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If you love 'Love Island,' watch these 5 shows next

If you love 'Love Island,' watch these 5 shows next

USA Today15-07-2025
Love may have left the island, but that doesn't mean you have to be done watching binge-worthy reality dating shows.
The seventh and most exciting season yet of Peacock's "Love Island USA" wrapped up July 13 with a bombshell finale that left one couple − Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales − as the winners, complete with a $100,000 prize to split.
There were plenty of jaw-dropping moments in the long season, which saw one cast member depart in controversy and a certain "I'm a mommy" meme dominate TikTok. It might be hard for fans to face the rest of a long hot summer without any time spent in the villa.
But fear not! While "Island" is a great version of the modern bikinis-and-boxers reality-TV dating show, it is far from the only one. We rounded up five other shows that can fill the "Island"-shaped hole in your heart, and at least one even has "island" in the title. There seems to be no limit to how many ways Hollywood can stick some sexy singles on a beach and record the havoc that they wreak − and maybe even a few instances of real love, too.
When does 'Love Island USA' return? What we know about Season 8 and spinoffs
If you want more of exactly the same: 'Love Island UK'
The sultry, twisty, addictive "Love Island USA" you know and love is based on the highly successful British version of the show, which has been bringing sexy singles to its villa for a decade. The very R-rated series has all the great parts of its American spinoff, just with stronger regional U.K. accents and perhaps even more drama (if you can imagine the possibilities). And with the many seasons and episodes available to stream, you could probably be knee-deep in bikinis and abs until Season 8 of the U.S. version.
How to watch 'Love Island UK'
Stream on Hulu.
If you want something current: 'Bachelor in Paradise'
While it might be great to binge 12 seasons of the British "Love Island," one of the biggest appeals of "Love Island USA" this summer has been the ability to watch along with friends and internet commentators as all the ridiculous antics unfolded. But there's another tropical dating show airing week-to-week right now: ABC's "Bachelor in Paradise. Not quite as dirty or as cutthroat as the gamified "Island," the "Bachelor" franchise spinoff is still plenty melodramatic and trashy (in a good and juicy way. The latest season combines alums from both the original "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" with the more mature singles from "Golden Bachelor" and "Golden Bachelorette," for a new twist.
How to watch 'Bachelor in Paradise'
Mondays, 8 ET/PT on ABC. Episodes stream next day on Hulu.
If you love a good twist: 'Too Hot to Handle'
It's all fine and dandy to put your conventionally attractive twenty-somethings in a tropical locale and let them go crazy with hot tubs and open bars. But what if you set the scene for hot hookups but strictly forbade them? That's the concept behind Netflix's slightly ridiculous but very fun "Too Hot," which has all the singles and spray tans and none of the sex (except when the singles break the rules). To win the grand prize, 10 contestants must stay as chaste as possible in a house together for four weeks. Any time a rule is broken the $100,000 pot is reduced. It all comes down to the age-old question: What's more important, love or money?
How to watch 'Too Hot to Handle'
Stream on Netflix
If you love a good guessing game: 'Fboy Island'
This HBO Max series has the silliest name but a concept that any woman who has ever scrolled through a dating app can relate to: How do you tell the womanizers from the good guys? In the series, hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, three woman are presented with 24 men, half of whom are supposedly "nice guys" looking to settle down and the other the problematic "fboys" looking for flings without strings. They're all competing for $100,000.
How to watch 'Fboy Island'
Stream on HBO Max.
If you want something more intense: 'Love is Blind'
"Love Island" and other dating shows set in the sun and sand tend to be frilly and frivolous. But sometimes you want dating drama with bigger stakes and emotions. Enter Netflix's slightly-bonkers dating series and social experiment, in which men and women date "blind," without seeing what their prospective partner looks like. After chatting in "pods" the contestants who form connections meet face to face and decide if they're ready to walk down the aisle with someone they've known for only a few weeks. There are tears, recriminations and a surprising amount of joy in the series, which has led to more than a few successful couples. For now.
How to watch 'Love is Blind'
Stream on Netflix.
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Moment Denmark's Queen Mary is rushed indoors after wincing in pain at royal engagement
Moment Denmark's Queen Mary is rushed indoors after wincing in pain at royal engagement

