Love Island's latest arrival, Ope Sowande, is no stranger to television, having previously appeared as a backing dancer on the BBC's hit show Strictly Come Dancing. The 27-year-old West End star has expressed his desire to return to the dance floor as a contestant once his time in the Love Island villa concludes.
A Familiar Face on Strictly
Eagle-eyed viewers may recognise Ope as one of the extra dancers who performed alongside Sarah Hadland during her Musicals Week Charleston to Popular from Wicked. Reflecting on his experience, Ope told the Mirror and other press before entering the villa: “I danced with Sarah, and she was amazing! It was really, really fun to be on that show.”
Strictly Connections in Love Island
While Ope is the first Love Island contestant to have appeared on Strictly first, he is not the only one with ties to the show. Series eight Islander Tasha Ghouri and series three winner Amber Davies both reached the Strictly final, while series four winner Dani Dyer signed up but withdrew due to injury and is expected to return for a future series.
Ope's Aspirations for Strictly
When asked about returning to Strictly as a contestant, Ope said: “Could you imagine? That would be incredible. I’m going to focus on the villa for now, but who wouldn’t want to be on Strictly?” He added that his experience on Strictly taught him to take things as they come, a mindset he plans to apply in the villa.
Strategy for Love Island
Ope intends to be himself and “go with the flow” during his time on the show. “I want to be straightforward and honest. No pot stirring,” he explained. Despite being a performer, he insists he won't use those skills in the villa. “I am a performer, and I am Ope. In the villa, I will just be Ope and be as positive as possible. I'm really going to take it as it comes and be my authentic self.”
While he doesn't seek drama, Ope admits he enjoys observing it from a distance. “I’m not here for the drama, but I’m here for the drama. I love the ‘watching with a telescope, ooh what’s going on, sip the tea’ kind of vibe.” However, he won't be playing it safe, stating: “I’m never playing anything safe, that’s boring.”
His Secret Weapon: Humour
Ope plans to use his humour to connect with the women in the villa. “My thing is to go for the goal and make someone laugh straight away. I think that’s the key to love and the key to getting girls. My ultimate thing in life is to make people feel comfortable around me, so as soon as that happens, I’m sweet. And I’ve got the best smile in Britain.”
Love Island returns Monday 1st June at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
