Love Island is introducing two new bombshells on Wednesday night as Tom Clare and Sophie Piper return to the villa.
Former footballer Tom, 24, who was a finalist on the winter series only last year, and season six star Sophie, 25, were both seen by holiday makers on a flight to South Africa earlier this month.
The Sun have now reported that Tom’s signing for the show has come at the expense of his ex Samie Elishi’s place on the All Stars show.Samie was in talks to appear but when she heard about her ex’s involvement insiders say she pulled out of the show.
Love Island is introducing two new bombshells on Wednesday night as Tom Clare and Sophie Piper return to the villa
A source said: ‘It’s fair to say Samie and Tom don’t really get on these days. There’s too much water under the bridge now.
‘The idea of being back in the Cape Town villa – the same one where they first fell in love – was too much for Samie so once she heard Tom was in the mix it was an immediate ‘hell no’ to bosses.’
‘She knew they’d be put in awkward situations and likely have to kiss in challenges or at the very least watch each other cracking on.’
Tom and Samie, who met on the 2023 show and reached to the final four, split in April 2023. He told MailOnline at the time that the couple split after their relationship became ‘intense’ and ‘pressurised’ but there was no fallout or bad blood between them.
Tom has admitted he would find it hard if Samie did make an appearance in the villa, revealing ahead of his stay: ‘I think it’s hard because I was obviously in love with Samie so I don’t know how I would react.
‘We haven’t seen each other in a long time and things have been said. It would be difficult seeing her. Although we might have argued a bit, she’s got a good heart and I haven’t got a bad way to say about her.’
But he added that he is raring to go, and ready to find love again. ‘I found love last time, so I am back and ready to give it another go.’
Revealing that he has his sight set on Arabella Chi and Mollie Smith, Tom added: ‘Last time I did exactly what I wanted and got the girl that I wanted, so no I wouldn’t do anything different.’
The Sun have now reported that Tom’s signing for the show has come at the expense of his ex Samie Elishi’s place on the All Stars show
Tom has admitted he would find it hard if Samie did make an appearance in the villa, revealing ahead of his stay: ‘I think it’s hard because I was obviously in love with Samie’
Tom and Samie, who met on the 2023 show and reached to the final four, split in April 2023
Meanwhile Sophie is also back on the hunt for love.
The 25-year-old model – who is the sister of This Morning star Rochelle Humes -was spotted at the airport in South Africa earlier this month.
An eyewitness told MailOnline: ‘I didn’t quite spot her at first because she was flying in premium economy and I expected ITV would’ve coughed up for first class!
‘But she kept to herself and was hiding beneath her hood the whole time, probably trying not to get spotted.
‘She seemed in good spirits though and was giggling away with her pal at the airport.
‘Sophie’s such a pretty girl and she seems really sweet. I reckon she’ll have no problem coupling up with someone in the Villa.’
The model and medical PA from Essex first dropped a hint that she’d be appearing on the show when she followed a Love Island makeup artist on Instagram.
She then proceeded to share a cryptic post that read: ‘Bottoms up to 2024. The best is yet to come’, quickly disabling comments.
Season six star Sophie, 25, is making her return four years after appearing on the show
Sophie is the younger sibling of This Morning star Rochelle Humes and the pair have a striking resemblance (pictured together in 2019)
Appearing as a bombshell will be a change for Sophie who was an original Islander in the show’s first ever winter series in 2020 (pictured with Connor Durman)
Appearing as a bombshell will be a change for Sophie who was an original Islander in the show’s first ever winter series in 2020.
She struggled to make any strong romantic connections, however, and after coupling up with Connor Durman, Connagh Howard and Mike Boateng she was dumped from the villa on Day 22.
Sophie has revealed her stratgy second time round, explaining ahead of her villa entrance: ‘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.’
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!
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.
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!
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: 5
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.
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.
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.
Tyler Cruickshank
AGE: 28
SERIES: 7
What do you need to know? Tyler made it to the final of his season with Kaz Kamwi despite a rocky moment when his head was turned in Casa Amor.
While they were able to rekindle their romance ultimately Tyler split from Kaz just three months after leaving the villa, blaming the ‘adjustment to being in the public eye’ as the reason for the break up.
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.
