Love Island Season 8 is widely regarded as one of the best seasons in the history of the hit British dating reality show. Packed with dramatic recouplings, unforgettable contestants, explosive Casa Amor moments, and one of the most iconic winning couples the franchise has ever produced, Season 8 kept viewers glued to their screens throughout the summer of 2022.
From Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu’s memorable terrace crawl to Davide Sanclimenti’s legendary one-liners, the season delivered countless viral moments that continue to be discussed years later. The cast quickly became fan favorites, with many contestants building successful careers as influencers, television personalities, brand ambassadors, and entrepreneurs after leaving the villa.
If you’re looking for a complete guide to the Love Island Season 8 cast, including original Islanders, bombshells, Casa Amor contestants, final couples, and where they are now, you’ve come to the right place.
Love Island Season 8 at a Glance
Before diving into the contestants, here’s a quick overview of the season:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Season | Love Island UK Season 8 |
| Premiere Date | June 6, 2022 |
| Finale Date | August 1, 2022 |
| Location | Mallorca, Spain |
| Host | Laura Whitmore |
| Narrator | Iain Stirling |
| Winning Couple | Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti |
| Runner-Up Couple | Gemma Owen and Luca Bish |
| Episodes | 58+ |
Season 8 was praised by fans for bringing back the unpredictability and drama that had been missing from some previous installments. The cast’s chemistry, memorable personalities, and authentic relationships helped the season become one of the highest-rated in recent years.
Who Won Love Island Season 8?
The winners of Love Island Season 8 were Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti.
Their relationship was anything but straightforward. They experienced dramatic arguments, breakups, reconciliations, and plenty of unforgettable moments throughout their journey in the villa. Despite their ups and downs, viewers were captivated by their chemistry and humor.
Fans affectionately nicknamed the pair “Mum and Dad of the Villa” due to their entertaining dynamic and strong personalities. Their relationship became one of the defining storylines of the entire season.
During the grand finale, Ekin-Su and Davide received the highest percentage of public votes, securing the £50,000 prize and becoming Love Island champions.
Their victory remains one of the most celebrated wins in the show’s history.
Original Female Islanders
Gemma Owen
At just 19 years old, Gemma Owen entered the villa as one of the youngest contestants in Season 8.
The daughter of former England footballer Michael Owen, Gemma quickly attracted attention due to her famous family background. However, she soon established herself as a strong personality in her own right.
Before appearing on Love Island, Gemma worked as an international dressage rider and had already built a successful career in equestrian sports.
Throughout the season, she developed a relationship with Luca Bish that ultimately carried them all the way to the final.
Key Highlights:
- Professional dressage rider
- Daughter of football legend Michael Owen
- Finished as runner-up
- One of the most talked-about Islanders of the season
Paige Thorne
Paige Thorne entered the villa as a paramedic from Wales.
Known for her warm personality and relatable nature, Paige quickly became a fan favorite. Her early relationship with Jacques O’Neill generated significant attention and became one of the season’s major storylines.
Following Jacques’ departure, Paige formed a connection with returning Islander Adam Collard.
Her emotional journey and genuine personality helped her remain one of the most popular contestants throughout the series.
Key Highlights:
- Qualified paramedic
- Fan-favorite contestant
- Formed relationships with Jacques and Adam
- Reached the final stages of the competition
Tasha Ghouri
Tasha Ghouri made history as Love Island’s first deaf contestant.
As a model and dancer, Tasha inspired viewers through her openness about living with a cochlear implant and navigating life with hearing loss.
Her relationship with Andrew Le Page experienced several challenges, particularly during Casa Amor, but the pair eventually reunited and became one of the strongest couples in the villa.
Their love story resonated with viewers and helped them secure a place in the final.
Key Highlights:
- First deaf contestant in Love Island history
- Professional model and dancer
- Advocated for disability awareness
- Finalist alongside Andrew Le Page
Indiyah Polack
Indiyah Polack entered the villa as a hotel waitress and immediately impressed viewers with her confidence, humor, and authenticity.
Her relationship journey initially began with Ikenna Ekwonna before evolving into one of the strongest connections of the season with Dami Hope.
