logo
Why Helena and Harry's shotgun trip to The Hideaway means Love Island's rediscovered its sex factor

Why Helena and Harry's shotgun trip to The Hideaway means Love Island's rediscovered its sex factor

Scottish Sun11-06-2025
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
CALL me a voyeur, but I'm a 40-year-old, married woman who is hot under the collar at the idea lust is back on Love Island.
The Sun told yesterday how two of this year's intake enjoyed a sleepover in the private Hideaway boudoir just 56 hours after meeting.
6
Blonde cabin crew Helena Ford enjoyed a sleepover in the Hideaway
Credit: itv
6
Semi-pro footballer Harry Cooksley is now coupled up with another Islander
Credit: itv
It's even juicier because - officially - both blonde cabin crew Helena Ford and semi-pro footballer Harry Cooksley are coupled up with other Islanders.
Of course it helps that both are cut straight from the Barbie and Ken mould, with matching abs, glowing tans and designer locks.
So when I heard from my source that the pin-up pairing had snuck away on Monday to spend the night in the private bedroom, I was gleeful.
That's not because I get my kicks watching twenty-somethings frolic in a Majorcan villa - honest, Mr Cross.
It's because it was the early sign of promise that sex might just be back on Love Island after years of celibacy.
Bold choice too far
Let me lead you astray, back to 2015 when the ITV dating series first plunged a group of youngsters into a luxury villa and encouraged them to find, ahem, love.
The series' main characters were John Lee and Hannah Elizabeth, who weren't afraid to get down to it in the communal bedroom.
Despite Michelle and Stuart, then Makosi and Anthony engaging in a public PDA on Big Brother in 2004 and 2005 respectively, such bold antics felt entirely new to TV viewers and split the nation.
But nothing prepared the pearl clutchers for what happened a year on.
The entire cast let rip, with eight couples going all the way - usually in the shared bedroom - which was all fun and games until ITV bosses took two specific editorial decisions too far.
Love Island fans spot clue islander is 'faking' claim he has never shared a bed with a girl
Beauty queen Zara Holland was stripped of her Miss GB title after having sex with Alex Bowen in the Hideaway in 2016.
The judges were said to have been particularly offended by a scene which saw her visibly enjoying the act.
Then, another late night scene showed Emma-Jane Woodham on top of Terry Walsh, above the bed covers.
It was a bold choice too far - even after the 9pm watershed - and viewers rushed to Ofcom.
That was the end of sex on Love Island as we knew it and from then on, execs took the decision to instead show a shaking bedside lamp or tangled pair of feet.
And in recent years the Instagram career-focussed cast and media trained Islanders have abstained entirely.
Abi Moores told The Sun that no one hooked up in the 2023 series until the penultimate night, when the cast are allowed to spend a night away from the cameras.
6
Dejon and Meg have also locked lips
6
Helena has a three way kiss with Conor and Harry
Only TV personality Joey Essex and his girl Jessy Potts succumbed last summer - and the only clue was a wobbling champagne bucket, as they cemented their union, artfully off shot.
But this lot don't seem to be as PR-focussed.
Last night's episode, the third of this series, presented a lapdance, finger sucking, a string of snogs and even a three-way smooch.
Tommy and Megan, Dejon and Meg, Shakira and Blu and throuple Helena, Harry and Conor have all locked lips.
And the ep teased Helena and Harry's saucy sleepover, with them sharing an afternoon kiss on the Hideaway's swing and joking they would 'wait five minutes after everyone's gone to sleep then sneak in overnight.'
Frankly, it's the green shoots of recovery the long-running series needs.
The launch drew an audience of 1.4 million across all devices, which ITV proudly reported was ITV2's biggest show this year.
But it represented a drop on last year's 1.6 million and was a far cry from its heyday when 6 million tuned in.
As the series celebrates its tenth anniversary, there's still some love left for the format - all 11 series have been streamed a whopping 2billion times to date on ITVX.
This year's up-for-it cast could prove to be the Viagra the series needs.
6
Harry and Helena were in the Hideaway boudoir just 56 hours after meeting
6
Love Island's Shakira and Blu sharing a kiss
The dating show genre has upped its game in recent years, with Rylan Clark's Dating Naked asking its cast to find love entirely in the nude.
And 12 innocents even explored popping their cherries on Channel 4's Virgin Island.
But will Helena and Harry end up regretting their private night?
Zara Holland, now 29, crown for being Love Island's most talked-about bonker after her beauty pageant scandal in 2016.
After the series, she said: 'I regret massively having sex on the show.
'If I could turn back the clock, I would.
'I know I didn't do anything illegal, I was twenty at the time, there's nothing to be ashamed of but yes, you know, it was the biggest regret.'
Montana Brown's relationship with Alex Beattie only lasted a couple of weeks when they left the villa.
And Montana, now 29 and a mum of two, came to look back on their hour-long sex sessions during the 2017 series with regret.
She said: 'In hindsight, having sex on TV wasn't the best idea. My advice to the new hopefuls is not to do it.
'If I could have done it differently, I wouldn't have had sex.
'It's all everyone wants to speak about now.'
While some regret having sex on TV just once, Kem Cetinay's remorse comes from the fact he had so much.
The 2017 series winner, now 29, spoke about his amorous stay in the villa with Amber Davies.
He said: 'Maybe I shouldn't have had as much sex as I did – maybe once or twice would have been enough.
'Now I've got a business and I've got staff, and if new recruits search for me, some of the first articles that come up will be about me having sex on TV.'
There's plenty of Islanders who still love the fact they for lusty on screen.
It's as if people wanted me to be ashamed, but I'm not going to be.
Megan Barton-Hanson
Jess Shears, now 32, romped with Dom Lever on 2017's series and she reckons hooking up in the villa helped cement their relationship.
They are now married with two children.
She said: 'I don't regret having sex on TV as such, but it's a bit strange that the whole nation knows about it.
'No one normally knows about your sexual relations but then at the end of the day if that worked for Dom and I, I'm glad that we did because I'm still with him now.'
Kady McDermott, now 29, also didn't regret her on-screen sex with boyfriend Scott Thomas in the 2016 series.
The couple even stayed together for 18 months after leaving the villa.
She said: 'I personally don't regret having sex because it was with someone I was actually with and loved.'
And Megan Barton-Hanson is another who has vocally supported pursuing a physical connection on the show after hooking up with Wes Nelson in 2018.
She said: 'There is still so much stigma around women even saying they enjoy sex, let alone doing it on national TV.
'When Wes and I were interviewed afterwards, I would always be asked if I regretted having sex on TV and if my parents were embarrassed. They didn't ask Wes.
'It's as if people wanted me to be ashamed, but I'm not going to be.'
*Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

