How to watch Love Island UK Season 9
Watch Love Island UK Season 9: preview
The one that started it all – and arguably the best iteration of the dating show – Love Island UK has well and truly cracked on with the first of two seasons this year.
Returning for the second time since its inception in 2020, Winter Love Island is currently taking place in South Africa in an all-new 1.2million dollar villa, hosting young, spritely twenty-somethings looking to find their type on paper. You won’t want to miss a second – we explain exactly how to watch Love Island UK online from anywhere below.
Plenty of heads are already spinning, mad moves being made, and islanders attempting to claim their territory on one another. But who is ticking all the boxes and who has given everyone the ick? Well, it’s not called ‘Friendship Island’, is it?
Zara hasn’t long left the villa, and now a boy is about to follow in her footsteps following a public vote that has left Spencer, Kai, and Aaron vulnerable. With a spark developing between Olivia and Kai, though, with a snog on the terrace to seal the deal, it’s likely the girls will be picking between either Spencer or Aaron in tonight’s episode.
From bombshell arrivals to dumpings and recoupling ceremonies, we’ve got the lowdown on everything you need to know to be up-to-date with all villa goings-on. Make sure you know how to watch Love Island UK online from anywhere with all the details on where below, or find out the latest Love Island UK news and goings on at the bottom of the page.
Watch Love Island UK Season 9 online in the UK
Love Island UK is back for its first of two seasons in 2023 with the return of the UK’s winter iteration. Season 9 launched on January 16, with new episodes airing every night at 9pm GMT on ITV2, including Saturday with its Unseen Bits special.
ITV2 is a free-to-air channel in the UK, though it requires a TV licence to watch live. You don’t, however, need one to watch catch-up TV, which you can do so via ITVX (opens in new tab), ITV’s on-demand streaming platform.
Sign up is free for an ITVX account. All you need is an email address and a UK postcode (e.g. B1A 1AA).
Abroad? Use a VPN using the instructions below to access ITVX back home
How to watch Love Island UK from anywhere
If you’re a UK citizen on vacation or working overseas, you can still watch Love Island UK just as you would at home.
While ITVX is for licence fee-paying Brits and blocks access from IP addresses outside of the UK, there’s a handy piece of software called a VPN which can change your IP address to make it look like you’re accessing streaming services from any country in the world.
For example, UK citizens in the States can subscribe to a VPN, join a UK based server and tune into all the programmes on ITVX from anywhere in the world, just like you would back home.
Step-by-step of using a VPN to unblock:
1. Choose a VPN and install it – our go-to recommendation is ExpressVPN (opens in new tab)
2. Connect to a server – for ITVX, for example, you’ll want to connect to a server based in the UK
3. Go to the live stream you wish to access – for Love Island, head to ITVX (opens in new tab).
Watch Love Island Season 9 in the US
Hulu is the casa for all Love Island UK episodes in the US, though Americans have had to wait a little longer for Season 9 to touch down. While its official Twitter account said episodes would begin dropping on January 30, it looks as though episodes have begun to trickle in from January 24, leaving the States under two weeks behind the UK broadcast.
To watch Love Island UK on Hulu you only need its on-demand plans, starting from $7.99 a month (or $14.99 a month to ditch commercials). That’s after a very generous 7-day Hulu free trial. Don’t forget you can also bundle Hulu with Disney+ for just $9.99 a month, too.
Remember, if you’re a Brit abroad, you can always port yourself back home and watch concurrent with the UK using a VPN (opens in new tab).
Watch Love Island UK Season 9 in Australia
Those in Australia are well served for all islander action. Love Island Season 9 will once again arrive daily on Channel 9’s on-demand streaming service, 9Now (opens in new tab), which is 100% free to use.
The first episode landed on January 18, with new episodes dropping daily at 6pm AEDT, meaning Aussis are just a couple of days behind the UK.
To watch Love Island UK through 9Now, all you need to do is sign up, which is free to do.
Remember, 9Now locks its content to Aussies only. So if you’re from Down Under but away from home, you can simply sign up to a VPN to appear right back at home (opens in new tab).
Watch Winter Love Island in New Zealand
Clearly the Southern Hemisphere are big fans of all the Love Island action. For Kiwis, Neon TV (opens in new tab) is your go-to service for all the cracking on in the villa.
Just a few days behind the UK broadcast, Season 9 episode began to arrive on NeonTV on January 19, with new episodes set to arrive daily at 1pm NZDT.