Indiyah’s witty one-liners and fashionable style made her a standout contestant.
Many fans considered her one of the most entertaining Islanders of Season 8.
Key Highlights:
- Fashion-forward fan favorite
- Strong relationship with Dami Hope
- Finalist couple
- One of the season’s most memorable personalities
Amber Beckford
Amber Beckford was among the original female Islanders and initially formed a connection with Dami Hope.
Although her time in the villa was shorter than some of her fellow contestants, Amber remained a memorable member of the cast.
Following her departure, she continued building a social media presence and pursuing various opportunities.
Afia Tonkmor
Afia Tonkmor entered the villa as one of the earliest contestants but faced challenges in finding a strong romantic connection.
Despite her relatively brief stay, Afia left a positive impression on viewers through her upbeat attitude and confidence.
Original Male Islanders
Luca Bish
Luca Bish quickly became one of the most recognizable contestants of Season 8.
Working as a fishmonger before entering the villa, Luca’s humorous personality and straightforward approach made him a major character throughout the season.
His relationship with Gemma Owen became one of the longest-lasting partnerships in the villa and ultimately helped them finish as runners-up.
Key Highlights:
- Professional fishmonger
- Runner-up alongside Gemma Owen
- Major personality throughout the season
- One of the most talked-about Islanders
Davide Sanclimenti
Davide Sanclimenti entered the villa and immediately attracted attention thanks to his confidence, charisma, and unforgettable accent.
The Italian entrepreneur delivered some of the season’s most iconic quotes and became a fan favorite almost instantly.
His rollercoaster relationship with Ekin-Su generated countless viral moments and ultimately resulted in a winning finish.
Many fans consider Davide one of the greatest male contestants in Love Island history.
Key Highlights:
- Italian entrepreneur
- Winner of Season 8
- Known for iconic one-liners
- Half of one of Love Island’s most beloved couples
Andrew Le Page
Andrew Le Page entered the villa as a real estate agent from Guernsey.
His relationship with Tasha Ghouri became one of the season’s central storylines, especially during the dramatic Casa Amor twist.
Despite several setbacks, Andrew and Tasha ultimately proved their compatibility and reached the final together.
Their journey showcased resilience, growth, and genuine affection.
Dami Hope
Dami Hope brought energy, humor, and authenticity to the villa.
Originally paired with Amber Beckford, Dami later formed a stronger connection with Indiyah Polack.
The pair quickly became one of the season’s favorite couples and maintained strong support from viewers throughout the competition.
Dami’s playful personality helped make him one of the standout male Islanders.
Ikenna Ekwonna
Ikenna Ekwonna began the season paired with Indiyah Polack.
Although their relationship ultimately didn’t develop into a lasting romance, Ikenna’s calm and relaxed personality earned him a loyal fanbase.
His departure marked an important turning point in Indiyah’s journey toward finding a stronger connection with Dami Hope.
Liam Llewellyn
Liam Llewellyn became one of the earliest contestants to leave the villa.
His decision to exit the competition voluntarily surprised viewers and created one of the season’s first major storylines.
Although his time on the show was brief, Liam’s departure remains a memorable moment in Season 8 history.
The Arrival of the Bombshells
One of the reasons Love Island Season 8 became so successful was its incredible lineup of bombshell contestants.
These late arrivals consistently disrupted existing relationships, introduced fresh drama, and changed the course of the competition.
Some bombshells made such a significant impact that they became more famous than many original Islanders.
The most notable bombshell arrivals included:
- Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu
- Jay Younger
- Danica Taylor
- Antigoni Buxton
- Charlie Radnedge
- Adam Collard
- Billy Brown
- Deji Adeniyi
- Josh Le Grove
- Jamie Allen
Among them, Ekin-Su undoubtedly had the biggest impact, eventually becoming the season’s winner.
Bombshell Contestants Who Changed the Season
Love Island wouldn’t be the same without bombshell arrivals, and Season 8 featured some of the most impactful bombshells in the show’s history.
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu
Few contestants have entered the villa with as much confidence and impact as Ekin-Su.
