Love Island fans can't believe casts ‘real age' as they are left ‘cringing' at launch
LOVE Island fans can't believe the casts 'real age' as they are left 'cringing' at the launch.
The hit reality-dating show made a triumphant comeback to ITV2 this evening.
1
The new girls have already sparked conversation online
Credit: ITV
But as soon as the girls were introduced, along with their ages, fans began to air their thoughts.
Shakira is 22, Alima is 23, Megan is 25, Meg is 24, Sophie is 29, and Helena is 29.
Reacting to the casts ages, fans on X went wild.
Read More about Love Island
Reacting to Helena's age, one person penned: "29 on love island? You're supposed to be on Love Is Blind"
Another agreed: "29, single your whole life and on love island?"
"Ngl having no relationships at the big age of 29 is a red flag sorrrrrry," said a third.
Meanwhile, many people thought that the girls didn't look their ages.
Most read in Love Island
"These girls dont look their age," said one.
"Helena looks older," said a second.
A third penned: "These girls all look way older than they are."
Love Island 2025 full lineup
: A 29-year-old footballer with charm to spare.
: A model and motivational speaker who has overcome adversity after suffering life-changing burns in an accident.
: A 22-year-old Manchester-based model, ready to turn heads.
: A boxer with striking model looks, seeking love in the villa.
: A payroll specialist from Southampton, looking for someone tall and stylish.
: International business graduate with brains and ambition.
: A gym enthusiast with a big heart.
: A Londoner with celebrity connections, aiming to find someone funny or Northern.
Ben Hullbra
: A model ready to make waves.
: An Irish actress already drawing comparisons to Maura Higgins.
: A personal trainer and semi-pro footballer, following in his footballer father's footsteps.
: A towering 6'5' personal trainer.
: A 25-year-old Irish rugby pro
: Love Island's first bombshell revealed as sexy Las Vegas pool party waitress.
: Beauty salon owner from Devon who
runs 12 aesthetics clinics, boasting a famous clientele including former
Love Islanders
Departures
:
: Axed after an arrest over a machete attack emerged. He was released with no further action taken and denies any wrongdoing.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
24 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Historic pub on Dublin's Parnell Street offered for €2.25m
It is being sold by the Broder family and in 2010 this newspaper reported that they bought it for around €1m. Subsequently they undertook a major investment and extended the premises to include Parnell Street's only rooftop terrace bar, Captain Moonlight's, as well as the Rua Cocktail Bar on the first floor. Over the years the pub was strongly associated with Irish television's early political humour when the Hall's Pictorial Weekly programme satirised Irish local party councillors by naming one of them Parnell Mooney, which had been the well-known name of the pub for the best part of a century. That character was played by the late Frank Kelly who went on to play the drunken Fr Jack Hackett in Father Ted. Located in a historic position on Parnell Street, just off O'Connell Street, opposite the Rotunda Hospital and adjacent to Henry Street, The Parnell Heritage Bar & Grill which extends to 700 sqm. Shane Markey of Lisney describes the premises as being in very good trading condition and offering spaces for day trade, dining and events. He believes it has significant potential for further growth.