New York Post

time24 minutes ago

  • New York Post

Moment Denmark's Queen Mary is rushed indoors after wincing in pain at royal engagement

There was a buzz in the air. Queen Mary of Denmark was forced to cut a recent royal engagement short after experiencing sudden pains in her leg — which later turned out to be a wasp sting. The Danish royal, 53, was joined by her husband, King Frederik, 57, their daughter Princess Isabella, 18, and son Prince Vincent, 14, at an event in Gråsten, Denmark on Monday. Advertisement 4 Queen Mary of Denmark was forced to cut a recent royal engagement short after experiencing sudden pains in her leg. via REUTERS While greeting royal watchers outside the Gråsten Town Hall, the queen collected floral arrangements gifted to her by fans lining the streets. However, the outing wasn't without drama as the royal was seen suddenly wincing and grabbing her leg in pain — prompting officials to spring into action. Advertisement In fan-filmed footage shared on Instagram, Mary can be seen standing beside her husband and two of their four kids before embarking on a royal walkabout. The queen is then seen dramatically reacting to sudden pain in her thigh, prompting her to limp while attempting to carry on with her outing. 4 While greeting royal watchers outside the Gråsten Town Hall, the queen collected floral arrangements gifted to her by fans lining the streets. @queenmaryfanpagebysophie/Instagram 4 The queen was seen wincing in pain over a wasp sting on her leg. @queenmaryfanpagebysophie/Instagram Advertisement The pain appeared too strong for the royal to bear, with Frederik moving in closer to his wife as officials escorted her to a nearby building. According to Danish newspaper JydskeVestkysten, Mary was stung by a wasp during the outing. The commotion cut her outing short, prompting her family to step in and finish the engagement. 'The queen certainly did not seem to be badly affected by the encounter with the stinging wasp, and she, together with the king, Isabella and Vincent, made sure to greet the many citizens who had gathered in the square,' another local outlet Billed-Bladet reported. Advertisement Follow The Post's royal family live blog for the latest pics, news, exclusive details and more Without skipping a beat, Mary's children, Princess Isabella and Prince Vincent, joined their dad and chatted to royal fans during the outing at the sprawling Gråsten Palace. Similar to the British royal family's annual summer vacations at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, the Danish royal family spends its summers at Gråsten Palace. 4 The Danish royal, 53, was joined by her husband, King Frederik, 57, their daughter Princess Isabella, 18, and son Prince Vincent, 14, at an event in Gråsten, Denmark on Monday. via REUTERS The family will spend some quality time together over the next few weeks at the lavish palace, which Frederik had inherited from his grandfather, Frederik IX. The late royal received keys to the plus abode after tying the knot with Ingrid of Sweden in 1935.

UK gin distilleries that are worth the journey
UK gin distilleries that are worth the journey