The Turkish actress arrived early in the season and immediately turned heads. Her decision to pursue Jay Younger while coupled with Davide created one of the first major controversies of the season.
The now-famous terrace crawl scene became one of the most iconic moments in Love Island history.
Despite numerous ups and downs, Ekin-Su eventually reunited with Davide and went on to win the season.
Jay Younger
Jay Younger entered the villa as an investment analyst and immediately became a central figure in the drama.
His connection with Ekin-Su led to one of the season’s most memorable love triangles. Jay later explored relationships with other Islanders but never managed to establish a long-term connection.
Danica Taylor
Danica Taylor had one of the toughest journeys in the villa.
Despite facing multiple rejections and recoupling challenges, she remained positive and resilient throughout her time on the show.
Her determination earned her significant respect from fans.
Antigoni Buxton
Singer-songwriter Antigoni Buxton brought energy and positivity to the villa.
Although she struggled to find a lasting romantic connection, her friendly personality made her popular among both contestants and viewers.
Charlie Radnedge
Charlie entered as a businessman hoping to shake up existing relationships.
While his time in the villa was relatively short, he contributed to several important storylines during his stay.
Adam Collard
Adam Collard’s surprise return was one of the biggest twists of the season.
Having previously appeared on Season 4, Adam became the first former contestant to return as a bombshell.
His arrival dramatically impacted Paige Thorne’s journey and generated widespread discussion among fans.
Billy Brown
Billy Brown became known for his playful personality and friendship with several Islanders.
His interactions during Casa Amor contributed to some of the season’s most memorable moments.
Deji Adeniyi
Deji arrived during Casa Amor and quickly impressed viewers with his confidence and humor.
Although he ultimately didn’t find lasting love in the villa, he remained a fan favorite.
Josh Le Grove
Josh entered late in the season but managed to create several memorable moments before his departure.
Jamie Allen
Professional footballer Jamie Allen arrived during the final weeks of the competition and developed a connection with Danica Taylor.
Although their romance didn’t continue long after the show, Jamie helped Danica finally find a meaningful villa connection.
Casa Amor Contestants
Casa Amor once again delivered heartbreak, drama, and unforgettable television.
The twist tested existing relationships and created several major storylines that shaped the remainder of the season.
Female Casa Amor Contestants
The female Casa Amor lineup included:
- Coco Lodge
- Summer Botwe
- Chyna Mills
- Mollie Salmon
- Cheyanne Kerr
- Jazmine Nichol
- Nathalia Campos
- Lacey Edwards
Several of these contestants played key roles in exposing secrets and testing relationships.
Male Casa Amor Contestants
The male Casa Amor lineup included:
- George Tasker
- Samuel Agbiji
- Josh Samuel Le Grove
- Jack Keating
- Billy Brown
- Deji Adeniyi
The arrival of these contestants challenged many existing couples and created some of the season’s most dramatic episodes.
Love Island Season 8 Final Couples
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti
Final Position: Winners
Ekin-Su and Davide’s journey was anything but smooth.
They experienced arguments, betrayals, reconciliations, and countless memorable moments before ultimately winning the public vote.
Their chemistry and entertainment value made them one of the most beloved couples in Love Island history.
Gemma Owen and Luca Bish
Final Position: Runner-Up
Gemma and Luca remained one of the strongest couples throughout the season.
Despite facing occasional challenges, they consistently demonstrated loyalty and commitment.
Their stable relationship helped them secure second place in the finale.
Indiyah Polack and Dami Hope
Final Position: Third Place
Indiyah and Dami became fan favorites thanks to their humor, chemistry, and genuine affection.
Although Casa Amor created temporary tension, they successfully rebuilt their relationship and reached the final.
Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page
Final Position: Fourth Place
Tasha and Andrew experienced one of the most emotional journeys of the season.
Their ability to overcome setbacks and remain committed to one another resonated strongly with viewers.
Where Are the Love Island Season 8 Cast Now? (2026 Update)
Several years after leaving the villa, many Season 8 contestants continue to enjoy successful careers.