TV copper Pc Reg Hollis helps real-life colleagues arrest shoplifter
TV copper Pc Reg Hollis helps real-life colleagues arrest shoplifter

South Wales Guardian

time24 minutes ago

  • South Wales Guardian

TV copper Pc Reg Hollis helps real-life colleagues arrest shoplifter

Actor Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in ITV series The Bill, jumped into action by sitting on the suspect's legs, after he fell from the bike, while officers handcuffed him, in the incident in Southampton, Hampshire, on Wednesday. Mohamed Diallo, 29, of Anglesea Road, Southampton, was charged with five offences of theft, to which he pleaded guilty, at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday. He was bailed to be sentenced on August 29. A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: 'In policing you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn't on The Bill for this week. 'Officers making an arrest in Southampton were aided by none other than TV's Pc Reg Hollis during an incident on Wednesday 23 July. 'The officers, from Bargate Neighbourhoods Policing Team, were in the city in the afternoon when they were alerted by staff at Co-op in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter, who attempted to make good his escape on a bicycle. 'The thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest. 'To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in The Bill, came to their aid by sitting on the suspect's legs while officers put him in cuffs. 'Long since retired from Sun Hill station – but he's still got it.' Diallo was convicted of the theft of £17.25 worth of coffee from Co-op in Ocean Way on July 23, theft of £69.90 worth of coffee and food items on July 17, and £54.50 of alcohol and coffee from the same shop on July 14. He also admitted stealing £80 of wine from Sainsbury's in Bedford Place on July 14 and £63 worth of alcohol from Sainsbury's in Redcar Street on April 22.

‘Real reason' all Love Island contestants look the same as tool used in show casting process revealed
‘Real reason' all Love Island contestants look the same as tool used in show casting process revealed

Scottish Sun

time24 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

‘Real reason' all Love Island contestants look the same as tool used in show casting process revealed

