The highly anticipated Love Island: All Stars series finally made its explosive debut on ITV2 on Thursday night, with host Maya Jama welcoming a dozen familiar faces to the luxurious South African villa. The launch episode was dominated by the triumphant return of fan favourite Whitney Adebayo, who immediately won over viewers once again.
Whitney's Triumphant Return and Fan Reaction
Whitney Adebayo, who finished as runner-up in the 2023 series with then-boyfriend Lochan Nowack, made a stunning entrance. Her comeback comes after a tumultuous period following their split, which escalated into a very public and dramatic legal dispute. Whitney had publicly accused Nowack on TikTok of using a racial slur, alleging he called her skin 'dirty', leading to him reportedly suing her for defamation in April. It was revealed in December that the pair had quietly ended their legal battle.
Fans on social media platform X were quick to shower Whitney with support, lauding her confident appearance and what they dubbed her impressive 'revenge body' in the wake of the split. One fan quipped, 'Lochan seeing Whitney walk in... I haven't changed, starts bursting laughing. Never change Whitney.' Others added, 'Whitney looks good,' and 'Every time Whitney's on my screen, I'm reminded of why I loved her so much in season 10.'
Betting Odds and Villa Line-Up
As the stars settled in, betting odds from Ladbrokes revealed who the bookmakers think will thrive and who might struggle. According to the firm, Leanne Amaning and Charlie Frederick are the 6/1 favourites to be the first contestants voted out of the ITV2 series.
On the other end of the spectrum, former series winner Millie Court and Tommy Bradley from the 2025 series are tipped as the ones to beat, with impressive 3/1 odds to win the entire All Stars competition. Ladbrokes' Alex Apati told OK!: 'Fans can't wait for the latest batch of former islanders to head to South Africa and the latest odds suggest Tommy and Millie will be the ones to beat.'
The star-studded line-up includes other notable returnees such as series 10 winner Jess Harding, 25, Jack Keating, 26, and series six star Leanne Amaning, 28, who is back after a six-year break following her infamous 'ick' moment with Mike Boateng.
Production Delays and Costly Setback
The launch of Love Island: All Stars was delayed from its original Monday slot due to unforeseen circumstances. Dangerous wildfires in the South African area over the weekend made it unsafe for the cast and crew to begin filming, marking the first such delay in the show's history.
This setback reportedly cost ITV more than £15,000 an hour, covering fixed commitments to the production crew, staff, camera operators, and psychologists who were all on standby in South Africa. Host Maya Jama confirmed the restart on the official Love Island Instagram account on Wednesday, excitedly announcing, 'I can officially announce exclusively that we are back up and running, yay!... You can watch us on ITV2 tomorrow night at 9pm.'
The series promises drama, romance, and second chances as some of Love Island's most memorable personalities seek love once more under the South African sun.