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu
Following her victory, Ekin-Su expanded her television career, secured major brand partnerships, and remained one of the most recognizable Love Island stars.
Her popularity has extended well beyond reality television.
Davide Sanclimenti
Davide leveraged his Love Island fame into business opportunities, media appearances, and influencer partnerships.
His charismatic personality continues to attract a large audience online.
Gemma Owen
Gemma has continued building her personal brand while maintaining involvement in equestrian sports and fashion-related ventures.
She remains one of the most-followed contestants from the season.
Luca Bish
Luca successfully transitioned into influencer work and various media collaborations following his appearance on the show.
Indiyah Polack
Indiyah has emerged as one of the biggest success stories from Season 8.
She has worked extensively in fashion, beauty, and broadcasting, becoming a respected media personality.
Dami Hope
Dami continues to maintain a strong social media presence and frequently collaborates with fashion and lifestyle brands.
Tasha Ghouri
Tasha has enjoyed a highly successful modeling career since leaving the villa.
She has become a prominent advocate for disability awareness and representation within the fashion industry.
Andrew Le Page
Andrew remains active on social media and continues to work on various brand partnerships and public appearances.
Most Popular Love Island Season 8 Contestants
1. Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu
Ekin-Su’s popularity extends far beyond Love Island, making her arguably the most recognizable contestant from Season 8.
2. Davide Sanclimenti
Davide’s humor and memorable quotes helped him become one of the season’s biggest stars.
3. Gemma Owen
Gemma’s popularity remains strong thanks to her television exposure and social media presence.
4. Indiyah Polack
Indiyah’s fashion influence and broadcasting work have significantly expanded her audience.
5. Tasha Ghouri
Tasha continues to inspire fans through her advocacy and professional achievements.
Most Memorable Love Island Season 8 Moments
The Terrace Crawl
Ekin-Su secretly meeting Jay on the terrace became one of the most iconic scenes in Love Island history.
Casa Amor Chaos
Casa Amor once again tested relationships and created dramatic confrontations upon contestants’ return to the main villa.
Movie Night
Movie Night exposed hidden actions and conversations, creating tension among multiple couples.
Adam Collard’s Return
The unexpected return of a former contestant shocked both Islanders and viewers.
The Final Declaration of Love
The emotional speeches delivered by finalists provided a fitting conclusion to an unforgettable season.
Love Island Season 8 Cast Instagram Guide
Many viewers continue to follow contestants on social media years after the show ended.
| Contestant | Known For |
|---|---|
| Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu | Winner, actress |
| Davide Sanclimenti | Winner, entrepreneur |
| Gemma Owen | Equestrian athlete |
| Luca Bish | Runner-up |
| Indiyah Polack | Fashion and media personality |
| Dami Hope | Influencer |
| Tasha Ghouri | Model and advocate |
| Andrew Le Page | Reality TV personality |
| Paige Thorne | Paramedic turned influencer |
| Danica Taylor | Dancer and influencer |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti won Love Island UK Season 8.
Gemma Owen and Luca Bish finished as runners-up.
The final four couples were:
1. Ekin-Su and Davide
2. Gemma and Luca
3. Indiyah and Dami
4. Tasha and Andrew
Season 8 is widely considered one of the best seasons due to its memorable contestants, entertaining drama, strong relationships, and iconic moments.
The season was filmed in Mallorca, Spain.
While opinions differ, Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu is often regarded as the breakout star of the season.
Final Thoughts
Love Island Season 8 delivered everything fans could want from a reality dating show: compelling contestants, dramatic twists, genuine romances, and unforgettable moments.
The cast’s personalities and relationships helped create one of the franchise’s most successful and memorable seasons. Years later, fans still discuss the iconic moments, favorite couples, and standout contestants that made Season 8 special.
Whether you’re revisiting the season or discovering it for the first time, the Love Island Season 8 cast remains one of the strongest lineups the show has ever assembled.
From Ekin-Su and Davide’s unforgettable romance to the friendships, rivalries, and emotional journeys that unfolded throughout the summer, Season 8 cemented its place as a modern Love Island classic.