Irish Independent
39 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Today's top TV and streaming choices: Who Do You Think You Are?, San Andreas and Cocaine Air
Who Do You Think You Are? BBC One, 8pm Diane Morgan is the final celebrity to delve into their family's past. She discovers a wartime love story involving her great-great aunt and unearths facts about a distant relative known as German Charlie. Taskmaster Channel 4, 10.05pm It's no longer on TV, but that isn't about to stop Stevie Martin trying to land a role in Downton Abbey. Meanwhile, Mathew Baynton's dignity goes out of the window and Jason Mantzoukas tries to find a new friend. Plus, poor Alex Horne has to deal with yoghurt on his shoes. Fíorscéal TG4, 10.45pm Sustainable construction enters the spotlight, with builders revealing how they have begun to change their methods after finding it difficult to find raw materials. San Andreas RTÉ2, 9pm A massive earthquake devastates California, prompting an LA-based rescue helicopter pilot and his ex-wife to make a journey across the state to find their daughter. However, the trip turns out to be far more perilous than they imagined. Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Ioan Gruffudd and Kylie Minogue star. Call Her Alex Disney+, streaming now Back in October 2024, just less than a month before the election, Kamala Harris went on the Call Her Daddy podcast. Her appearance on such a highly popularised new medium was meant to nail her bid for the presidency. Instead, we have Trump and Stephen Miller in the White House and lingering whimpers of 'Why didn't Kamala go on Joe Rogan instead?' Such retrospection is, unfortunately, futile at this point. So, instead, let's find out more about Alex Cooper and what it took to become the most influential female podcaster of a generation. Directed by Ry Russo-Young (Nuclear Family), this two-part docuseries follows Cooper from a shy Pennsylvania kid to a progressive sex-and-dating podcaster, evolving over six years into the CEO of a media empire. More than a success story, it's a portrait of a person creating a space where women feel heard (and their respective others in their life can glean some often-necessary pointers). The Survivors Netflix, streaming now We're mostly used to two types of Australian viewing: soaps and super-dry (to the point of cringe) comedy. This is different. The drama follows Kieran Elliott's life after two people drown in his hometown of Evelyn Bay, Australia. To top it off, a young girl also went missing. Returning with his family 15 years later, the simmering guilt resurfaces, especially when the body of a young woman is found on the beach… K.O. Netflix, streaming now No one does visceral city grit like the French. Bastien has lived as a recluse since accidentally killing his opponent Enzo in an MMA fight three years ago. Now, Enzo's widow tracks him down as, essentially, he owes her one. Her request? Find her missing teenage son. Tyler Perry's Straw Netflix, streaming now Between this and last month's release of She the People, Mr Tyler Perry is getting himself around. This offering, however, is far more stark than May's fare. Here, one mum's day unfurls as it goes from tricky to catastrophic. Pushed to the precipice by a world that seems indifferent to her plight (until they can livestream it), she soon gets attention when she unwittingly holds up a bank. The Orkney Assassin Prime Video, streaming now The Orkney Isles lie 130 miles north of Aberdeen. It's a peaceful place with a strong sense of community. In June 1994, however, Bangladeshi waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood was working at the lone curry house when a masked man fatally shot him. This documentary revisits one of Scotland's most extraordinary murder cases, examining racism, loyalty, and the impact of trauma decades later. Ocean with David Attenborough Disney+, streaming now The man who will never retire explores stunning ocean habitats, highlighting the challenges for marine-life recovery. On November 5, 2021, Travis Scott stepped on stage to perform at Astroworld, which ended in the deaths of 10 people. An exclusive look told from the perspective of the survivors, paramedics and staff who were at the centre of this tragedy. Cocaine Air Netflix, streaming now Indeed, it's wall-to-wall documentaries this week. On March 20, 2013, four French nationals were arrested on a private jet at Punta Cana airport. On board: 700kg of cocaine in 26 suitcases. All lack the profile of an international drug smuggler, and no one knows who owns the luggage.
