Love Island’s Chris Taylor has admitted he fancied Joanna Chimonides for four years before meeting her in South African villa.
The reality star, 33, who was dumped on Friday night, added that he wants to give their relationship a chance outside of the show when they jet back to the UK.
Sitting down to chat with host Maya Jama, Chris opened up about his feelings towards Joanna, despite them having a rocky couple of days.
He explained: ‘I fancied Joanna for a good four years, so when she walked in I was excited.
‘It got left at a really awkward point when we were smack bang in the middle of figuring out what it could have been so we are left with questions.’
Love Island’s Chris Taylor has admitted he fancied Joanna Chimonides for four years before meeting her in South African villa
The reality star, 33, added that he wants to give their relationship a chance outside of the show when they jet back to the UK
During the exit interview, he added: ‘My experience with Joanna was amazing. When she came in, I was very excited. I’ve fancied her for a long time.
‘As soon as she arrived in the Villa I could tell there was something between us. We had lots of deep chats in bed and I learnt so much about her on a deeper level and ultimately we were both very comfortable with each other.’
On Friday night’s Love Island All Stars episode, just 24 hours after viewers saw Joe Garratt and Joanna, both 27, get the boot, Chris shortly followed behind them.
When quizzed by Maya about her time in the villa, Joanna revealed that Chris became protective over her in the villa.
After being asked to discuss her time with the boy, she said: ‘My experience with Chris was beautiful. We really got along and got to know each other on a different level.
‘It’s a shame how it’s ended now as I think we might have reconciled and come back together. Chris is so caring and protective of me, he’s lovely.’
She also quipped: ‘It’s bittersweet, I was getting to know Chris and Callum but things have now been left up in the air and open ended. There was definitely room for progression and you never know where it could have ended up.
‘They are both great guys, so wherever my path would have led me I would have been happy.’
Her comments came after Joanna admitted she got the ick for Chris during Wednesday’s episode.
He picked her at the recoupling on Tuesday night with a heartfelt speech that his fellow Islanders thought was really sweet.
Sitting down to chat with host Maya Jama , Chris opened up about his feelings towards Joanna, despite them having a rocky couple of days
He explained: ‘I fancied Joanna for a good four years, so when she walked in I was excited.’
On Friday’s episode, the TV personality (right) and Joe Garratt (left) was dumped from the villa after she was brutally dumped from the villa after being voted for being in one of the least compatible couples
But Joanna took a few steps back from the couple after he got the ick from his twerks at her and his immaturity.
Rushing up to the terrace, Joanna sat Arabella down to complain about Chris’s recoupling speech from just minutes before.
Joanna told Arabella that Chris’s jokey personality made it impossible to know the real him, and she wanted a boyfriend who wouldn’t twerk at her as she walked past.
Arabella, who was also partnered with Chris , warned her that the problems will only get worse so she should probably nip it in the bud now.
Joanna agreed and also told Arabella that she already had Chris’s replacement in mind: Callum Jones, currently coupled up with Jess Gale.
Joe and Joanna’s dumping comes after the Islanders were asked to vote for the couple they thought was the least compatible.
Joe and Arabella, Chris and Joanna, Eve and Casey, and Jess and Callum received the most votes and became at risk of being dumped.
Host Maya Jama revealed that one boy and one girl would be dumped from the above four couples – and the decision was up to their fellow Islanders.
Joanna told Arabella that Chris’s (pictured) jokey personality made it impossible to know the real him, and she wanted a boyfriend who wouldn’t twerk at her as she walked past
Arabella, who was also partnered with Chris , warned her that the problems will only get worse so she should probably nip it in the bud now
The group was divided, and their differing opinions led to lingering awkwardness for one couple , but they ultimately did come to a consensus.
To the irritation of many Islanders, Chris was annoyed about not being initially dumped, believing he should have gone instead of Joanna.
He was dumped when bombshell Adam Maxted, from series two, chose to couple up with Arabella, leaving him single.
Arabella and Chris were partnered previously but had a very messy and heated ‘break-up’.
The current couplings are Arabella and Adam, Casey and Eve, Georgia S and Toby, Georgia H and Toby, Molly and Tom, and Sophie and Josh.
The series will end on Monday February 19.
LOVE ISLAND ALL STARS: MEET THE CAST
Georgia Harrison
AGE: 29
SERIES: 3
Why are you returning to the Love Island Villa? This is the last year of my 20s so I want to go in the Villa and have some fun and hopefully meet someone that I can fall in love with. I’m lucky in the sense that I’ve got everything in my life that I could possibly wish for, apart from love.
If you had to pick your top Islanders from Series 1 to 10 to couple up with who would they be and why? Chris Taylor, he’s hilarious and the main thing I’m attracted to is a man who can make me laugh. What a fun guy and like I said, I’m looking for someone to TikTok with so I reckon he’d be game for that sort of stuff!
