New Love Island star Ope Sowande is set to dazzle the villa with his dance moves, having previously worked as a backing dancer on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. The 27-year-old West End performer, originally from Lincolnshire, was unveiled as part of the 2026 summer line-up earlier this week. In just a few days, Ope will swap the dance floor for the iconic Mallorca villa, where he hopes to find romance in the sunshine.
Strictly Come Dancing Background
In 2024, Ope served as a backing dancer during Sarah Hadland and Vitto Coppola's Charleston routine to 'Popular' from the musical Wicked. Sharing moments from the performance on Instagram, he wrote: 'Dope time dancing on @bbcstrictly. @tommythefranzen killed the choreo on this one.' Fans quickly took to social media to express their excitement about his Strictly connection. One user on X, formerly Twitter, commented: 'Obsessed with the fact he was a backing dancer for Sarah Hadland's Charleston on Strictly.' Another added: 'I fear I have no choice but to root for this man.' Others declared: 'ok so i want him to win' and 'WAIT I LOVE HIM.'
Other Performance Credits
Strictly is not the only show Ope has graced. He has also performed as a dancer on ITV's The X Factor live finals and Saturday Night Takeaway. His West End credits include roles in The Lion King, Hercules, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical UK. Reflecting on his time as Simba in The Lion King, he posted: 'Wow what a week! I had the honour of performing as Simba 6/8 shows this week. Such a challenge, but I'm so proud of what I've achieved. Thankyou Hong, you been incredible.' In another video, he said: 'Time to say Goodbye to the Pridelands. Thankyou LionKing for an amazing year. P.S. Best double pirouette I've ever done.' Additionally, Ope appeared in a 2021 Subway advert and showed off his moves in Carly Burns' 'Sweetheart' music video.
Love Island 2026: New Season Changes
The 13th summer series of Love Island returns on Monday, June 1, with Maya Jama as host. Producers Amanda Stavri and Lewis Evans revealed to the Daily Mail that they are taking a big risk with the first episode to combat 'format fatigue' and boost ratings. They teased a never-before-seen coupling-up in the premiere, stating: 'We've got to fight format fatigue and find new things to do. It's really important that Love Island stays unpredictable. Viewers find it exciting when you pull the rug from under their feet and surprise them.' Fan favourites like Casa Amor, Movie Night, and Snog, Marry, Pie will return. This year's marketing campaign, 'it's all kicking off', ties into the World Cup, with producers hoping for drama both on the pitch and in the villa. They also confirmed a larger pool of around 36 to 40 islanders, including international contestants, and promised more beds and bombshells.
Meet the Islanders
The full line-up includes Jasmine, 27, a fashion business owner from Dubai; Aidan, 23, a property broker from Kent; Lorenzo, 28, a business owner from Hertfordshire; Sam, 25, an electrician from Dudley; Samraj, 25, a model from Birmingham; Sean, 25, a primary school teacher from Galway; Ope, 27, a West End performer; Mica, 21, a student from Barbados; Lola, 28, a detective from Kent; Angelista, 24, a nurse from Staffordshire; Ellie, 24, a real estate videographer from West Lothian; and Robyn, 21, a quantity surveyor and DJ from Liverpool.
