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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Love Island rips up the rule book for sexiest season ever with giant bed for THROUPLES - and takes drastic measures after being slammed for unrealistic beauty standards
By The usual play of Love Island is to couple up with one other person from the opposite sex. But bosses are hoping for potential throuples in the villa this year as they 'tear up the rule book' and install new furniture to help encourage bonking and create drama. One of the new additions includes a trampoline bed that sits across the swimming pool, and the Love Island exec has insisted it has been tested for up to four people. The secret hideaway - which includes a bed and hot tub - is now open 24 hours a day for those that aren't coupled up. Speaking ahead of the 10-year anniversary series of the hit reality show, which will air on Monday, Creative Director of the show Mike Spencer-Hayler, told the Mail: 'There's a new trampoline bed, that would be good for throuples. 'It can take the weight of four, we've checked. It's all about keeping the show fresh and exciting. And that's what we've got.' ITV bosses have attempted to give the new villa and series a glam-up to avoid the show being boring. The TV executive also revealed ITV will broadcast intimate activity if and when it happens and that they've had to 'tear up the rule book' this year, after viewing figures have dwindled after years of tame series of the reality show hit. 'The hideaway is open for business for 24 hours all the time, as long as they don't come with their partner,' Mike said. 'We told the islanders last year they could but they kept forgetting they could come in here. We've seen the same things time and time again how and it's boring. We've got to move on. 'It felt static, and the show needs to feel fresh. People that come in, all do the same thing. Because they've all watched it time and time again. It became too formatted. 'We've got to push forward. All the twist and turns, we're going to give it all we've got to make it an exciting series.' Last year the show had a shock entry when TOWIE favourite Joey Essex, 34, entered the villa. Asked if they will be getting another former reality tv star or celebrity in as a contestant this year, Mike said something else will be a surprise. 'No former love islanders are coming in this year,' he said. Something big is coming in week one though. Not another reality star like Joey Essex.' 'We've got a big week one planned. It's not a celebrity, but totally new. It's even different this year the way islanders will couple up. 'You can't rest on people loving the show, we have to keep it exciting. Tear up the rule book a bit. In a bid to create further drama they have also shortened the walls of the iconic terrace, which is often used as a hideaway for bombshells looking to kiss another contestant in more private surroundings. But Mike confirmed the days of hiding away from prying eyes is all over. 'The terrace walls are shorter and more see through now too. So you can see more up there. We just felt like it was too covered up. Extra gossip.' Love Island has often come under fire for only casting ultra-thin singles who have the same body shapes 'year after year'. And even though the contestants of the show are shacked up with each other for up to eight weeks, it's often been criticised for not showing people eating meals and that the absence might encourage eating disorders and unrealistic beauty standards. Despite having their meals cooked for them by private chefs, ITV has previously confirmed the reason for not showing them eating is because mealtimes are considered downtime for the islanders and are not filmed due to technical reasons, like the sounds of eating with microphones. But it can now be revealed that contestants this year will be seen eating in the villa for the first time. 'In this day and age, we need to be showing it,' said the Love Island boss. 'Viewers always ask us where and when the islanders eat lunch and dinner. Well this year you'll see it on camera now.' Mike also said the reason comes as conversations are often heard amongst the islanders that make for good TV. 'There are chats that do happen whilst they eat,' he said. 'It might feature, it might not when it comes to the final edit, but there is a lot of whispering and there always has been. 