Love Island fans have joked that the beloved reality series is morphing into one of its biggest rivals after being left aghast by an explosive launch show twist.
The long-awaited All Stars series kicked off on Monday, and the opening episode ended with exes Callum Jones and Molly Smith reuniting in dramatic fashion.
The return of Callum’s former flame left many viewers questioning whether the show had taken inspiration from MTVs’ Ex On The Beach, which typically sees contestants come face-to-face with their former flames.
Earlier in the episode, Liberty Poole was also reunited with her ex Jake Cornish, nearly three years after the pair ended their romance, further fuelling the comparison.
One fan tweeted: ‘Why has this turned into Ex On The Beach?’ while another added: ‘Is this Love Island or Ex On The Beach cos wtf!! hahaha. Callum AND Molly?!’
Love Island fans have joked that the series is ‘morphing into Ex On The Beach’ after being left aghast by an explosive launch show twist
A third shared: ‘Was I watched Love Island or Ex On The Beach because that episode was crazy.’
One viewer added: ‘Love Island really pulled a page out of Ex On The Beach. They really said f**k give me the drama when they picked the least compatible cast.’
Sources have also claimed that with the bumper crop of exes heading into the villa, this series could be more ‘make war than Casa Amor.’
An insider told The Sun: ‘There is a lot of emotional baggage being piled into the villa and it’s bound to erupt.’
Callum and Molly were given quite the shock as they both entered the villa as bombshells on Monday’s debut episode of All Stars.
The couple met when Molly was a Casa Amor bombshell on the 2020 season and went on to have a three-year relationship, even moving in together in Manchester.
But they broke up just six months ago and had an awkward on-screen reunion when they both shockingly entered the South African villa during the All Stars launch.
Callum was revealed to be the first bombshell shaking things up in the villa directly after host Maya Jama coupled up the main line-up of former show legends.
The long-awaited All Stars series kicked off on Monday, and the opening episode ended with exes Callum Jones and Molly Smith reuniting in dramatic fashion
The return of Callum’s former flame left many viewers questioning whether the show had taken inspiration from MTVs’ Ex On The Beach
Earlier in the episode, Liberty Poole was also reunited with her ex Jake Cornish, nearly three years after the pair ended their romance, further fuelling the comparison
However in an epic and very unexpected twist, Molly walked in directly after him as a second bombshell, leaving Callum completely stunned.
Upon her entrance, Callum was wide-eyed as Molly strutted her stuff through the doors, leaving the rest of the villa reeling at the very uncomfortable reunion.
Maya then explained that Callum would have a choice between stealing one of the girls from an existing couple, or coupling up with his ex-girlfriend Molly.
Molly was seen looking unimpressed and rolling her eyes at the prospect of Callum picking her with following their break-up, as the pair did not appear to be on good terms.
Reacting to the ‘savage’ twist, viewers were quick to take to social media to share their shock, with some admitting they didn’t even know the couple had split up.
They said: ‘When Callum walked in I thought ‘oh damn I need to check Mollys insta story after this’ …. THEN SHE WALKED IN;’
‘Making molly and callum bombshells together is f**king insane;’ ‘This being how i found out callum and molly broke up;’
‘I CANT COPE THIS IS INSANE!!!! #LoveIsland also, I love Callum his little face dropped when she came in. She seems angry at him, I’m so invested already;’
‘Yessss I GASPED at that! Callum and Molly at the same time!’
Many viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to note the similarities
Before Molly’s shock entrance, Callum had told Maya that he had an ‘idea’ of who he wanted to couple up with as he stood smiling, keen to embark on his second Love Island journey.
In September, it emerged that Callum and Molly had gone their separate ways after three years together.
Callum moved out of their Manchester home following the break-up, with a source claiming that Molly had wanted to get engaged.
Insiders told The Sun at the time: ‘It’s really sad as they were a sweet couple together but it’s over – and has been for a few weeks.
‘They’re trying to stay friends – they were together for over three years – but it’s difficult. I think in the end, Molly wanted to get engaged and that didn’t happen.
