Love Island star sparks fix row as she says winner Toni Laites was ITV plant
Toni Laites emerged victorious from the latest series of Love Island when she and now-boyfriend Cach Mercer were voted the nation's couple. But now, it's being claimed that the US native, 25, was actually handpicked by a top ITV boss who spotted her working in a club when he was on honeymoon to star in the show.
Olivia Attwood, who shot to fame on the third series of Love Island in 2017 and now has a successful TV career with a string of documentaries and a regular spot on the Loose Women panel, has alleged that this year's winner didn't apply for the show in the traditional manner. She said: "You know Mike Spencer, the producer? He found Toni in Vegas, she was a cabana girl - he was on his honeymoon."
Olivia explained that the ITV boss simply struck up a conversation with the then-bar girl and decided there and then that she would be a good addition to the ITV2 programme, from which she eventually walked off with the £50,000 prize. She said: "He met her, got chatting with her and told her, 'you'd be amazing on Love Island'. That's how she got on [the show]."
The former TOWIE star then explained that she had spoken to Toni herself, and claimed that the Love Island beauty is in a little bit of a predicament because she hasn't been back home 'for months' thanks to her career suddenly taking off in the UK. But Olivia was quick to offer her advice. During an appearance on Pete Wicks ' Sunday Roast podcast, she added: "I said to her, 'what are you going to do? When was the last time you went home?' She said, 'I haven't been home for months, I don't know what to do'. Because she's now got this boyfriend who's English. If I was her, I'd want to make the most of it and stay here for a bit."
Toni and Cach made it to the final after weeks of being coupled up in front of millions of Love Island fans, and managed to beat Harry and Shakira and Yas and Jamie to the top prize with 33% of the vote. And since she has become the first American to be in such a position on the UK version of the hit franchise, Toni admitted that she 'never expected' any of it at all.
Discussing her aspirations at the ITV Reality event, Toni revealed: "The love has been insane. I never expected it in a million years honestly.", reports the Daily Star I think for me this is all new. It's a whole new world so I'm still trying to find my feet.
"There's a lot of opportunities at hand but I think presenting is my thing. All the love is so incredible so shout out to the UK."
In her first interview alongside her now-boyfriend after leaving the villa, she hinted that a move to the UK could be on the cards as she explores opportunities that have come with her newfound fame.
During an appearance on last Friday's This Morning, she told hosts Joel Dommett and Emma Willis: "Crazy, isn't it? I don't think I'll be spending much time in America. No decisions are made yet but obviously, but Cach is here, I have a lot of opportunities coming up, my friends are here. I see no reason to be in America anymore."
Toni also explained just how 'insane' it is to her and Cach that they are now suddenly very famous in the UK after weeks of living in the Spanish villa, and noted that she even had her 'doubts' about their reception prior to landing back after the show had finished. She added: "Insane, I was a very regular person before the show and now there's like millions of comments and followers."
