ITV’s Love Island is back for a brand new season, with a new batch of sexy singletons looking for love.
As well as the new Love Island 2022 line-up, there’s a brand new Love Island villa for season 8, which is bigger than ever.
The show’s host remains the same, though, with Laura Whitmore returning to present the show.
This will be Whitmore’s third year presenting the series, since taking over from the late Caroline Flack.
She joins her husband and Love Island narrator Iain Stirling who has provided the commentary for the series since it began in 2015.
As the new season gets underway, here’s everything you need to know about Love Island host Laura Whitmore – prepare for lots of sassy entrance walks!
Who is Laura Whitmore?
Hailing from Ireland, Whitmore is a 37-year-old broadcaster with over 10 years’ experience in the television industry. She was also a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, making it to week seven with partner Giovanni Pernice.
She took over from Caroline Flack in January 2020, hosting the show’s first winter series.
At the time, she said: “Caroline is a brilliant host and also a friend. We’ve spoken a lot in the last few days since she stepped down. She has been very kind to me and strongly pushed me for this role. I’ve watched her host every series and know I have big boots to fill. I will try and do it justice.”
Tragically, Flack died in February 2020, with a coroner’s inquest recording a verdict of suicide.
Where have I seen Laura before?
Whitmore has appeared on a range of ITV entertainment reality shows, having previously presented music interview show The Hot Desk, The Brits Backstage and I’m a Celebrity spin off, Get Me Out of Here! NOW!.
In 2018, she presented ITV2 reality show Survival of the Fittest.
She’s since joined Keith Lemon’s Celebrity Juice as a regular panelist alongside Emily Atack.
What was Survival of the Fittest?
Oddly enough, Survival of the Fittest was billed as ‘winter’s answer to Love Island’ so perhaps Whitmore was always fated to land a role on the show.
The series, which came from the same production company as Love Island, saw a team of boys and a team of girls compete with each other across a variety of mental and physical challenges.
Like winter Love Island, the series was filmed in South Africa – but it didn’t fare nearly as well as its sister show and was cancelled after its debut series on account of poor ratings.
How long have Laura Whitmore and Love Island narrator Iain Stirling been in a relationship?
The pair have been dating officially since August 2017, and they have lived together in their North London home since December 2018.
They share a dog named Mick, and last year they became parents to their first child and also got married – double congratulations, guys!
Love Island 2022 begins on Monday 6th June at 9pm on ITV2 and ITV Hub. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight.
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