Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Culture
    2. TV and Film

    These are the first set of Love Island 2018 couples and cue our new obsession

    IT BEGINS.

    Megan C. Hills's avatar
    By Megan C. Hills
    Published 4 June 2018 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    couples on love island
    (Image credit: ITV)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    IT BEGINS.

    Love Island is back and we’re already cancelling any and all plans. To our friends, lovers, family members, doctors and whoever else may be concerned, we’ve got something more important to do: namely, watch a bunch of beautiful people hook up in a villa. Well, the pilot episode of the new season just aired on ITV2 and the first set of couples have been locked in.

    Now that we’re over all that Kem drama and have met the new Love Island 2018 contestants, we’re already invested in the drama.

    Love Island 2018 Contestants

    couples on love island

    ITV
    (Image credit: ITV)

    This year’s cast members include Dani Dyer, the daughter of EastEnders’ Danny Dyer, Dr. Alex George, West End performer Samira Mighty and others. There’s another former pop star called Eyal Booker in the line up and here’s hoping there’s another anticlimactic Marcel x Blazin’ Squad reveal on the show with the rest of the villa.

    So, who shacked up with who in the first episode? Here’s the gossip…

    You may like
    • a collage of best books to read summer 2026 From Romance and Dystopian to Devastation and Remorse- these are the must reads for summer
    • Wicker husband: Alexander Skarsgård and Olivia Coleman in the new film Wicker Move Over Regular Men and AI Boyfriends, The “Wicker Husband” Has Arrived
    • White Stuff printed dress From Statement Prints to Breezy Dresses, Effortless Summer Style Starts with White Stuff

    Love Island 2018 Couples

    Niall Aslam and Kendall Rae-Knight

    couples on love island

    ITV
    (Image credit: ITV)

    It was love (or something like it) at first sight for Niall, who was the first boy to be thrown into the lion’s den. Kendall clearly liked what she saw as she stepped forwards and didn’t budge from her choice.

    Dr. Alex George and Samira Mighty

    couples on love island

    ITV
    (Image credit: ITV)

    Things got a little awkward for poor Alex and Samira, as they had a pretty rough go of it this episode. To begin with, nobody stepped forwards for the doctor when he stepped out and he wound up choosing Laura (which didn’t last long). He and Samira were then paired together, as she was last on the bench.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Wes Nelson and Laura Anderson

    couples on love island

    ITV
    (Image credit: ITV)

    In the first tense moment of the season, Laura said goodbye to Alex and stepped forwards when Wes came into the picture. The bubbly blonde and kickboxer forced Alex back to the bench when Wes chose her.

    Eyal Booker and Hayley Hughes

    couples on love island

    ITV
    (Image credit: ITV)

    It might have been his former pop idol status, but Eyal had the ladies seeing stars when he put his best foot forward. Three women - Dani, Samira and Hayley - all threw their hats in the ring, but it was Hayley who came out on top.

    Jack Finchan and Dani Dyer

    couples on love island

    ITV
    (Image credit: ITV)

    Although Samira and Dani both stepped forwards for clean-cut Jack, it was Dani who eventually won him over. Who knows, maybe he’s a low key EastEnders fan?

    And then there was Adam…

    couples on love island

    ITV
    (Image credit: ITV)

    Adam Collard arrived at the end of the episode to shake things up a bit and had the boys quaking in their flip flops. The Newcastle-based personal trainer has 24 hours to decide which of the girls he’ll be sweeping off their feet (and away from another contestant), so you’ll have to stay tuned for tonight’s episode...

    Megan C. Hills
    Megan C. Hills
    Social Links Navigation

    Megan is a freelance journalist who covers entertainment and all things lifestyle, with a particular passion for fashion, beauty, travel and Keanu Reeves stories. She has previously worked on staff for titles including Marie Claire UK, CNN Style and The Evening Standard and has written for titles such as Bustle UK, Wallpaper*, Forbes and Hong Kong Tatler. She splits her time between London and her hometown Hong Kong, where she currently lives with the love of her life - an elderly dog named Poppy - and her husband. 

    Read more
    a collage of best books to read summer 2026
    Culture From Romance and Dystopian to Devastation and Remorse- these are the must reads for summer
    Wicker husband: Alexander Skarsgård and Olivia Coleman in the new film Wicker
    Relationships Move Over Regular Men and AI Boyfriends, The “Wicker Husband” Has Arrived
     
     
    White Stuff printed dress
    Fashion From Statement Prints to Breezy Dresses, Effortless Summer Style Starts with White Stuff
    Caucasian woman caressing face of man - stock photo
    Life What The Invite Gets Right About Open Relationships, According to the People Living Them
     
     
    Latest in TV and Film
    We Finally Know What To Expect From Leighton Meester’s Character in Nobody Wants This
    TV and Film One Surprising A-Lister Is Joining the Nobody Wants This Season Three Cast
    Lily Collins in Emily in Paris
    TV and Film Emily in Paris Fans Have Been Mourning a ‘Bittersweet’ Update About Season Six
     
     
    There has been a huge update for The White Lotus season 4
    TV and Film ‘Two Weeks in August’ Has Been Dubbed the 'British White Lotus' – Here’s What We Know About It
    Helena Bonham Carter attends the 2024 BAFTAs
    TV and Film One Cast Member Has Spoken Out About Helena Bonham Carter Leaving The White Lotus
     
     
    Latest in Features
    The Beauty Digest
    Beauty The Beauty Digest: Head Spas, Coco Mademoiselle Reimagined, and What the TPO Ban Really Means
    The long hair trend and the post-bob era
    Hair I’ve Spent Two Years Growing My Bob—Turns Out, There's a Reason Long Hair Is Trending
     
     
    @nlmarilyn in transitional autumn outfits
    Fashion Goodbye Summer Dresses, I'm in Autumn Outfit Planning Mode—These 5 Are Fresh
    AW26 denim trends listing
    Fashion Autumn's Denim Trends Are Already Surfacing—Here Are the Cuts, Colours and Details to Know Now
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.