Toni also explained just how 'insane' it is to her and Cach that they are now suddenly very famous in the UK after weeks of living in the Spanish villa, and noted that she even had her 'doubts' about their reception prior to landing back after the show had finished. She added: "Insane, I was a very regular person before the show and now there's like millions of comments and followers."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
38 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Princess Andre takes TWO swipes at mum Katie Price as she reveals what she would not do to follow in her footsteps
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PRINCESS Andre has taken not one, but TWO subtle swipes at her mum Katie Price. The 18-year-old reality star, is paving her own way in the world of showbiz after releasing her series The Princess Diaries on ITV this week. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 7 Princess Andre said she would not model topless in a subtle swipe at her mum Katie Credit: ITV 7 Princess wore a sheer robe for a photoshoot Credit: ITV 7 The photoshoot was to commemorate her 18th birthday Credit: ITV In episode four of her new show, she revealed what she will never do to follow in the footsteps of her mum, former glamour model Katie, 47. And it didn't end with just one veiled dig, because there were two in the first 15 minutes of the episode. The swipes come as the mother and daughter duo are currently battling through a tricky patch in their relationship, as exclusively revealed by The Sun. Just five minutes into the fourth episode of The Princess Diaries, Princess said she would never do glamour modelling like her mum did. On set for a photoshoot to commemorate her 18th birthday, Princess donned an array of stunning outfits. One of the outfits was a very sheer robe, which left her dad Peter red-faced when she face-timed him. After posing up a storm in the sheer robe, Princess reflected on her mum's modelling career. Saying how she felt in her zone while posing up a storm, Princess confessed: "I felt like my mum." She explained how she had previously seen snaps of her mum modelling when she was younger, and how her shoot reminded her of that. Taking a subtle swipe, Princess then said: "But obviously she did topless. And I would not do topless." Princess Andre admits she's 'not over her ex' as she opens up on split after she goes on a date with new boy Then, later on in the episode, Princess seemingly took a second swipe at her mum when she gushed over how she goes to her stepmum Emily for advice. "Ems is like the best at advice," Princess gushed in the second part of the episode. She went on: "I feel like, if I'm ever in a situation that I don't want to talk to dad about, I'll speak to Ems about it." Princess said this before discussing her boy troubles with her stepmum following her split from her boyfriend. 7 Princess made another veiled dig at her mum when she revealed her stepmum is her go-to person for advice Credit: ITV 7 Emily, who is married to Peter Andre, is Princess' stepmum Credit: ITV 7 Princess said Emily, who she calls Ems, gives great advice Credit: ITV Elsewhere in the episode, Princess became upset when she and her mum made headlines. It was reported, at the time of filming, that Princess did not invite her mum to her birthday party. Princess slammed the claims and urged that she had never spoken badly of her mum. She added how she would never want her mum and dad in the same room as it would be "awkward". Princess noted how if she had a party where her mum was present, she would not want her dad there, and if she had a party where her dad was present, she would not want her mum there. This comes as Princess and her mum Katie navigate a rift. Katie previously vented about those working with her daughter after The Sun revealed her secret heartache about being cut out of her TV show. She even vowed not to watch her daughter's reality show, after feeling left out of such an important thing in Princess' life. Then, earlier this week, Katie shared a cryptic message saying 'your mum is not your enemy'. Sharing a quote on her Instagram stories, Katie urged that as a mum she is "not trying to control" but instead "trying to protect" The quote also acknowledged how she "may not be perfect" but is "the only woman in this world" who wants the best for her children. The post Katie shared began with: "Your mum is not your enemy." It went on: "She may not always say things the way you want to hear them, but her heart is always in the right place. "She's the one who worries when you're hurting, prays when you're lost, and stands by you even when the world doesn't. "She's not trying to control you. She's trying to protect you." The cryptic quote concluded: "She may not be perfect, but she's the only woman in this world who truly wants what's best for you, even if it costs her everything."
Daily Mirror
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Love Is Blind UK star unrecognisable from days before bodybuilding in unearthed snaps
Throwback snaps have seen the star almost unrecognisable A Love Is Blind star looks unrecognisable in throwback pictures taken before their bodybuilding stint and reality TV appearance. The popular Netflix dating show is back for season two after its huge success last year. A brand new group of hopeful singles are all taking part in the unique experiment in the hopes of finding their life partner. But basing their bond on emotional connections, it is only when they decide to get engaged will they meet face to face. After going on "dates", secluded in their own pods, it is hoped the participants will find the one without the initial physical attraction. And the new series has been back with a bang, with the first four episodes being released today (August 13), already bringing relationship drama and love triangles. But there is one star who is almost unrecognisable from his old throwback pictures. Gym Owner Kal is 32-year-old hailing from Wigan and he hopes to find his future wife on the show. Despite having relationships in the past, none have lasted longer than a year. His dad is Pakistani and his mother is English and he is part of a large, close-knit family. But seeing two of his brothers happily married and one with a baby has spurred him on to find a girl he can build a future with. On the show, Kal is seen building a connection with Sarover, who was born into a modern Indian family and has never dated outside of her ethnicity. Despite this, and despite not being Kal's "type", the two seemingly hit it off as they date within their pods. As a gym owner, Kal is in quite good physical shape and often takes to his Instagram page to share his own physical improvements. One old post is him during a body building competition, posing and showing off his muscles in an incredible transformation. In another post, Kal praises his fitness journey as he showed where he was then compared to an even older photo. He wrote: "So glad I started training .... wow." Kal made his Love Is Blind debut today as the first four episodes were released. But fans will have to wait until next week to find out what is in store for the gym owner.