National Geographic

time26 minutes ago

  • National Geographic

UK gin distilleries that are worth the journey

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Britain has a deep-rooted relationship with gin. This long and sometimes complicated love affair has evolved from moments of codependency — notably during the 18th-century 'gin craze', when many poorer Londoners were hooked on often home-distilled hooch — to the period of relative abstinence that followed with the Gin Act of 1751 restricting who could sell the stuff. Traditionally a grain-based spirit whose neutral taste is flavoured with juniper, gin was credited by Winston Churchill as having 'saved more English lives and souls than all the doctors in the Empire', thanks to the belief that the quinine in tonic water, commonly used as a mixer, could combat malaria-carrying mosquitos. But in the centuries following its Victorian heyday, the spirit ultimately took a back seat to beer. In 1987, with the creation of the Bombay Sapphire brand, the love affair was reignited, leading the way for other new-era brands including Hendrick's, which launched in 1999. 'With the rise of cocktails and cocktail culture, people were drinking gin again,' says Sean Harrison, master distiller at Plymouth Gin. 'It went from a forgotten spirit that was perceived as old and snobbish to a revived spirit that was back in people's consciousness.' Founded in 1793, Plymouth Gin is England's oldest working gin distillery. Among its offering, it sells 'navy strength' gin, which dates to the 18th century when British naval forces would only carry gin that was a hefty 114 proof (57% ABV) — a high alcohol content meant it wouldn't spoil a ship's gunpowder if the booze barrels leaked, as the spirit would simply burn off. Today, it's a favoured cocktail ingredient thanks to its bold flavour and fiery punch. Britain's latest gin craze began in earnest in 2008, after founders of Sipsmith Distillery, Sam Galsworthy, Fairfax Hall and Jared Brown, successfully petitioned to end an 1823 law that limited still sizes, allowing micro-distilleries to flourish once again. 'That's the magic of gin,' says Sean. 'People can take the spirit in so many different directions now. The only botanical you absolutely need is juniper berries. Then, you can use anything to tailor the drink to your personal tastes.' Today, more than 800 distilleries operate across the UK, each offering signature botanicals and all manner of inventive tasting experiences. Here are eight to consider. The Master Distiller's tour at the Plymouth Gin Distillery allows visitors to craft their own gin. Photograph by Plymouth Gin Plymouth Gin Distillery, Master Distiller's Tour, Plymouth, England The 15th-century brick building that houses England's oldest working gin distillery started as a monastery for the Black Friars before becoming a debtor's prison. In 1793 it found its calling as a distillery, making a gin that's steeped in history, including the image on its labels — the Mayflower, the ship which carried the Pilgrim Fathers from Plymouth to the Americas in 1620. Gin fans can celebrate the distillery's balance of botanicals by attending one of its many tours and tastings. Book the Master Distiller's tour to sample different varieties, take a whistle-stop history lesson, make your own gin at a distilling masterclass and enjoy a classic G&T at the site's Refectory Bar. Tours from £55 per person. Warner's Distillery Nature Experience, Northamptonshire, England Spread across 140 acres of farmland with three botanical gardens, this rural distillery offers tasting experiences backed by the sound of mooing cows. Start with a gin and tonic in Warner's tasting room before hopping on a tractor for a tour of the estate. Pick botanicals such as lavender from the gardens before learning how to make a lemon balm smash cocktail, combining gin, sugar, lemon juice and freshly picked lemon balm. Then, change into protective gear for a visit to the bee hives, where guide and beekeeper, Jonny, shows how to move a swarm of bees into one of Warner's man-made hives. End the experience back at the tasting room with a final drink and the chance to purchase one of the distillery's many gins. £60 per person. At Warner's Distillery, visitors can suit up and visit Warner's man-made bee hives. Photograph by Warner's Distillery Tarquin's Gin School, Cornwall, England If it weren't for the giant copper stills in their windows, you might mistake the branches of Tarquin's Gin School and Shop in Padstow and St Ives for pretty boutiques. Step inside either, however, and you'll find shelves of Tarquin's world-famous gins leading to a classroom-like space that resembles an old-fashioned laboratory, with mini stills, jars of