Love Island’s Ella Barnes has reportedly called time on her romance with entrepreneur Neil Farrugia.
The 25-year-old star is said to have ended things with the fitness enthusiast last month, after the pair found the strain of long distance too difficult to manage.
Ella remains based in Kent, while Neil, 30 – who previously dated fellow Islander Gemma Owen – lives in Malta.
A source told The Sun: ‘Ella and Neil had some amazing times together, but in the end they found it too difficult to make their relationship work long distance.
‘They didn’t have any hard feelings, but realised it was too tough to make it work in the long-run.’
‘They’ve wiped their Instagram accounts of pictures together and unfollowed each other – which has made the split official,’ the source added.
Love Island’s Ella Barnes has reportedly called time on her romance with entrepreneur Neil Farrugia
The 25-year-old star is said to have ended things with the fitness enthusiast last month, after the pair found the strain of long distance too difficult to manage
Daily Mail has contacted Ella’s representative for comment.
In May, Ella was asked in an Instagram Q&A how she met her boyfriend, and she replied: ‘Me and Olivia Hawkins went to Malta for @isleofmtv festival last summer.
‘I met Neil the first night I got there and we juts clicked instantly.
‘I was never meant to go on the trip it was super last minute.
‘I am truly a believer of that everything happens for a reason.
‘We met organically in person which is so rare these days and I’m super grateful for that.
‘Even more rare is that we make it work long distance!
‘However by the end of the year we will ne living together.’
In May, Ella was asked in an Instagram Q&A how she met her boyfriend
Ella shot to fame on the 2023 summer series of the popular ITV dating series, finishing fifth place with Mitchel Taylor
In another post she revealed it had been ‘tough’ as she hadn’t seen Neil for ‘four weeks’, as they lived so far apart.
Ella shot to fame on the 2023 summer series of the popular ITV dating series, finishing fifth place with Mitchel Taylor.
However, just a month after leaving the villa, the pair announced their split.
Confirming the news on Instagram, Ella wrote: ‘Just wanted to come on here and keep you all updated, as you deserve to know as I wouldn’t be where I am without you.’
‘Unfortunately myself and Mitch have decided to end our relationship. I really wanted things to work out and I’m gutted that our journey has come to an end.’
‘I wish Mitch all the best and hope he finds happiness. It’s time for both of us to start a new chapter.
‘Thank you so much for all the love and support. It means the world to me.’
Mitch shared his own statement, writing: ‘As you have most likely seen Ella’s post sadly out relationship has come to an end.’
‘We had no intentions of ending, but with our busy life’s at this moment and living the other side of the country made it extremely hard for it to work.
‘I wish Ella nothing but the best as she is a lovely girl and deserves the world.’
The model and gas engineer, who narrowly missed out on the Love Island final, were pictured together just four days before their split, partying together at We Are FSTVL in Essex.
The pair previously insisted that they would overcome the long distance between them, travelling between Mitch’s home city of Sheffield and Ella’s home in Kent.
They had a rollercoaster journey in the villa after Mitch was criticised for how he handled his love triangle with Ella and Abi Moores.
During the final week, the dating show received 913 Ofcom complaints and according to the TV watchdog, they ‘primarily objecting to Mitch’s treatment of Abi and concerns for her welfare’.
