We were peripherally aware of the return of Winter Love Island over the back half of 2022, but suddenly the upcoming series is dominating news and entertainment feeds and social commentary and is impossible to ignore.
The first episode hits screens this Sunday (16th of Jan) and as is tradition we’ve now been drip-fed the entire original line up, made up of the customary teeny-weeny string bikinis and six-packed lads who’ve come to be synonymous with the show.
Just like the first winter offering back in 2020 (which feels like a LIFETIME ago now, thanks to the Panny D) this years’ series is being filmed in South Africa, where it’s still poolside weather in the depths of January. But if you’re expecting a return to the sprawling, multi-level villa which saw the invention of the ‘Full English’ (the codeword, not the breakfast) and Luke Trotman’s hella romantic Disney Princess-style trail ahead of his will-you-be-my-girlfriend-proposal to Siannise Fudge (and a moment for Demi Jones’ spectacular fall on the decking, please) then you’re out of luck.
Just like the regular summer series did for 2022, the decision was taken to relocate to a shiny new luxury villa, and while it might not be quite as exciting as meeting the bright-eyed, bushy-tailed Islanders themselves, the villa will inevitably be a standout star of the series.
First look Winter Love Island 2023 villa
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This is what you call a well-kitted out kitchen, for all those apology breakfasts the boys will be making.
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These flora-festooned day beds are definitely going to see plenty of action - remember those toe-curling scenes when Maura Higgins and Tommy Fury shared one in 2018?
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This year's Islanders have got a large dedicated gym space, but we can imagine the lack of a shady place to work out might put off a few of them.
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Ladies and gentlemen, your 2023 firepit.
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The house has been completely made-over to fit the Love Island blueprint.
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Those incredible mountain views are the crown jewel of this property.
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There's plenty of shady spaces for Islanders to make up and break up - and get the previous night's gossip, obviously.
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No surprises for this one; we've all seen a Love Island bedroom before.
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A rare shot of the girls' dressing room before it inevitably ends up looking like a bomb has hit in within the first two hours.
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If this chair could talk...
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Some lucky Islanders will be treated to a night's stay in the romantic hideaway.
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Our favourite feature of the new villa, this cute treehouse sits out at the edge of the site. We'll have to wait and see what it's used for!