'Sometimes it will affect how they might know information, because the viewer hasn't seen it. Now they will see it.' Love Island's 2025 lineup has already been mocked after unveiling 'clones' of previous stars. Love Island producers - who have long been accused of lacking diversity in their casting - seemed to be sticking to 'their type on paper' as they opted for new stars who bear striking resemblance to past contestants. Taking to social media, bemused fans penned: 'Why do the always pick people that look like ex islanders'; 'they all looks the same as past contestants ahahahahhahaha'; 'Let's guess... alot of clones again from other series ???' Fans were left doing a double take when Harry Cooksley was unveiled as the final Islander of the 2025 series, with many commenting that they had mistaken him for Tom Clare. In a spooky coincidence, Harry, 29, and Tom, 25, don't just have their rugged good looks in common, but their careers too - with both working as semi-professional footballers. Both the epitome of a blonde bombshells with their long, flowing curls and striking features, Helena Ford could be mistaken for Danielle Sellers. Helena, 29, also does already have a connection to the villa, as a friend of show favourite Zara McDermott. Fans were convinced Toby Aromolaran was attempting to go on the show for a fourth time when Kyle Ashman was unveiled. Megan Forte Clarke was already being dubbed a Maura Higgins lookalike when she was rumoured to be in the lineup. The actress, 24, from Dublin, recently starred as one of the Ugly Sisters in Cinderella, but she's likely to get the pulses racing on the ITV2 show due to her sassy Irish charm, which sparks further similarities to Love Island legend Maura. NAME: Sophie Lee AGE: 29 FROM: Manchester OCCUPATION: Motivational Speaker and Author WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is fun, spontaneous, who has a lot of jokes and who is attentive. At the moment I'm only finding ones draped in red flags and 'do not cross' signs IF YOU WERE THE CEO OF SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I'm the CEO of empowerment. I want women to feel beautiful and validated in themselves and feel their best self. NAME: Dejon Noel Williams AGE: 26 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Semi-pro footballer and personal trainer WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is beautiful on the inside and out, looks after themselves and is healthy CLAIM TO FAME? My dad being an ex-professional footballer. I've met all kinds of famous people through him. When I was younger it was weird because he was just my dad, but we'd go to a game and fans were asking for photos. I've met David Beckham, he was really nice. NAME: Megan Moore AGE: 25 FROM: Southampton OCCUPATION: Payroll specialist WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'd like to meet someone who is tall, with a nice tan, nice eyes and a nice smile. He needs to have a good fashion sense and a really good, funny personality that I can get on with HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Bankrupt, right now. But we're going to make sales and get on that corporate ladder and be booming. Profits, profits, profits! NAME: Tommy Bradley AGE: 22 FROM: Hertfordshire OCCUPATION: Landscape Gardener WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A girl who is very ambitious, with a big personality, caring, but also someone that doesn't take themselves too seriously. I don't know if that's asking for too much, but I want a bit of everything. I haven't got a specific type in terms of looks, though. WHAT WOULD YOU BE CEO OF? Taking hours to do my hair NAME: Alima Gagio AGE: 23 FROM: Glasgow OCCUPATION: Wealth Management Client Services Executive WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A tall man with a handsome face. You know when you just look at a guy and they have that Disney prince look to them? That's it WOULD MAYA HIER YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I think she'd hire me because I'm a good flirt. I always ask guys on a night out to guess which country I'm originally from. If they get it right, they can get my number. But they never guess correctly so it works really well if you don't want to give a guy your number. I'm originally from Guinea Bissau. If they're close and I really fancy them, I'll give them my number anyway. NAME: Ben Holbrough AGE: 23 FROM: Gloucester OCCUPATION: Private Hire Taxi driver WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A tall man with a handsome face. You know when you just look at a guy and they have that Disney prince look to them? That's it HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Bankrupt. I'd have been out of business a long time ago. That's exactly why I'm here. NAME: Helena Ford AGE: 29 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Cabin Crew WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Somebody funny or Northern. I feel like Northern people have much more banter than Southerners. If you look through my previous dating history, you'll see I clearly go for personality. You can pretty much laugh me into bed. WOULD MAYA HIER YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I would say hire but then quickly fire soon after. It would only be a temporary contract. NAME: Kyle Ashman AGE: 23 FROM: Stafford OCCUPATION: Water operative WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone that's fun, confident and just themselves. NAME: