now Joanna's gone I've had time to think about things and I do actually like Amber."
The change of heart comes just days after Joanna's exit, where she called him (rightfully so) a 'snake'. Perhaps he's jealous now that Amber has a hot date with Limerick lad Greg?
Michael replies: "I didn't want to hurt you, I take out all my frustrations on you. I didn't mean to hurt you." He never explained WHY he took his frustrations out on her, though. Suspish.
Michael is later seen pulling Amber for a chat, telling her he got jealous seeing her spending time with the new boy. It remains to be seen whether the 21-year-old beautician gives him another chance.
The pair had a tearful chat in last night's show, with Amber saying to him: "I really have got over the whole situation. I did feel sorry for you after the whole thing and I decided to be civil and nice."
We all remember poor Amber's face when she returned from Casa Amor without a new boy to discover that Michael has recoupled, and had plenty of rude things to say about her.
More recently, she confessed that she still has feelings for the 27-year-old, Lord know how, and he rejected her twice more. Will she take him back? We certainly hope not.
Amber Gill has had a pretty wild ride on Love Island, to say the least.
From Michael Griffiths' betrayal and then disgraceful behaviour towards her and now living in the friend zone, romance has evaded the beautician from Newcastle.
While many fans are adoring her friendship with singleton Ovie Soko, the 21-year-old is set to flirt up a storm on her date tonight with Limerick lad Greg O'Shea.
Michael had recoupled after Casa Amor with Joanna Chimonides, who has since been dumped from the island and walked away without Michael in tow.
Viewers have been extremely protective of Amber ever since this devastating blow was dealt, especially after the firefighter became the villa villain and seemingly takes out all of his frustrations on his ex-flame.
New boy Greg O'Shea awaits her in the Hideaway tonight, after Amber receives a text saying; "Don’t worry Amber. The boys aren’t having all the fun. Greg is waiting for you on the Hideaway terrace. #guarddown #openminded”
The Irish professional rugby player is seeking a loyal and honest girl who he can totally commit to. Before entering the villa, he said;
"I'm searching for a girl who is confident in herself, not cocky but she knows her worth. I want a girl who backs herself and someone who lives a positive lifestyle."
Based on tonight's teaser, Amber lets her guard down and enjoys the date with Limerick's newest Love Island star. Michael, who?
Greg also describes himself as a "one girl kind of guy", and seems serious about searching for wifey material;
“If I see a girl I tend to fall for her hard. Hopefully, that can happen again. After my last relationship I lost my faith in love so hopefully going into the villa can get my belief in love back," he added.
“I’ve only been single for the last year. I was with a girl for four years before that and in a relationship for five years before that. I’ve always been in relationships.”
Go get our girl Amber, and prove you're worthy Greg. Do your nation proud.
