Josh and Steph have become the latest couple to be booted off Love Island. The pair left the villa on last night's show after receiving the fewest number of votes from the public.
Check out the pair's first interview since leaving the show.
JOSH
How do you feel about leaving the villa?
It’s a mixture of emotions really. Obviously it’s upsetting to be leaving, you connect with people and make friends for life. I had only been in there a week, but I was really happy there. I wasn’t fake, I was honest with my feelings. I was completely myself. I’ll definitely keep in touch with everyone.
Is there anything you would have done differently?
I think at the start, I would not have grafted so hard on Georgia. All the other Islanders pick up on it so they back away when they see you grafting someone so hard. Apart from that I dealt with things quite well.
Did you at any point think Georgia would choose you?
I think the first couple of days, I thought it could go somewhere. But then when I thought about it more, it felt like they were still into each other. Seeing them together, they were really attracted to each other. Fair play to them, I’m very happy for them.
Who did you click with the most?
The girls I clicked with Alexandra and Kaz – we’re just so similar and we’ve already spoken about what we’ll do on the outside. Alexandra and I had good chemistry. The same humour, we like the same things, but she was coupled up so I couldn’t do anything about it. I connected with all the boys, but if I had to choose it would be Josh and New Jack. Josh was like a brother and new Jack was like a twin. Never a dull moment.
Is there anyone you think is playing a game?
I think everyone is actually really happy in their couple so I don’t think anyone is playing a game.
Which Islander was most different to your expectations?
Alex was very different to what I thought he’d be – he’s so jokes. He doesn’t mean to be funny but he is.
You and Steph started as a friendship couple – do you think you might pursue things on the outside?
I don’t think we will pursue things, we realised quite quickly that it was just friends. Obviously due to the situation, it would have been silly not to try, so we did. But it wasn’t meant to be. We both said we wouldn’t force anything and we would be completely truthful. As soon as we knew it was a public vote, I knew straightaway we would leave. It made sense as we were the only non-compatible couple. I’m not too disheartened.
What are your favourite memories?
Just being silly – all the inside jokes. There’s no animosity between anyone. Everyone gets on so well.
Which couple would you tip to be engaged by this time next year?
The obvious answer is Jack and Dani but I’d like to say Wes and Megan. The way they are around each other, I haven’t seen anything like that for a long time. The way they look at each other. I can understand why people gave her a hard time in the beginning, because she was jumping ship a lot, but she has calmed down a lot and settled and I don’t have a bad thing to say about her.
Given the chance would you go back in?
Yeah, a 1000%. I went in at a hard time. I was Georgia’s type down to a T but I don’t think any boy walking into that situation would change her mind. Maybe if I had gone in earlier me and Alexandra could have coupled up. We’ll definitely meet up on the outside, and if it didn’t work out with Alex, I’d definitely pursue it.
What surprised you the most about doing the show?
Going in and settling in as quickly as I did. I thought after everything that had happened there would be a lot of animosity towards whoever went in. Literally within a day, I felt like part of the family. When I left everyone said to me that out of everyone that had come and gone over the course, we fitted in best. I’m just gutted I didn’t find love.
STEPH
How do you feel about leaving the villa?
Mixed emotions. I’m obviously gutted that I was only in there for a week, I’d love to have been in there longer and had more of a chance to find someone. Having said that, Josh and I were the only couple you weren’t romantically matched, so I do think it was our time to go and it wouldn’t have been fair if we were staying in over a romantic couple this close to the final. As upset as I am to be leaving I’m really happy that I just had a great week and made great friends out of it. I definitely had the gut feeling that no one else was coming in at that point, so I knew that whoever was in there, I would have to try and find a romantic connection with, or if not just accept that I would be in a friendship couple. I didn’t have the security of knowing others were coming in, so I knew I was on borrowed time.
Is there anything you would have done differently?
Not a thing, to be honest. Maybe had I have been a lot more forward with Jack, I might have been coupled up with him over Laura, but that’s not me as a person. I wanted to make sure him and original Laura had their issues sorted before I dived in, out of respect for her. I’m glad I did that because she’s now a good friend of mine. I never wanted to step on anyone else’s toes. If I had played the game a bit more then maybe I’d still be there. I was always 100% true to myself, so no regrets in that sense.
Did you at any point think Sam would choose you?
I did genuinely think he was going to pick me. I asked him a lot if I needed to worry about Georgia, but he assured me that his situation was self-inflicted and that he could have left and there was a reason why he didn’t. Part of me was wary as I wondered that if we coupled up that I would always be looking over my shoulder but I did genuinely think up until the recoupling that he would pick me.
Who did you click with the most?
My besties were Dani, Alexandra and original Laura. They took me under their wing. They were the first girls I would go looking for if I needed to vent. Original Jack, Alex, Josh and Wes were my boys. They were so friendly. They were always picking me up and giving me hugs and cuddles.
Is there anyone you think is playing a game?
I don’t think anyone is playing a game. They are all genuine. I was surprised at how quickly Jack and Laura became so romantic. I don’t necessarily think that’s a game, I just think they’re getting caught up in the moment. For me that was the only one that I was a bit shocked at. I had thought that Sam was more into Georgia than she was into him and when I first went in, I didn’t think it was genuine because they hadn’t left together. Having said that, their decision to leave proves that maybe it was genuine as it was a big risk and they shortened an amazing experience. If it wasn’t genuine they wouldn’t have done it.
You and Josh started as a friendship couple – do you think you might pursue things on the outside?
I don’t think we will ever be anything more than just good friends. He’s a lovely guy but we are just different people. The more that I got to know him, the more I realised we are in two completely different worlds. We’ll be friends for a long time but there will never be anything romantic there.
What are your favourite memories?
Getting ready with the girls, having a singsong and getting ready together. I loved watching the boys being silly. I loved getting to see everyone’s humour.
Which couple would you tip to be engaged by this time next year?
Of course it would be Jack and Dani. 100% they will get married and have kids, they were made for each other. I definitely think they will win. They have been together from the start.
Given the chance would you go back in?
In a heartbeat. I loved every single second. Even when I was crying my eyes out. It was all part of the experience. I knew it wouldn’t be plain sailing. Nothing prepares you for it but it was the best experience of my life.
What surprised you the most about doing the show?
How intense things are and how quickly things move. You see it happen on the outside but you’re not emotionally attached so you don’t realise how drastically things change. When you see it happen before your eyes, it’s such heightened reality so every single emotion is times a million.
Megan was much sweeter than I thought she would be. She’s very kind hearted and much more good-natured than I expected. I was also surprised by original Laura – I bonded with her much more than I thought I would. They are my two main surprises.
Love Island continues tonight on 3e from 9pm.