botanicals and glass beakers. While sipping on a citrusy G&T, you'll learn about Tarquin's history — when it was founded by Tarquin Leadbetter, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef, in 2012, it was Cornwall's first distillery in over a century — before creating your own flavour and bottling it, complete with label and waxed bottle top. There's a choice of 50 different botanicals, but you're welcome to BYOB — bring your own botanical — if you have a favourite. £85 per person. Heple Estate's distillery is surrounded by moorland and visitors can venture outdoors to explore the botanicals used for the gin. Photograph by Hepple Estate Hepple Distillery Tour, Northumberland, England Surrounded by the heather moors and rolling hills bordering Northumberland National Park, the Hepple Spirits Co estate features a stone-built farmhouse-turned-distillery. After a welcome G&T, head distiller Chris Garden gives visitors a tour of the stills before venturing outdoors to explore Hepple's range of botanicals — rows of juniper, lovage, bog myrtle, blackcurrant and Douglas fir. Bring waterproofs with you to enjoy the experience in all weathers and conclude the tour at Hepple's 'hidden bar' — a tiny, outdoor counter built to blend with the surrounding moors and untamed juniper bushes, where you can sample the distillery's sloe gin. Tours from £55 per person. 56 North, Scottish Gin and Cheese Tasting, Edinburgh, Scotland The South Loch Distillery was added to Edinburgh gin bar, 56 North, in 2017. There are multiple experiences on offer at this boutique set-up near the University of Edinburgh, including a classic gin-making masterclass and a self-guided gin and haggis tasting, but it's the gin and cheese tasting that's won most fans. Learn about the history of South Loch Gin while sampling eight of the brand's craft gins paired with a range of cheeses. Bite into a Scottish blue accompanied by a strawberry gin-based parisian lovers cocktail for a blissful, sweet-meets-savoury moment. And if you need to soak up the excess, the bar serves proper meals — the likes of gourmet burgers, fish and chips and golden haggis bon bons with peppercorn sauce. Walk it off with a stroll through the nearby Meadows, a local park with shady footpaths and vast green pastures. £40.95 per person. Goosnargh Gin Distillery, Foraging and Distilling Days, Preston, England Bordering the Forest of Bowland's southwest edges, Lancashire's Goosnargh Gin Distillery takes full advantage of its location by hosting Foraging and Distilling Days. You'll meet expert forager, Adrian Rose, for an outdoor excursion where he'll reveal tricks and tips for identifying fresh botanicals. When you've taken your pick from the likes of elderflower, meadowsweet, wimberries (a type of European blueberry) and peonies , return to the distillery for a light lunch before the second half of the experience: crafting your own gin. Set in a cosy cottage, Goosnargh's distillery looks as much like a lounge as it does a laboratory, with small wooden tables and matching shelves and beams. £145 per person. Sipsmith's London Dry Gin, released in 2009, helped ignite England's 'ginaissance'. Sipsmith Gin Distillery, Ultimate Gin Cocktail Masterclass, London, England After the Sipsmith founders succeeded in their petition to end an 1823 law that limited still sizes, small-batch gin production once again flourished. The brand's London Dry Gin, released in 2009, helped ignite England's 'ginaissance'. Business quickly expanded and the company moved its small Hammersmith distillery to a residential street in Chiswick. With three precious stills named Prudence, Verity and Constance, the distillery gets visits from gin fans who flock for a tour and tutored tastings. Standard tours take place throughout the week, while Tuesdays are reserved for the Masterclass, where visitors shake their own cocktails and learn how to perfect their favourite drinks using Sipsmith's gin varieties, before leaving with a gift bag. £65 per person. Aber Falls Distillery, Gin Lab, Abergwyngregyn, Wales Neighbouring Eryri National Parl (Snowdonia) and the dramatic Carneddau mountains, Aber Falls Distillery is one of four gin distilleries in North Wales, but it's the only one within hiking distance of the cascading Rhaeadr Fawr or 'Aber Falls' waterfall. Start at the distillery's visitor centre for the Gin Lab Experience, where you'll create custom gins using Welsh botanicals and learn about the brand's history and distilling process, before toasting your beautiful surroundings with some refreshing gin and tonics. Afterwards, grab lunch at the cafe or get a takeaway to fuel the one-hour hike to the waterfall. £80 per person. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).