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ITV bosses have admitted that they used artificial intelligence as part of the casting process for reality series Love Island. Fans of the dating show have long accused bosses of picking copycat Islanders, including this year's Irish actress Megan Forte Clarke who was deemed a lookalike of show star Maura Higgins. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Love Island bosses have admitted that they used artificial intelligence as part of the casting process, pictured Maura Higgins Credit: Rex Features 3 Maura's lookalike Megan Forte Clarke features on this year's series Credit: ITV Irish model Maura, 34, appeared in series 5 in 2019 and has since gone on to appear in I'm a Celebrity. Now ITV has revealed automated technology has been used to help whittle down the thousands of applications. Boss Carolyn McCall said: 'We will use AI in any way we can to make what we do more efficient. Studios used it for Love Island and casting this year, and the team rated it eight out of ten.' An ITV production source said the tool was not used to make any final decisions — but that it assisted with handling audition footage. The revelation comes amid viewer outcry over the shock return of Megan, 24, to the series on Wednesday, despite her being evicted just three weeks in. The musical theatre performer lost her place in the Mallorca villa after viewers voted her the least 'favourite girl'. One fan ranted on X: 'The fact she's on my TV when I voted her out? What happened to democracy?' Another said they had lodged a complaint with Ofcom and said: 'Megan has been out of that villa for weeks and had the chance to read all of the public's opinions and it's so close to the end she's pretty much guaranteed a spot in the final.' She returned with Spanish lad Blu, who was also dumped earlier in the series. Fans are not charged to take part in voting for Love Island on ITV's dedicated mobile phone app. Love Island fans slam dumped villa boy as they spot moment his 'mask slipped' in 'nasty' rant But the voting terms and conditions state: 'The producers of the programme may in their discretion introduce an Islander seen in earlier stages of the competition who was previously evicted.' Meanwhile, broadcaster ITV has reported a 44 per cent drop in half-year pre-tax profits to £99million, down from £178million last year. Advertising revenues have fallen by seven per cent. Following swingeing cuts to its daytime shows GMB, Lorraine and Loose Women earlier this year, ITV now plans to cut an extra £15million in costs — on top of the £30million already outlined. 3 The revelation comes amid viewer outcry over Megan's show return to the series on Wednesday, despite her being evicted three weeks in Credit: Eroteme

Unforgivable star Mark Womack's forgotten soap role as he returns to screen
Unforgivable star Mark Womack's forgotten soap role as he returns to screen

Daily Mirror

time25 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Unforgivable star Mark Womack's forgotten soap role as he returns to screen

Mark Womack is back on our screens tonight in Unforgivable but he previously played a major villain in one of Britain's top soaps. Mark Womack is back on our screens tonight in Unforgivable, and will be seen alongside Anna Friel and Anna Maxwell Martin when the new drama premieres on BBC Two. The actor, 64, is no stranger to the small screen, having appeared in episodes of Judge John Deed, Vera, and Silent Witness over the years. ‌ He had a regular role on Liverpool 1 in the late 1990s, where he met and later married co-star Samantha Janus, who later found huge success as Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders, although they divorced in 2018. But Mark was also recently part of one of Britain's staple soap operas for a period of time. ‌ Throughout 2020, he appeared as DI Mark Malone on ITV's Emmerdale and turned up in the village to investigate the shooting of Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter). Over time, it became apparent that his character was corrupt and, as the boss of Will Taylor (Dean Andrews), decided to blackmail his colleague, along with Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) and Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle), into joining forces with him. He later started up an affair with Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton). When Harriet is about to get married to Will, Will decides to try framing Will for possession of drugs, but Will found out and bludgeoned his boss with a spanner. ‌ Dawn Taylor ( Olivia Bromley) then threatened to report him to the police, but the corrupt copper found out and tried to force her into a drug overdose. But his evil plan was interrupted when Harriet walked in and hit him over the head, which led to Dawn fatally shooting him. Just over two years later, Harriet herself was killed off in 2022, when she died amid the show's 50th anniversary episodes. Speaking about his character at the time, Mark said: "In a different world he would quite like Dawn, he probably thinks she is ballsy. That relationship has never been given the chance to form, and what he hates is people who betray him. ‌ "Even though there is no relationship with Dawn, in his head once someone betrays you especially in the way that she does it, she compromises everything, his future, his plans it's unforgivable." His final appearance on the show came in August 2020, and Mark has since been seen in an episode of Moving On and then became a regular in The Responder opposite Martin Freeman, Adelayo Adedayo and Shameless star Warren Brown. Unforgivable is a powerful new drama penned by the legendary Cracker and Time screenwriter Jimmy McGovern and amongst its stellar cast also features A dolescence child star Austin Haynes. The drama arrives on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Thursday 24 July, with episodes kicking off on BBC Two, from 9pm that same evening. ‌ Set in Liverpool, the production follows the lives of the Mitchell family, who have been dealing with the aftermath of grooming and sexual abuse. After serving a two-year jail sentence, Bobby Schofield, the person who committed the disturbing crimes, was released from prison. Bobby is ordered to carry out a residential rehabilitation programme upon his release, to understand through therapy what may have led him to commit such an awful crime. The series aims to understand all viewpoints and how abuse can impact every single person within a family setting. "Unforgivable examines the extensive ripple effect of abuse from multiple perspectives and how those involved can try to move forwards in the midst of the devastation," explained the BBC. Its synopsis reads: "Having served his prison sentence, Joe (Bobby Schofield) arrives at St Maura's, an institution which offers him a home and rehabilitation after his release. With the support of Katherine ( Anna Maxwell Martin), an ex-nun, Joe undertakes therapy sessions in the hope of understanding what led him to commit the abuse." The overview further states: "Simultaneously, his sister, Anna (Anna Friel), is dealing with the enormous impact that Joe's crime has had on her family - her sons, Tom (Austin Haynes) and Peter (Finn McParland), and her father, Brian (David Threlfall)."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store