Love Island’s popularity seemed to rise again last year, thanks to the success of the US version of the show and a jump in social media interest.
Last year, ITV told BBC Newsbeat streams on ITVX were up 9% year on year, and figures from TikTok show one million people followed Love Island’s official account in 2025.
Producers were keen to capitalise on that for the latest All Stars, which saw six American bombshells enter in their own Casa Amor villa halfway through.
Only two of them made the final, including second-place Zac who hit it off with series seven winner Millie straight away.
Love Island superfan Georgia Blue, 30, says adding the American contestants really helped bring a new energy to the format.
“I think it was just such a great idea, especially off the back of Love Island USA doing so well last year,” the content creator tells BBC Newsbeat.
“This has been one of the best series we’ve had in a long time, not just with All Stars, I think in terms of the whole UK Love Island.”
She feels viewers have gotten used to the show becoming “somewhat stale” with challenges often being repeated.
However, Georgia says it was “really nice” to have some “new surprises” this time.