Georgia Steel
AGE: 25
SERIES: 4
Why are you returning to the Love Island Villa? I’m 25, I have a house, a cat, a nice car – I have everything in life but a boyfriend, so why not give it as go.
You’ve been brave and honest in opening up about being conned by a former partner. How has this experience impacted the way in which you now approach dating?
I take that experience as a really positive reflection now. I look at it as something I had to go through to make me stronger and learn things in life for me to be able to learn what I want in my next partner.
Molly Smith
AGE: 29
SERIES: 6
What do you need to know? Molly entered her season as a Casa Amor bombshell and managed to turn Callum Jones’ head.
It’s believed she ended things with Callum after three years because she ‘wanted to get engaged’ but the offer was seemingly not forthcoming.
Arabella Chi
AGE: 32
SERIES: 5
What do you need to know? Despite a fleeting stint on her series she has hit the headlines with a series of high profile romances since, most recently with footballer Ruben Dias.
She was linked to former French rugby player Yoann Huget and DJ Tom Zanetti. She also enjoyed a brief dalliance with fellow All Star Toby Aromolaran.
Tom Clare
AGE: 24
SERIES: 9
Why are you returning to the Villa?
I found love last time, so I am back and ready to give it another go.
What will you do differently this time round?
Last time I did exactly what I wanted and got the girl that I wanted, so no I wouldn’t do anything different.
Why do you think the Villa is the perfect place to find love?
When you’re with someone 24/7 you really get to know them. It can be such an alien environment, so you really get to know someone in a short space of time. It’s Love Island – it’s the best place!
Casey O’Gorman
AGE: 27
SERIES: 9
Why are you returning to the Love Island villa? I didn’t find love the first time round so I’m hoping it will be second time lucky.
I had the most amazing experience before, so get me back in that villa.
Who do you have your eye on? I’ve got my eyes on Molly, for sure. I genuinely think she is a 10 out of 10. Georgia H as well – I know her and we have had a good time together. It’ll be interesting to see if it can develop in any way.
Eve Gale
AGE: 24
SERIES: 6
Why have you returned to the villa?
‘I’m going to go in with an open mind and fully immerse myself into villa life, I’m going to try and have more fun with it.
‘I’m 24 and although that’s young, I want to be married by 28 so I need to get a move on. All my friends are starting to settle down, I feel like it’s my time too.’
Toby Aromolaran
AGE: 24
SERIES: 7
Why are you returning to the Love Island Villa? If I’m Single and Love Island is an opportunity for me, how could you turn down the chance to find love again?!
You were in a long term relationship with Chloe Burrows, what do you think her reaction will be when she hears you are going into the Villa? I don’t know how she would take it. We will always have love for each other and I think she would wish me the best of luck, as I would certainly do the same.
Anton Danyluk
AGE: 29
SERIES: 5
Why are you returning to the Love Island Villa? For me it was a no brainer. I got the call and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and probably the best summer I have ever had in my life. Getting the chance to do it twice is going to be unbelievable.
Why do you think the Love Island Villa is the perfect place to find love?
I think this time with Love Island: All Stars, things will be different, as we all understand what it’s like to go on Love Island and the only thing now missing is finding a partner.
Callum Jones
AGE: 27
SERIES: 6
What do you need to know? Callum caused shockwaves in his series when he ended his romance with Shauna Phillips and recoupled with Molly Smith in Casa Amor.
The couple went on to have a three-year relationship, even moving in together in Manchester but split last year, months before an awkward reunion in the Love Island All Stars villa.
Josh Ritchie
AGE: 29
SERIES: 1
What do you need to know? Joshua, was one of the original Islanders in 2015 and has since made a name for himself on reality TV shows including Ex on the Beach and Celebs Go Dating – and because of his highly publicised romances.
He dated fellow All Stars contestant Georgia Harrison as well as Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby.
Sophie Piper
AGE: 24
SERIES: 6
Why are you returning to the famous Love Island Villa?
I had a fun experience the first time around but I didn’t go the full way and find love, so I’d love to find someone this time.
What will you do differently this time round?
I’m quite chilled and don’t want drama, so I think I will approach this time round in a similar way. I’m a one guy kind of girl.
Why do you think the Villa is the perfect place to find love?
It’s a once in a lifetime experience and not something that comes up every day.
Jess Gale
AGE: 24
SERIES: 6
Why are you returning to the villa?
‘This time around I feel more mature and focused ready to find my future husband. I’m ready now, we’ve had so much fun the last few years I’m ready to share my life with someone else other than Eve.’
Adam Maxted
AGE: 31
SERIES: 2
Why are you returning to the Love Island Villa?
It’s a second opportunity to go in there as my older, wiser and more confident self. I was nervous last time – it would be nice to go in there and form a connection with somebody. I’ll be passing words of wisdom for sure.