Megan Moore AGE: 24 FROM: Dublin OCCUPATION: Musical theatre performer and energy broker WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who doesn't take themselves too seriously and has a sense of humour. If they're not bad looking, that's always a plus. I love a boy that's a bit pasty, like Timothé e Chalamet. I don't mind scrawny, or a bit of a 'dad bod'. I'm 5ft1 so any height really. CLAIM TO FAME? Me and my friends made a Derry Girls TikTok for Halloween and it went a bit viral around Brighton. Sometimes I get stopped in the street about it. I've also done Panto. NAME: Blu Chegini AGE: 26 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Construction Project Manager WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is family oriented, has a lot of love to give and a lot of love to receive. Personality goes a long way. WOULD MAYA HIER YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? She¿d fire me, but I¿ve got the charm to smooth things over with a girl. The fact I speak fluent Spanish comes in handy when it comes to flirting! NAME: Shakira Khan AGE: 26 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Construction Project Manager WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is tall, charming, witty, with big arms, a good smile and just really funny. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Booming¿ but they¿re all frogs. It¿s a busy love life but I¿ve not found ¿the husband¿. I¿m looking for ¿the one¿. I¿m looking for the ring. NAME: Harry Cooksley AGE: 30 FROM: Guildford OCCUPATION: Gold trader, semi-professional footballer and model WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? The girl next door that makes me laugh and can hold eye contact with me. I don¿t think I¿d go for the most obvious girl, I like a real sweet girl. CLAIM TO FAME? I¿m the body double for Declan Rice. So when he does a shoot, any body close ups will actually be me. You¿ll never see my face, but you¿ll see my shoulder or chest, that kind of thing. ADVERTISEMENT Share or comment on this article: Love Island rips up the rule book for sexiest season ever with giant bed for THROUPLES - and takes drastic measures after being slammed for unrealistic beauty standards 0 shares Comments
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Love Island's Megan Moore reveals why she really dropped out of last year's series - and insists she doesn't look up to ANY stars of the show
Megan Moore will be stepping into the Love Island villa on Monday and has revealed why she dropped out of last year's series. The payroll specialist, who goes by Meg, is one of the 12 new islanders to jet off to Mallorca and star in the newest instalment of the ITV show. Meg had applied for 2024's season but didn't end up entering the villa. Now, she has admitted she 'felt like I wouldn't really have fitted in'. The 25-year-old from Southampton continued living her normal life until she was approached again this year and thought, 'what have I got to lose?' She explained: 'So I applied and did a few Teams interviews or Zoom and then I went up to London, and obviously met the casting, had an interview with them.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Meg was then kept up to date with things about the show in a WhatsApp group where she would say who she 'fancied' and who her 'top three' would be. 'Then it just got to the point where I felt like I wouldn't really have fitted in, like I just didn't really think, yeah, we'd really get on with that person,' she admitted. 'So they always kept me in the loop and then it just all happened really quickly, to be honest,' Meg added. 'I didn't really think about it, I was still living my normal life. So then obviously, it come around again this year and then they said, 'Meg, would you go for it again?' And I was like, 'Well, nothing's changed',' she revealed. The new islander went on, 'We've been on no dates, I'm still single, so what have I got to lose?' This series marks the tenth anniversary of the ITV show and despite there being plenty of stars in the villa, Meg admitted she hasn't really 'looked up' to any of the previous islanders and celebrities. Instead, she feels like 'you just have to be you' and get to know others for who they really are. 'I think you take you for you, and I think that's what people need to do, and that's what I'll be doing anyway, because I don't think you should change for anyone,' she added. Meg explained: 'And when you say, look up to people like I look up to people in my family, I'll look up to my mum. 'She doesn't have a man, but that's the type of person I'd look up to, to have the same traits as her. So when it comes to celebrities and islanders, no, you just gotta be you.' Meg boasts a strong social media following and regularly posts photographs of her travels. She hopes to meet someone 'tall with a nice tan' who has a good fashion sense and a funny personality to match her own.
