Love Island launches new UK and US seasons with bombshells and cast shake‑ups
The ITV2 reality show Love Island returned on 1 June 2026 for its 13th UK series, hosted by Maya Jama. Two new bombshells – 28‑year‑old footballer George Knight from Winchester and 23‑year‑old recruitment consultant Yasmin Hadlow from Broadstairs – entered the Mallorca villa and were given 24 hours to choose one male and one female contestant to dump, sparking early eliminations and fan speculation.
Meanwhile, Peacock’s Love Island USA began its eighth season on 2 June 2026 in the Mamanuca Islands, Fiji, with Ariana Madix returning as host. The cast of eleven singles includes a police officer, Sean Reifel, whose decision to leave the force before joining the show drew criticism from Bethlehem’s mayor. Additionally, contestant Vasana Montgomery was removed days before the premiere after videos surfaced showing her using a racial slur. Both versions aired nightly episodes, with the UK show running from 9 pm to around 10:05 pm and the US version releasing new episodes at 9 pm ET six nights a week.