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Bernard O'Shea: 5 things I learned about viral 'Irish' weddings
Let's start with the wedding that had everyone from Enniskerry to Ennis glued to their phones: Ally Rice and Sean Fernando — a New York couple with a taste for grandeur — descended on Adare Manor with 100 of their nearest and dearest and a budget rumoured to have more zeros than your average Lotto win. What followed was less a wedding and more an immersive experience, complete with a gifting lounge, falconry, topiary chess, a horse-led pub crawl, and, naturally, a petting zoo. TikTok melted. Instagram wept. And somewhere in real Ireland, the father of the bride cried into a receipt for three trays of cocktail sausages. But to really appreciate the mad splendour of this wedding, you have to contrast it with the humble brilliance of the traditional Irish wedding. A real Irish wedding usually features a church with questionable heating, a function room with a dodgy carpet, a barman who pulls pints with disdain, and an uncle doing Riverdance before the soup is served. Some speeches go on too long, a sing-song breaks out before the desserts, and someone always cries during 'The Voyage'. And yet, we remember those weddings forever. Because despite the sore feet, the gravy stains, and the impromptu rows in the car park, there is nothing like an Irish wedding when it comes to warmth, mischief, and the kind of craic that leaves your face sore from laughing. So what happens when that tradition meets TikTok? Here are five things I learned about viral weddings that made me consider skipping the aisle and heading straight for a snack box. 1. Weddings have turned into Netflix pilots No longer confined to a single day, weddings like Ally's and Sean's are now weekend-long box sets. You don't just say 'I do' anymore — you premiere it. There's an arc, an ensemble cast, and multiple costume changes. Honestly, it felt like a co-production between Vogue and Visit Ireland. The ceremony took place in a bespoke glass marquee, naturally. There was an immersive dinner-theatre experience, and, at one point, guests were guided through history by actors, much like extras in an elite secondary school transition-year project. It was glorious. It was extra. It was also a bit exhausting—and I wasn't even there. 2. The gifting lounge has replaced the free drink at dinner Forget about a little welcome note and a Tayto sandwich pack. Ally's and Sean's guests walked into a full-blown boutique. There were throws. Artisanal sweets. Irish cookbooks. Handmade soaps. Candles! If you didn't leave with a hamper worthy of a presidential visit, were you even invited? But let's be honest: Most Irish people would take a purple Snack, a bottle of Lucozade, and notes written with crayon on toilet paper that says 'Thanks for the memories'. Throw in another bottle of Lucozade for the hangover cure and a few leftover chicken goujons. We're simple folk. 3. Winter is coming Something funny happens when wealthy Americans arrive in Ireland for a wedding. Everything becomes a bit... Game of Thrones. There are cloaks, horse-drawn carriages, and ceremonies in stone ruins set against a light drizzle to enhance the atmosphere. It's magical. But it's also performative. Ireland, in this context, becomes a romantic Disneyland. And while it's great for tourism and even better for the Instagram algorithm, it makes you wonder where the heart of the thing has gone and if any of them end up directing bovine traffic across several fields in their underpants after 15 pint bottles of cider? Would you rather fancy canapes or a crisp sandwich and a purple Snack? Picture: Nick Ansell/PA Wire 4. You can't compete with a topiary chess-themed cocktail hour I don't know about you, but I'm still emotionally recovering from the words 'topiary chess-themed cocktail hour'. Most Irish-wedding cocktail hours mean someone passing around vol-au-vents the size of a small child's head while your cousin tries to play Galway Girl on the hotel piano. It's more pints of Prosecco with a dash of fancy cordial. If you do want to keep up with the Insta-tasticals, here are a few cheaper options: Turf-themed tea-and-toast hour. Guests sip Barry's beside stacks of decorative turf, choosing from a deluxe toast bar. Seating-plan bingo. Bingo cards list classic Irish wedding guests... a cousin in a neck brace, the fella who had a part-share in a famous horse, and the ex by the cake. Guess-the-relation gin hour. You're handed a gin and tonic and told to mingle until you figure out which guest you're supposedly related to. But topiary chess-themed cocktail hours seem to be the new normal. Signature cocktails, thematic backdrops, and sheep as part of the entertainment. I'm not even mad. I'm just impressed. Bewildered, but impressed. 5. We all secretly loved it — but also, we're grand We might roll our eyes at the grandeur. We might mutter, 'Jesus, the price of it', while flicking through social media on our phones from the couch. But, deep down, we loved it. It was a spectacle. It was drama. It was Irishness, packaged and polished for the world to see. But would we want it ourselves? Not really. Most of us would rather save the money, invite our cousins, and have a dance to Rock the Boat with a holy trinity tray of goujons, cocktail sausages, and chips. Because when you strip it all back, the best part of any Irish wedding is the stories it leaves behind. And, sometimes, the story doesn't need falcons, just a bit of rain and a funny speech (for good or bad reasons)... ...and someone's mam dancing to ABBA with her shoes off.