Japan Times
26-05-2025
- General
- Japan Times
How a remote island escaped mass suicide in Battle of Okinawa
It was a desperate plea from a boy that prevented a mass suicide on a remote island in Okinawa Prefecture when U.S. forces landed 80 years ago. On March 26, 1945, the Battle of Okinawa began with the U.S. landing on Aka Island, one of the small islands in the Kerama Islands chain. That day, 10-year-old Jinsei Nakamura was among nearly 400 islanders who fled to a valley so shadowed it stayed dim even during the day. Fearing that the valley offered little protection, about 15 members of Nakamura's family and relatives headed into the mountains that night in search of a safer place. But on an island with a circumference of just 12 kilometers, there were few places to hide. Cold rain fell as the group wandered through the night. When dawn broke, through the trees, they saw a vast fleet of U.S. battleships stretching across the sea. Then the shelling began — from the sea and the sky. Nakamura's group was physically and mentally exhausted, and adults began discussing what to do next. 'Let's die together with grenades,' one of the relatives said. Overhearing the conversation, Nakamura snapped and shouted, 'I'm not going to die, never!' Nakamura remembers thinking they had been fleeing through the mountains to survive, and he couldn't think of any good reason to die. More than anything, he was scared. Upon hearing the child's desperate resistance, the adults came to their senses. They realized that they had only two grenades that had been distributed by the Japanese military. 'These are not enough to kill all of us,' one of the adults said. Soon after, however, someone then suggested they should all jump off the cliffs in the southern part of the island. "You throw your own child," one of the relatives was telling Nakamura's mother as they began to walk toward the cliffs. As they made their way to a nearby stream to fetch water one last time before death, they unexpectedly ran into other islanders they had believed were killed in the shelling. That encounter showed there were still survivors — and Nakamura's family made it through as well. Jinsei Nakamura talks about his experience of war as a boy on Aka Island 80 years ago, during an interview in Naha in March. | Nishinippon Shimbun Over two days starting March 26, U.S. forces landed on the Kerama Islands — beginning with Aka Island — to establish a supply base ahead of their assault on Okinawa's main island. As American troops advanced, around 700 residents across four islands — Tokashiki, Zamami, Geruma and Yakabi — were driven to mass suicide. Residents had been told that if captured, women would be assaulted and men mutilated by U.S. soldiers. Masaie Ishihara, professor emeritus of peace studies at Okinawa International University, said that the residents were caught between fear of the U.S. forces that they believed were 'brutal' and the Japanese military that prohibited them from surrendering. 'The islanders were driven to a hopeless situation with nowhere to escape,' he said. On Aka Island, however, mass suicides did not occur because there were no Japanese soldiers or local leaders who forced residents to kill themselves. The U.S. military withdrew from the island on March 30, four days after landing. As a result, people on Aka Island have held less resentment toward the former Japanese military compared to residents on other islands, and Aka islanders have continued to accept memorial visits from former soldiers and their bereaved families after the war. Even today, a trace of the exchanges between a bereaved family and the islanders can be found at Aka Elementary and Junior High School. In one corner of the school library, about 1,300 children's books are crammed onto the shelves. The collection is called the "Hoashi Library," established with books sent by the bereaved family of Takao Hoashi from Fukuoka Prefecture, who died in the war after departing from Aka Island on an attack boat. Over half a century, the family has donated more than 5,000 books, including world literature and picture books. Yoshitaka Kakinohana recalls exchanges with the bereaved family of Takao Hoashi as he visits Aka Elementary and Junior High School's library, which has a collection of books donated by the family. | Nishinippon Shimbun Yoshitaka Kakinohana, 80, a former junior high school teacher on Aka Island who helped who once helped maintain the book collection, fondly looked around the library. "When I come here, I feel the strong wishes of the bereaved family," he said. Hoashi was born in 1922. After studying at Nippon Sport Science University, he worked as a physical education teacher in Fukuoka Prefecture. Around the autumn of 1944, Hoashi was stationed on Aka Island as a second lieutenant in the Japanese Imperial Army's maritime raiding unit. On his days off, he visited the then-national school on the island and played sports with the children. In late March 1945, Hoashi departed in a suicide attack boat loaded with bombs, which was known as a "Marure." He never returned. The Hoashi Library began when Hoashi's mother, Haya, who lived in the city of Fukuoka, started sending books in around 1970. A relief displayed on the wall above the book collection shows Haya holding her son's military cap and introduces her as the "Mother of Books." No one knows for sure why she began donating books, but