The Sun
38 minutes ago
- The Sun
Princess Andre takes TWO swipes at mum Katie Price as she reveals what she would not do to follow in her footsteps
PRINCESS Andre has taken not one, but TWO subtle swipes at her mum Katie Price. The 18-year-old reality star, is paving her own way in the world of showbiz after releasing her series The Princess Diaries on ITV this week. 7 7 7 In episode four of her new show, she revealed what she will never do to follow in the footsteps of her mum, former glamour model Katie, 47. And it didn't end with just one veiled dig, because there were two in the first 15 minutes of the episode. The swipes come as the mother and daughter duo are currently battling through a tricky patch in their relationship, as exclusively revealed by The Sun. Just five minutes into the fourth episode of The Princess Diaries, Princess said she would never do glamour modelling like her mum did. On set for a photoshoot to commemorate her 18th birthday, Princess donned an array of stunning outfits. One of the outfits was a very sheer robe, which left her dad Peter red-faced when she face-timed him. After posing up a storm in the sheer robe, Princess reflected on her mum's modelling career. Saying how she felt in her zone while posing up a storm, Princess confessed: "I felt like my mum." She explained how she had previously seen snaps of her mum modelling when she was younger, and how her shoot reminded her of that. Taking a subtle swipe, Princess then said: "But obviously she did topless. And I would not do topless." Princess Andre admits she's 'not over her ex' as she opens up on split after she goes on a date with new boy Then, later on in the episode, Princess seemingly took a second swipe at her mum when she gushed over how she goes to her stepmum Emily for advice. "Ems is like the best at advice," Princess gushed in the second part of the episode. She went on: "I feel like, if I'm ever in a situation that I don't want to talk to dad about, I'll speak to Ems about it." Princess said this before discussing her boy troubles with her stepmum following her split from her boyfriend. 7 7 7 Elsewhere in the episode, Princess became upset when she and her mum made headlines. It was reported, at the time of filming, that Princess did not invite her mum to her birthday party. Princess slammed the claims and urged that she had never spoken badly of her mum. She added how she would never want her mum and dad in the same room as it would be "awkward". Princess noted how if she had a party where her mum was present, she would not want her dad there, and if she had a party where her dad was present, she would not want her mum there. This comes as Princess and her mum Katie navigate a rift. Katie previously vented about those working with her daughter after The Sun revealed her secret heartache about being cut out of her TV show. She even vowed not to watch her daughter's reality show, after feeling left out of such an important thing in Princess' life. Then, earlier this week, Katie shared a cryptic message saying 'your mum is not your enemy'. Sharing a quote on her Instagram stories, Katie urged that as a mum she is "not trying to control" but instead "trying to protect" The quote also acknowledged how she "may not be perfect" but is "the only woman in this world" who wants the best for her children. The post Katie shared began with: "Your mum is not your enemy." It went on: "She may not always say things the way you want to hear them, but her heart is always in the right place. "She's the one who worries when you're hurting, prays when you're lost, and stands by you even when the world doesn't. "She's not trying to control you. She's trying to protect you." The cryptic quote concluded: "She may not be perfect, but she's the only woman in this world who truly wants what's best for you, even if it costs her everything." 7
