Tasha Ghouri Confronts Love Island Ableism in New BBC Pilgrimage Series
Reality television star Tasha Ghouri has revealed that the ableism she encountered during her time on Love Island continues to affect her deeply, even years later. Speaking at a screening for the new BBC documentary Pilgrimage: The Road To Holy Island, the influencer shared her emotional journey towards moving forward from the trauma.
Enduring Impact of Ableism
Ghouri, who is 27 years old and was born completely deaf before receiving a cochlear implant at age five, stated, 'I suffered with ableism whilst I was on a reality TV show. People use your disability as their point to hate somebody.' She added, 'It still gets to me now. It was literally three years ago, but it still gets to me. I think it's because I saw the impact it had on my family.' This candid admission highlights the lasting psychological scars from online abuse and discrimination.
Joining a Celebrity Pilgrimage
In an effort to heal and find peace, Ghouri is participating in the latest series of the BBC travel documentary. She joins a diverse group of celebrities on a five-day pilgrimage across North Yorkshire, County Durham, and Northumberland. The cast includes:
- Actress Patsy Kensit, 58
- Diversity star Ashley Banjo, 37
- Cold Feet actress Hermione Norris, 59
- Presenter Jayne Middlemiss, 55
- Stand-up comedian Hasan Al-Habib
- Comedian Ashley Blaker
The journey follows ancient routes linked to historical figures like St. Cuthbert, traversing dramatic landscapes before culminating at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. In the first episode, Ghouri forms a warm bond with Patsy Kensit, praising her as 'an incredible woman, so strong, so forceful, empowering.' Kensit reciprocates with advice on love, humorously noting, 'You don't have to marry all your boyfriends!'
Post-Love Island Struggles and Recovery
Ghouri first rose to fame on the eighth series of ITV's Love Island in 2022, where she met Andrew Le Page. Reflecting on the aftermath, she previously told the Daily Mail, 'Everything is thrown at you after a show like that, good and bad.' She described it as 'a volcano' of trolling, ableism, and brand deals. Following their initial success, the couple bought a home together but split last year, shocking fans after Le Page supported her during her stint on Strictly Come Dancing in late 2024.
The breakup turned acrimonious, with Le Page accusing Ghouri of using the celebrity dating app Raya while they were together. Ghouri is now in a relationship with BBC presenter Cam Whitnall, having started dating him last May. She has expressed being in a 'really good place mentally' and happier than ever since finding love with Whitnall.
Mental Health Challenges and Resilience
After her split from Le Page, Ghouri's mental health deteriorated significantly due to online abuse. In an Instagram Q&A, she admitted, 'I was so so anxious to share this, I've experienced a lot of horrific trolls in the past year in my messages online and it massively impacted my mental health to the point I didn't want to leave my bedroom.' She described it as a 'fresh new beginning' and a 'perfect haven to restart.'
In January, she reflected on 2025 as a 'mentally tough' year, suffering from 'horrific trolling' online. She told her 1.3 million Instagram followers that she was entering 2026 'surrounded by love,' vowing, 'Never again am I letting them tear me apart to the point I completely lost myself and my love for what I do.'
Pilgrimage: The Road To Holy Island airs on BBC Two on April 5 at 9pm, offering viewers a glimpse into Ghouri's journey of emotional and spiritual recovery.