it may be connected to Hoashi's background as a teacher, says Kakinohana, who now lives in Tomigusuku, Okinawa Prefecture. After Haya died in 1975, Hoashi's siblings continued her wishes — but due to aging, they made a final donation in 2018 along with a sum of money. Kakinohana, who was born one month before the Battle of Okinawa began, has no memories of Hoashi. However, since Kakinohana was a child, his mother often told him that Hoashi was his 'godfather." While stationed on Aka Island, Hoashi frequently visited the Kakinohana family and named the newborn by taking the kanji character "Taka' from his own name. After the war, Kakinohana's older brothers kept in touch with Hoashi's family and acted as a bridge for the book donations. Kakinohana himself became involved after he turned 30. In 1975, while traveling with his wife in Kyushu, Kakinohana came up with the idea of visiting the Hoashi family. To the surprise of the family, Haya had died the day before Kakinohana visited. "Mother's spirit must have called you here," one of Hoashi's siblings said. During Haya's wake, the family shared a story of how she would wake up in the middle of the night even with the sound of a door creaking at their house, saying, "Takao has come home." Since that trip, Kakinohana developed a family-like relationship with Hoashi's siblings beyond the book donations. "I walked the same path with Hoashi as a teacher, so they treated me like their younger brother," Kakinohana said. Even his eldest daughter, who was working in the city of Fukuoka, stayed for a while at the house of Hoashi's sister. While working and after retirement, Kakinohana devoted himself to peace education for children in the community, driven by the feelings of Hoashi and his bereaved family. "Hoashi's dream of being a teacher was cut short in his 20s, and his mother waited for her son's return forever,' Kakinohana said. 'We must never allow such a tragedy between parent and child again.' Aka Elementary and Junior High School continues to purchase about ¥50,000 worth of books annually with the donated funds. On the Hoashi Library's explanatory board, Kakinohana's handwriting is engraved with the words: "War must never be repeated." This section features topics and issues from the Kyushu region covered by the Nishinippon Shimbun, the largest daily newspaper in Kyushu. The original article was published March 25.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
Jersey residents donate 3,000 pairs of glasses to charity
A Jersey woman has collected more than 3,000 pairs of glasses from islanders, which will be given to people with limited access to eye care around the Lewis, who works at World Travel, has hit the major milestone in just under two current total of 3,047 pairs of glasses will be given to Lion's Club, a charity that sorts spectacles at a depot in the UK, before sending useable frames worldwide to those in 2023, Trena started the collection with a simple donation box in her office, but has since had to expand her operation to spare cupboards and the boot of her car to accommodate the generosity of islanders. Schools, clients and community groups have been getting involved, with islanders regularly popping into the travel agency to drop off their used Lewis said she's really happy to see young people in particular getting involved: "We've had a number of children come in."It's lovely to see them because I'm sure those glasses, once they've been sorted in the UK, will go to some really worthy children who are looking for glasses."Children are sitting in school and they can't see the board and we can help with our glasses that we would otherwise discard, so why would we not help?"Lion's Club accepts both glasses and sunglasses of all shapes and sizes. Trena said the charity would also accept broken frames : "Even those elements that are beyond repair and might be broken when we go through them, they are then responsibly recycled – so nothing is wasted."Going forward, Trena's collection shows no signs of slowing said: "Why can't we try and do 5,000 by the end of the year? I'm hoping that from now until the end of December that we have a deluge of glasses from everybody rooting through their cupboards and drawers."World Travel Jersey is open to collect islanders' glasses from 0900-16:00 Monday-Friday.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
BBC roadshow to hear voter views in run-up to Guernsey election
The BBC is hitting the road to cover Guernsey's general election in a series of events to hear the views of first roadshow begins on Tuesday at 07:00 BST until 18:00 at Pembroke Bay, outside the Beach House BBC Guernsey will be visiting the west of the island outside Vistas Cafe on 28 May, before heading south to an undetermined location and finishing in St Peter Port on 17 June, the day before polling will also be eight Your Voice, Your Vote election events between 27 May and 5 June at Les Cotils where islanders can meet and quiz candidates. Each candidate will be invited to give their 90-second pitch to the public, which will be available on BBC Sounds to listen again. There will then be three questions from the audience, where candidates will have 45 seconds to and islanders will have the chance to mix and mingle at the meet and Q&A session of the event will be broadcast on BBC Radio Guernsey at 09:30 the following are free through BBC Shows and Tours.
