The launch episode of Love Island: All Stars served up a major surprise as two contestants discovered a shared past that stretched back to their teenage years, setting the scene for potential drama in the South African villa.
A Blast from the Past: The 'Dolphin' Incident
Contestants Charlie Frederick from series four and Helena Ford from series twelve had an unexpected reunion during the opening night. The pair revealed they first met when they were just 15 years old, with Helena recalling an incident that left a lasting impression. She told the villa that a young Charlie had once called her a 'dolphin', a comment she was distinctly unimpressed by.
"I don't remember it," Charlie protested during the exchange. Helena was quick to remind him, replying, "We were literally like 15." The memory resurfaced during the first challenge, where the female islanders had to place a sash on the boy they deemed 'good'—and give him a kiss—and another on the one they thought was 'no good'. Helena decided Charlie wasn't for her, choosing not to give him the coveted kiss.
When questioned by fellow Islander Millie Court, Charlie conceded, "I don't think I did but I must've. It was such a long time ago." Despite the awkward start, viewers were left speculating about a future spark after the public vote subsequently coupled the two up.
Production Delays and a Costly Setback
The highly anticipated launch of the All Stars series was originally scheduled for Monday, 12 January 2026, but was abruptly postponed. The delay was caused by dangerous wildfires in South Africa over the weekend, which made filming at the villa impossible.
The setback came at a significant financial cost to ITV, reportedly exceeding £15,000 per hour. This covered commitments to the full production crew, staff, camera operators, and psychologists who were all on location awaiting the start of filming.
With fans having missed days of expected drama, ITV adjusted its schedule. The broadcaster aired a full episode on Saturday evening, taking over the slot usually reserved for the week's 'Unseen Bits' compilation.
Host Maya Jama confirmed the show was back on track in a video posted to the official Love Island Instagram account on Wednesday. "Hi everyone, I've got some very exciting news," she said. "I can officially announce exclusively that we are back up and running, yay! I'm in glam, heading to the villa, and filming starts in a minute. You can watch us on ITV2 tomorrow night at 9pm. Love Island: All Stars is back!"
Islanders, Bombshells and a Star-Studded Cast
Maya Jama had flown to Cape Town the previous week ahead of filming. The 12 confirmed initial Islanders, including series seven winner Millie Court and series 12's Tommy Bradley, were settled in high-end accommodations before entering the villa.
The line-up features a mix of fan favourites and former winners, including:
- Millie Court (29, Series 7): Wants to experience the villa again.
- Jess Harding (25, Series 10): Aims for a smoother ride after a rocky first stint.
- Whitney Adebayo (28, Series 10): Sees it as a fresh start back where it all began.
- Jack Keating (26, Series 8): Ronan Keating's son is on a "revenge tour" to redeem himself.
- Charlie Frederick (31, Series 4): Hopes for a "fair crack at the whip" after only five days originally.
A number of 'bombshell' contestants are waiting on standby, yet to be revealed. The Daily Mail exclusively reported that one surprise entrant will be former Islander Curtis Pritchard, marking his fourth stint in the villa. He takes on the role previously filled by Casey O'Gorman.
Noticeably absent is his ex, Maura Higgins, who has distanced herself from her 2019 villa days. She was recently spotted rubbing shoulders with Hollywood A-listers at the Golden Globe Awards, thanks to her appearance on The Traitors US.
As filming finally gets underway, all eyes are on whether teenage nicknames will forge connections or create cracks in the quest for love the second time around.
