The third season of Love Island: All Stars started with a bang on January 15, 2026, when returning contestant Scott van-der-Sluis made an explosive entrance and immediately targeted fellow islander Sean Stone with harsh criticism. The series, which was delayed for a few days from its original January 12 start date due to wildfires near the filming location in South Africa, features a mix of fan-favorite contestants from past seasons.
In a dramatic first-night speech, Scott did not hold back his opinions. When asked by host Maya Jama which boys were “no good” for their newly coupled girls, Scott singled out Sean, who had been paired with Belle Hassan by the public vote. Scott declared, “For the end couple (Belle and Sean), I think there’s only one All Star there”. He went further, stating directly to Sean, “On your season, you were one of the worst islanders I have seen”.
The comment left the villa in a state of shock. Maya Jama covered her mouth in surprise, and other contestants gasped. Sean was visibly affected, with reports indicating he was left “really shaking” and “so angry”. He responded by asking Scott, “How many finals did you make?” to which Scott retorted, “How many shows have I been on?”. Scott later explained his bluntness to fellow islander Ciaran Davies, saying, “I was stood there in front of him and thought, I hated watching you on TV”.
Scott van-der-Sluis: A Love Island Veteran Returns
The man at the center of the drama is no stranger to the Love Island franchise. Scott van-der-Sluis, a 25-year-old former footballer from Wales, first appeared on Love Island UK series 10 in 2023. He entered as a bombshell on Day 11 and formed a notable connection with Catherine Agbaje, which was popular with viewers. However, their partnership ended during the Casa Amor twist. Scott was eventually dumped from the villa on Day 52, finishing in sixth place.
Remarkably, Scott’s Love Island journey did not end there. Just days after leaving the UK villa, he surprised fans by appearing as a bombshell on Love Island USA in 2023. His stint there was brief; after coupling up with Johnnie Olivia, they were dumped following a low public vote after about a week. Later that same year, Scott made franchise history by joining the debut season of Love Island Games, marking his third Love Island appearance across two continents in a single year. On that show, he coupled up with Courtney Boerner but was eliminated after just three days.
This All Stars appearance is therefore Scott’s fourth venture into a Love Island villa. Before entering, he described this season as his “final chapter,” telling ITV, “Love Island is home to me and I’ve always wanted to complete the full circle. After this I am truly retired, I can confidently say I will be truly retired”. He also stated he would “not hold back” during his time in the villa.
Who Are the Love Island All Stars 2026 Contestants?
This season brings together a mix of memorable islanders from various past series, all looking for another shot at love and fame. The female cast includes:
- Whitney Adebayo (Series 10): The 28-year-old was a runner-up in her original season.
- Millie Court (Series 7): The 29-year-old winner from 2021.
- Belle Hassan (Series 5): Now 27, known for an iconic confrontation with Anton Danyluk.
- Jess Harding (Series 10): A 25-year-old former winner.
- Helena Ford (Series 12): The 29-year-old flight attendant from the most recent summer season.
- Leanne Amaning (Series 6): 28 years old, originally in the villa for 18 days in 2020.
The male lineup features:
- Sean Stone (Series 11): The 26-year-old sweet shop seller finished third in 2024.
- Jack Keating (Series 8): 26-year-old son of singer Ronan Keating.
- Tommy Bradley (Series 12): The 22-year-old fan favorite from six months prior.
- Shaq Muhammad (Series 9): 27 years old, known for his past relationship with Tanya.
- Ciaran Davies (Series 11): A 23-year-old Welsh contestant.
- Charlie Frederick (Series 4): At 31, the oldest contestant this season.
On the first night, the public voted to create the initial couples: Sean with Belle, Jack with Whitney, Tommy with Jess, Shaq with Leanne, Ciaran with Millie, and Charlie with Helena. Some pairings were awkward from the start. Helena had previously tweeted about Charlie back in 2018, and Leanne chose Shaq as “no good” because she knows his ex-girlfriend.
Social Media Erupts Over “Messy” Drama
Viewers rushed to social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), to share their immediate reactions to Scott’s confrontational entrance and the fiery exchange with Sean. The moment was widely described as “messy” and provided the dramatic spark the season premiere needed.
One user captured the sentiment, writing, “Scott only been here for one minute and has already given us more drama than the whole of last season. #loveisland #LoveIslandAllStars”. Another simply declared, “Nah Scott is so messy”. The drama was a welcome surprise for many, with comments like, “FINALLY SOMETHING TO WATCH” and “He did way too much but like we needed the entertainment that episode was boring”. Even former Series 12 contestant Yasmin Pettet reacted online, posting, “THIS IS THE CHAOS I WANT”.
The humor of the situation was not lost on fans, with many making light of Scott’s extensive reality TV resume. One fan joked, “So what, this is Scottโs 5th Love Island appearance? Give him a PhD in Love Island atp #LoveIsland #allstars”. The phrase “WHACK HIM AGAIN LMAO” also trended among viewers, summarizing the playful and shocked reaction to Scott’s verbal takedown.
Behind the Tension: What Did Sean Do on His Season?
Scott’s strong dislike for Sean left many viewers, and even some fellow islanders, curious about the reason. Sean Stone originally appeared on Love Island Series 11 in 2024, where he finished in third place with his then-partner Matilda Draper. During his season, Sean was known for his sweet shop job and his tendency to use sweet-related puns while flirting.
While the specific incidents that led to Scott’s harsh judgment are not detailed in the launch episode, the comment prompted widespread discussion online. A post from the entertainment site heatworld on Facebook noted the intense reaction, stating, “Scott van-der-Sluis gunning for Sean Stone was not on our bingo card but do you know what, we were GAGGED”. The post added that the moment led many people to search for a “refresher on what Sean did during his series”.
Fallout in the Villa and What Happens Next
The immediate aftermath of the clash saw Sean visibly upset. He confessed to the cameras, “I canโt lie. Iโm pretty gutted about it, to be honest”. His partner for the night, Belle Hassan, was also taken aback, saying, “I donโt know how I feel about what just happened. Sean was really shaking. He was so angry”.
Other islanders were left to process the unexpected conflict. Shaq Muhammad speculated that Scott and Sean might have had prior “beef,” though Sean clarified he had never spoken to Scott before. Scott, meanwhile, stood by his comments, insisting to Maya Jama and the others that he was “just being honest”.
Love Island: All Stars continues nightly at 9 PM on ITV2 and the streaming service ITVX.
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