The full cast for the first ever All Stars series was finally confirmed on Monday, featuring names from Georgia Harrison to Chris Taylor and Georgia Steel.
However, fans were left fuming after the full cast was revealed ahead of its January 15 launch date and complained that the line-up was ‘boring’ and ‘disappointing’.
Yet things will soon get a shake up as more Islanders are set to enter the Villa as the series progresses, with one former star spotted making her way to the show.
Season six star Sophie Piper was spotted touching down in South Africa on Sunday, having previously dropped a big hint that she’s appearing on the show.
The 25-year-old model – who is the sister of This Morning star Rochelle Humes – kept a low profile as she gathered her luggage at Cape Town International Airport alongside a female companion.
She concealed herself in a baggy black hoodie and tracksuit bottoms but flashed a glimpse of her toned abs in a crop top.
An eyewitness told MailOnline: ‘I didn’t quite spot her at first because she was flying in premium economy and I expected ITV would’ve coughed up for first class!
‘But she kept to herself and was hiding beneath her hood the whole time, probably trying not to get spotted.
‘She seemed in good spirits though and was giggling away with her pal at the airport.
‘Sophie’s such a pretty girl and she seems really sweet. I reckon she’ll have no problem coupling up with someone in the Villa.’
A TV source confirmed that Sophie is currently in talks to enter the villa during the upcoming series.
The model and medical PA from Essex first dropped a hint that she’d be appearing on the show when she followed a Love Island makeup artist on Instagram last week.
She then proceeded to share a cryptic post that read: ‘Bottoms up to 2024. The best is yet to come’, quickly disabling comments.
Appearing as a bombshell will be a change for Sophie who was an original Islander in the show’s first ever winter series in 2020.
She struggled to make any strong romantic connections, however, and after coupling up with Connor Durman, Connagh Howard and Mike Boateng she was dumped from the villa on Day 22.
In 2022, Sophie admitted her dream of having a big family is being thwarted by her fear of dating and told MailOnline that lockdown seriously hampered her chances of finding a partner.
She confessed: ‘The thought of dating… it scares me. I tend to put it off so I’m single and working, plus I’ve put the thought of dating on the back-burner since the pandemic.
‘I would love children but obviously I can’t without a boyfriend… I would love a big family, it makes all the celebrations that bit better.’
Despite Sophie’s fear of dating, she was a contestant on winter Love Island in 2020 – and says she doesn’t regret taking part.
She added: ‘When anyone ever asks me if I’m glad I did Love Island I say 100 per cent – it is not something you do twice.
‘I was going to do it a few seasons before, and I kept saying no but the South Africa series came up and I said let’s do it! It was very different to the other series in Spain, but it was so much fun.
‘It was over two years ago for me now, but I am open to doing more reality TV.
‘Everyone asked me what I was doing next, and they expect you to be on every single show after that but I’m just seeing what the future holds.’
In 2018, Rochelle, who was raised by her mum, finally met her estranged father, as well as her three half-siblings, Lili, Sophie, and Jake.
She has previously explained how Love Island star Kem Cetinay was instrumental in her family’s reunion after he persuaded Rochelle at a Christmas party to reach out to Lili, who she hadn’t seen in 23 years, even passing on her phone number.
Rochelle said it was like ‘looking in a mirror’ when she finally reunited with Lili and Sophie, who had grown up being told they were the spitting image of The Saturdays singer.
Sophie explained: ‘We did have a relationship when we were younger, but we drifted apart for a while.
‘We always loved and supported her, and it was exciting seeing her in The Saturdays – she has always been a role model to me. I wish I was a good singer but unfortunately I wasn’t blessed with the voice.
‘We do all look so alike. Even my middle sister, she gets mistaken for Rochelle and me all the time when she’s out. We should have more fun with it than I actually am.
‘Sometimes my middle sister says she’s me when people ask – she’s funny. I have gone a bit lighter than my sisters but when we all had dark hair, we could definitely pretend t be each other. It’s so nice to have sisters and we are all really close.’
Yet Sophie doubts she’ll follow in sister Rochelle’s presenting footsteps, predicting viewers will struggle to warm to her in the same way because of her Essex accent.
She said: ‘I could not ever compete with Rochelle. My voice is draining. Everyone will be like ‘no get her off.’ My sister is so well spoken whereas I’m an Essex girl and I’m like ‘yeah, come on!’ Hopefully, some people won’t mind it.’
Love Island All Stars launches Monday, January 15 at 9pm on ITV1, ITV2, ITVX & STV.