‘Everyone was really surprised when they split as they were perfectly matched. He’s now moved out of the home they shared and they’ve split custody of their two dogs.’
LOVE ISLAND ALL STARS: MEET THE CAST
Liberty Poole
AGE: 24
SERIES: 7
Why are you returning to the Love Island Villa? I’m a lot more confident in who I am and sure about exactly what I want from a relationship. I just want to have fun and meet a lovely boy.
How will you feel if you come across an ex in the Villa or someone you’ve dated from the show since appearing? It’s always going to be awkward isn’t it, it’s always going to be weird seeing someone that you’ve been with getting with someone else. I wish my exes nothing but the best. I’m going to be focused on my own journey.
Kaz Kamwi
AGE: 29
SERIES: 7
Why are you returning to the Love Island Villa? To be totally honest, I actually really want to find love.
I had a great time last series but I want to have an even better time.
How will you feel if you come across an ex in the Villa or someone you’ve previously dated from the show? The thing is, I’m a bad b*tch so I will handle it with as much grace as I can.
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!
Demi Jones
AGE: 25
SERIES: 6
Why are you returning to the Love Island Villa? I lost a lot of confidence with my health issues over the last couple of years but I’ve been smashing the gym this year, finding my confidence again and I’ve got it back. So, let’s find a man!
How will you feel if you come across an ex in the Villa or someone you’ve dated from the show since? It will be interesting to see if old flames get reignited. Naturally with Love Island paths are very much crossed and believe me, I have some paths!
Hannah Elizabeth
AGE: 33
SERIES: 1
Why are you returning to the Love Island Villa? I’m returning to the Love Island Villa because I did it eight years ago and what an opportunity I never thought I’d get again. I’m not very good at finding love but I had a ball the first time, so I’m going to have a ball again.
You got engaged on the show last time, do you think wedding bells could be on the cards again this time round? Absolutely not, not in the Villa no. Maybe when I get out, but I’d need to give it a bit of time.
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.
Jake Cornish
AGE: 26
SERIES: 7
How will you feel if you come across an ex in the Villa or someone you’ve dated from the show since appearing? Well there is only one and that’s Liberty. We never ended with any bad blood between us and everything happens for a reason. We just become two different people in the end.
What will you do differently this time round? When it comes to people’s opinions, I don’t sit on the fence anymore. That is my way of life now, so I will take that into the Villa.
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.
Chris Taylor
AGE: 33
SERIES: 9
Why are you returning to the Love Island Villa? Last time I was only there for 15 days, so I want to do it and enjoy it all again. I am 33 now and getting on a bit – I am getting ear hair! It would be nice to have a girl to keep my ears trimmed for me!
How did the Barbie Movie come about? I was invited to an afterparty by Margot Robbie and then ended up at an after party with her. I started to panic and make conversation with her, just having really stupid chats. All I can assume is that my silly chat made an impression on Margot Robbie. 18 months later I got an email from Warner Brothers asking do you want to try out for this role as Ken – it was a tumble dryer of emotions.
Luis Morrison
AGE: 29
SERIES: 1
Why are you returning to the famous Love Island Villa? It was the best experience of my life. I found love in the Villa before and who knows if I can find love in there again?
What will you do differently this time round?
I’m a lot older and wiser, so I know what I am getting myself into. I don’t have a game plan at all – I am an open book so I will go with the flow and see what happens.
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.
Mitchel Taylor
AGE: 27
SERIES: 10
Why are you returning to the Love Island villa? I think I went in with my heart on my sleeve the first time and got hurt and this time I am just going in to enjoy myself and if a connection happens, a connection happens.
In the summer you were given the name ‘Messy Mitch’, and a name that you have taken on as your own, can we expect more of the same in the series? I’ll be honest, I don’t really plan on being ‘Messy Mitch’. It just depends on what day of the week it is. I wear my emotions on my sleeve and what you see is what you get. I am very honest and very opinionated and I think that’s what people like me for. If I don’t agree with something, I’m not going to hold it back.
