As the Love Island All Stars gear up for the final tonight, it's safe to say they've had a turbulent time.
From bitter spats to brutal dumpings, bombshells, dramatic walk-out's and "clout chasing", the Islanders haven't had it smooth sailing in the South African villa. But that's what we love about the show, and now we take a look at some of the behind the scenes gossip spilt by former Love Island stars, and what they revealed about their friends in the villa.
Chatting on the Daily Mirror's Bombshell Briefing podcast, a range of different Love Island alumini, past and present shared what goes on behind the scenes, and why this year's cast are more brutal to eachother than ever.
Truth behind Marcel's break-up
We were joined by dumped islander Marcel Somerville, who exclusively revealed why he and Liv Hawkins broke up just days after being booted from the villa.
Marcel, 39, entered All Stars as an original contestant and soon discovered a connection with fellow Islander Olivia Hawkins. However, the pair were dumped after ten days in the South African villa, leaving the show together.
While the pair were rumoured to have split shortly after leaving the show, Marcel told The Mirror that both he and Olivia chose to be friends as he set out to "sort out" his personal life first. However he also admitted that the couple faced "pressure" during their time on the show.
"So after we left the villa, me and Liv got to know each other over six or seven days in total and you leave the villa together and people are expecting and hoping it's going to turn into something more but when you get back to reality - I've obviously got a lot of stuff going on, she's got a lot of stuff going on," he revealed.
"There was pressure to try and make something work but we both said, 'Let's not put pressure on our situation. Let's just be friends.' Because we are really good friends, we've got a really good bond," he added. "We spent a lot of time in there, we still talk all the time. We just decided that it was best not to put pressure on our situation. We might still meet up and go to the football but we're not going to create a situation where we're together and the pressure of that when it doesn't need to be that just yet."
As for whether they could rekindle their romance in the future, Marcel said that they'll see how it goes. "We're just seeing how things go, just because I have so much going on in my personal life. For me, it's a situation of right person, wrong time. It's a situation of wanting focus on things I want to get sorted out first before I dive into another relationship and put more pressure onto life."
Marcel also admitted in the exclusive chat that he almost quit after coming face-to-face with his ex Gabby Allen in there. The pair stayed in a relationship for 10 months after the show, however they split up after Marcel cheated on Gabby while the pair were on holiday - leaving them on frosty terms for the next eight years.
The exes were forced to reunite for the first time when the pair both ended up in the All Stars villa, creating an awkward first encounter which led Marcel to consider leaving. "Walking in, you're not expecting to see your ex, but then at the same time I was like, 'Ah it's my ex,'" he said. Marcel quickly realised they weren't on good terms after seven years, which left him a "little taken aback" - but the pair managed to get through it and sort out their differences.
Nicole's revelation on Grace and Luca
Meanwhile, season 11 runner Nicole Samuel shared some insider details on her former Love Island co-star Grace Jackson. Grace is currently in the All Star final and coupled up with season eight star Luca Bish.
After spending the summer with Grace in the villa just a few months ago, 24-year-old Nicole knows Grace well. She's noticed a real difference in her pal, and claims it's because Joey Essex isn't in there. Nicole said that Luca has brought out Grace's "fun" side, compared to when she was previously on the show.
"She's been quite fun this time, she's not arguing all the time like she was last time with Joey, so I feel like her experience is completely different this time. It's bringing out the fun side. She's not having someone jumping down her throat all the time," Nicole explained. She said Joey would always "jump in" on her at "random times" and added: "I feel like she had a lot with him. If I was her I never would have been able to handle it with the way they were like bickering."
Nicole said they weren't "major arguments" but said whenever Joey could "slip a dig in" he would - but said Grace "handled it like a boss". The former Love Islander also admitted she was shocked when Grace had coupled up with Luca and revealed: "I didn't think she would go for Luca, but they work so well, and I'm so shocked how well they get on and you can see the vibe they've got with each other, so I'm glad and I'm rooting for them to to stay together and he makes her happy."
Awkward toilet problem
Another former star spilling the beans is Ella Barnes from season 10. She revealed a behind-the-scenes secret that not many people know. The star revealed that some of the Islanders struggle with a hidden problem they don't want shared on camera: toilet issues.
Ella explained that there's a camera in the villa toilet - and it's caused some Islanders to visit the medic after struggling to use it.
"There's a camera in the toilet and you have to wear a microphone on the toilet," she said. "So when I first came in, I was like, 'Guys, I can't go to the toilet, there's literally a camera and you have to wear your microphone. But it is for safety reasons."
Breaking the rules
From moderating how much stars drink to strict smokin rules, it seems as if it's not quite the holiday we all think it is on Love Island. One Islander revealed she got herself in some hot water with producers when she was caught vaping after declaring she didn't smoke or vape.
Liberty Poole, who appeared on season seven of Love Island and Love Island All-Stars last year, exclusively told The Daily Mirror's Bombshell Briefing how she'd broken the strict rule. She shared how each Islander had to declare if they vaped. Liberty revealed: "I don't really smoke, and I don't vape, but one night, you know, when you feel like you just like need a little puff, I went out, and I just had one, but then I got told off."
This wasn't the only time the 25-year-old got herself in trouble. She was told off for speaking on their "off" days about what was going on in the villa - something that is strictly prohibited. The cast is banned from discussing villa drama on their days off, but Liberty said she couldn't help herself.
