As Love Island’s new winter series begins, former winners of the show offer advice to the new group of hopeful singletons.
Paige Turley and Finley Tapp won the first winter series in 2020 and are approaching their three year anniversary.
The Scottish singer, 25, competed as an original on day one, while Finn, 23, from Milton Keynes, arrived as a bombshell on day five.
The couple moved into a flat in Manchester together in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The couple have now revealed their tips for a long-lasting romance outside of the villa ahead of the show’s Monday January 16 start date.
Advice: As Love Island’s new winter series begins, former winners of the show Paige Turley and Finley Tapp offer advice to the new group of hopeful singletons
1. Make the most of the villa bubble
The couple told Web: “The best advice I would give is to enjoy it. It wasn’t until we left that we really realized what we had done and just started to enjoy it.
“You’ll never have a time in your life again where you can turn off your phone for like six weeks and have real connections with people.
“We didn’t even know what time it was and it’s very limited. So just appreciate the time that stands still while you’re in there.
Loved: The Scottish singer, 25, and her boyfriend Finn, 23, won the first winter series in 2020 and are approaching their three-year anniversary
2. Spend alone time together away from the parties and occasions in the outside world
While it strained many relationships, Paige and Finn explained that the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions have actually benefited them.
“Covid helped us because we were able to spend that time together without being dragged from pillar to pillar. We had a crazy three weeks coming out before lockdown and the time you spend together is pretty limited,” Finn shared.
Continuing, “So I think good advice is to try to make sure whatever’s going on around you isn’t stopping you from having that quality time with whoever you’re getting out with.”
The couple told Web: “The best advice I would give is to enjoy it. It wasn’t until we left that we really realized what we had done and just started enjoying it.
3. Get support from friends and family
The dating show wasn’t without its difficulties either, as increasing time away from family and friends took its toll on the couple.
Paige admitted, “I was there for about two months and by the end I was like, right, I just wanted to call my mom.”
The couple said, “I think good advice is to try to make sure whatever’s going on around you isn’t stopping you from having that good time, whoever you’re getting out with.”
4. Get to know each other off the cameras
Admitting that Love Island was a “weird” way to start a relationship, Finn said, “It was weird because we didn’t even have each other’s phone numbers, so we had to do that even though we were already a couple.”
Paige went on to detail her experiences of getting to know each other off-camera.
She told Metro: “It took us a good year to figure out who the other is because obviously in the villa you’re in a bubble, you have no responsibility, you don’t see where they are from, you see their friends or family don’t,” she said.
“So it probably took us about a year to really settle in and get an absolute grasp of who the other is.”
Contestants: Ten hopeful singletons, including the show’s first visually impaired contestant, will enter love’s sun-drenched mansion
5. Don’t rush
Paige shared that their secret to staying together despite being in the public eye was to “go back to basics,” and Finn added that they slowed their relationship “to a normal pace.”
Ten hopeful singletons, including the show’s first visually impaired contestant, will enter love’s sun-drenched mansion.
Love Island starts Monday 16 January at 9pm on ITV2.
LOVE ISLAND 2023: MEET THE PARTICIPANTS
Tanya Manhenga
Name: Tanya Manhenga
Age: 22
Location: Liverpool
Profession: student and model
Something not many people know about her: “I have vitiligo, which is skin pigmentation that you might not even notice.”
“It’s on my lip and I have a streak in my hair. Not many people know that, but I think it’s pretty cute.”
“I don’t care about covering it up all the time, I think it’s a mood.”
Lana Jenkin
Name: Lana Jenkins
Age: 25
Location: Luton
Profession: makeup artist
What not many people know about her: “I have worked with many celebrities in my work as a make-up artist.
“When I was 6 years old I lived in Spain and was an extra in an episode of Benidorm.”
Anna May Robey
Name: Anna May Robey
Age: 20
Location: Swansea
Profession: payroll clerk
Something not many people know about her: “I went on a date once and never saw him again.”
“We went out to eat and shared a bottle of wine. When I spoke to him he fell asleep!’
“I had to clink his wine glass to wake him up.”
Tanyel Revan
Name: Tanyel Revan
Age: 26
Location: North London
Profession: hairdresser
Something not many people know about her: “My celebrity crush is Channing Tatum — I don’t like pretty boys, they give me the ‘ick’ because they always have a crappy personality.”
“Channing Tatum is handsome but not too pretty. He’s male and he can dance.”
“If a man can dance, I fall in love with him instantly.”
Olivia Hawkin
Name: Olivia Hawkins
Age: 27
Location: Brighton
Profession: ring girl and actress
Something not many people know about her: “I did a movie with Jason Statham and had a nice 10 minute conversation about life.”
“I was a ring girl for KSI, I played a waitress on James Bond with Daniel Craig, and I was also a body double for Michelle Keegan and Emma Watson.”
Kai Fagan
Name: Kai Fagan
Age: 24
Location: Manchester
Profession: Science and physical education teacher
What not many know about him: “I am a Jamaican citizen. That’s why I played rugby 7s for Jamaica.
“I now play semi-professional rugby for Burnage RFC.”
“Technically, I have three different degrees and went to three different universities.”
Ron Hall
Name: Ron Hall
Age: 25
Location: Essex
Profession: financial advisor
Something not many people know about him: “If you met me, you would never know that I am blind in one eye.”
“It was the result of a soccer injury when I was 8 years old. I have two different colored eyes, one blue and one green.”
will young
Name: Will Young
Age: 23
Location: Buckinghamshire
Occupation: farmer
What not many people know about him: “Every evening I light a candle and meditate for 20-25 minutes.”
“A girl I met told me to meditate, I tried it and loved it. I stopped seeing them and continued meditating!
“It’s a beautiful way to reflect on yourself.”
Shaq Muhammad
Name: Shaq Muhammad
Age: 24
Location: London
Occupation: airport security officer
What not many people know about her: “I’m a very emotional person. It can be a blessing and a curse.’
“Every time I see Dear John, I cry.
This is my favorite movie. Every time I’m with someone and they say, “Let’s watch a romantic movie,” I say, “How about Dear John, how does that sound?”
Haris Namani
Name: Haris Namani
Age: 21
Location: Doncaster
Profession: TV salesman
Something not many people know about her: “I never found love. I think this is the show that can help me.’
“It’s the best opportunity for me to find the girl and find the right one. I obviously haven’t found the right thing myself.”