'WAITING ALL DAY FOR SUNDAY NIGHT' – CARRIE UNDERWOOD STARS IN SHOW OPEN FOR NBC'S SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FOR 13th CONSECUTIVE YEAR
'WAITING ALL DAY FOR SUNDAY NIGHT' – CARRIE UNDERWOOD STARS IN SHOW OPEN FOR NBC'S SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FOR 13th CONSECUTIVE YEAR

NBC Sports

time26 minutes ago

  • NBC Sports

'WAITING ALL DAY FOR SUNDAY NIGHT' – CARRIE UNDERWOOD STARS IN SHOW OPEN FOR NBC'S SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FOR 13th CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Highlights from New Show Open to Premiere During Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Tomorrow, Thurs., July 31 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock New Sunday Night Football Show Open Debuts on Sun., Sept. 7 Ahead of Ravens-Bills Playoff Rematch in SNF Opener on NBC and Peacock STAMFORD, Conn. – July 30, 2025 – Multi-platinum, 8-time GRAMMY® Award winner Carrie Underwood will star in the show open for NBC's Sunday Night Football for the 13th consecutive season beginning September 7 on NBC and Peacock. Underwood performed the new show open for primetime's No. 1 show at The Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas, home of her historic three-plus year residency, REFLECTION, which played to packed houses through April 2025, and is the longest-running Las Vegas residency of any solo female country artist. 'For the 20th season of SNF, we wanted to set the tone for the night by reimagining the anthem sound in a way that plays to Carrie's powerhouse vocals, while visually creating a seamless blend of stylized shots and behind-the-scenes moments evoking the national roadshow that is Sunday Night Football, week after week in the fall,' said Tripp Dixon, creative director of the SNF show open for each of the past 13 years. 'We had a blast shooting the new opening at The Resorts World Theatre again,' said Underwood. 'As always, Tripp and the creative team continue to raise the bar, bringing the high energy and stunning visuals that the Sunday Night Football audience has come to expect year after year. I can't wait for the world to see it!' The show open for Sunday Night Football, primetime television's No. 1 program for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years, will debut on Sunday, Sept. 7 leading into the season debut of SNF featuring the past two NFL MVPs as Lamar Jackson ('23 MVP) and the AFC North champion Baltimore Ravens visit Josh Allen ('24 MVP) and the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills in a rematch of last season's AFC Divisional Playoff. NBC'S SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IS PRIMETIME TELEVISION'S NO. 1 SHOW FOR RECORD 14 CONSECUTIVE YEARS: NBC's Sunday Night Football finished the 2024-25 TV season as primetime's #1 TV show in all key metrics for an unprecedented 14th consecutive year – adding to its record for the most consecutive years atop the charts (since 1950), based on official live plus same day data provided by Nielsen. Sunday Night Football also ranked as the No. 1 primetime show in every major demographic. For more information, click here. About Carrie Underwood: Carrie Underwood is a true multi-format, multi-media superstar, spanning achievements in music, television, film, and as a bestselling author and successful entrepreneur. She has sold more than 85 million records worldwide, recorded 29 #1 singles (14 of which she co-wrote), is the most-awarded female country artist for singles in RIAA history, and has seven albums that are certified Multi-Platinum or Platinum by the RIAA, with over 72 million total RIAA certifications to date, all while continuing to sell out arena tours across North America and the UK. All 10 of her albums (including nine studio albums and her 2014 Greatest Hits: Decade #1) – three of which she co-produced – have debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top 200 chart for all genres, beginning with her 9x platinum debut album, Some Hearts, which was released in 2005. She has won over 100 major awards including 8 GRAMMY® Awards, 16 ACM Awards including three for Entertainer of the Year (the first female in history to win twice and the only female ever to win three times), 25 CMT Music Awards (holding the record for the most award wins ever for the show), 17 American Music Awards, 10 People's Choice Awards, and 7 CMA Awards. She has been a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2008 and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018. She has also built a successful business portfolio inspired by her passion for health and wellness, as she founded and created the fitness and lifestyle brand, CALIA by Carrie Underwood, and her first book, FIND YOUR PATH was an instant New York Times bestseller in 2020 when she also launched her popular fitness app, fit52. Carrie launched her exclusive year-round SiriusXM channel, CARRIE'S COUNTRY, in 2023, and created two additional channels, CARR-DIO by CARRIE'S COUNTRY and SAVIOR SUNDAY DAILY by CARRIE'S COUNTRY, both of which stream exclusively on the SiriusXM app. She became the first artist to perform at the Resorts World Theatre in 2021, where her REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency played to packed houses through April 2025, and is the longest-running Las Vegas residency of any solo female country artist. Her concert special, 'CARRIE UNDERWOOD: REFLECTION,' is now streaming worldwide on Hulu and Disney+. She marked the 20th anniversary of winning 'American Idol' by joining the judges panel of the hit show, alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, and this fall will be starring in the show open for primetime television's #1 program, NBC's Sunday Night Football, for a 13th consecutive season. PHOTO CREDIT: Danny Ventrella/NBC Sports –NBC SPORTS–

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