Neon TV costs NZ$15.99 a month (opens in new tab), or you can save by prepaying for a year upfront for $159.99.
Watch Love Island UK in Canada
Sadly, Canada no longer has an official broadcaster for Love Island UK and it hasn’t for some time. While you could once watch the latest recouplings and dumpings on CTV and Hayu, now there aren’t any options for Canadians.
Of course, if you’re an American traveling north of the border but want to access Hulu back home, you can do so with a VPN (opens in new tab) (or equally if you’re a Brit wanting to stream ITVX).
Who are the Love Island UK Season 9 couples?
With recoupling ceremonies, mad moves, and turning heads, who is currently in a couple on Love Island?
- Will and Jessie
- Aaron and Lana
- Spencer and Olivia
- Shaq and Tanya
- Kai and Samie
- Ron and Tanyel
- Tom and Ellie
Who are the Love Island UK Season 9 contestants?
Who’s in the Love Island UK villa in its ninth season?
- Tanya Manhenga is a biomedical student, 22, from Liverpool
- Kai Fagan is a PE and Science teacher, 24, from Manchester
- Lana Jenkins is a celebrity make-up artist, 25, from Luton
- Ron Hall is a financial advisor, 25, from Essex
- Anna-May Robey is a payroll administrator, 20, from Swansea*
- Will Young is a farmer, 23, from Buckinghamshire
- Tanyel Revan is a hair stylist, 26 from North London
- Shaq Muhammed is an airport security officer, 24, from London
- Olivia Hawkins is an actress and ring girl, 27, from Brighton
- Haris Namani is a TV salesman, 21, from Doncaster*
- Tom Clare is a semi-pro footballer, 23, from Burnsley
- Zara Lackenby-Brown is a property developer and model, 25, from London*
- David Salako is a money advisor, 24, from Essex*
- Jessie Wynter is a personal trainer, 26, from Sydney
- Aaron Waters is a model, 25, from Melbourne
- Ellie Spence is a business development executive, 25, from Norwich
- Spencer Wilks is an eCommerce business owner, 24, from Bournemouth
- Samie Elishi is a senior real estate agent, 22, from London
- Casey O’Gorman is a recruitment consultant, 26, from Hertfordshire
- Jordan Odofin is an HR advisor, 28, from London
*islander has been dumped from the villa
You can meet all the islanders below.
What’s happened so far in Love Island Season 9?
ITV cracked on with its first of two instalments of Love Island UK this year with the newly instated Maya Jama at the helm of Season 9’s match-making.
With an initial ten islanders introduced, this year the girls got the power to choose. Leaving the boys to sweat, the launch saw Tanya choose Shaq and Lana couple up with Ron. The undercutting began with Olivia swiping Kai from Anna-May, before Tanyel booted both aside to claim him for herself. Anna-May then chose to couple up with Haris, leaving Olivia and Will to form the final OG couple of Love Island UK Season 9.
The islanders didn’t have long to settle into villa life before Maya Jama strutted in with the first bombshell of the season. Tom Clare, a semi pro footballer from Barnsley, pulled a hattrick of pulling the girls for chats (and then some) before ultimately choosing to couple up with ring girl, Olivia, leaving farmer and TikTok extraordinaire Will single and vulnerable.
Not to worry, though, because two new bombshells – Zara and David – slow-mo’d into the villa and got grafting with two very romantic vineyard dates. While Zara chose Ron – much to Lana’s distress – David chose to wine and dine Tanya.
Leaving Ron’s head well and truly scrambled, it’s fair to say the reception of the two new bombshells was slightly frosty, but it was game on for the new arrivals to see who’s heads they could send spinning.
Meanwhile, Haris and Anna-May already called time on seeking any sort of connection, with Anna-May still eyeing up Kai. This got Tanyel’s hackles up and lead to her admitting to Kai it made her jealous and that she was definitely into him – though that didn’t stop her from pulling Ron for a chat later.
A game of beer pong saw the dealing of some home truths, putting out any flames that might have been burning between Tanya and David after a 30-second kiss gave her the ick. Zara, tasked with kissing on the cheek the islander she deemed the most two-faced, left Olivia reeling.
Tensions only continued to soar with the first recoupling ceremony. Girls once again got to pick the boys, and one islander packed his bags. While Tanyel may gradually be opening up to Kai, it was Anna-May that got in there first, leading Tanyel to steal away Ron from Lana. Tanya ultimately had the final decision on who would be dumped from the island, sending David home in favor of Shaq.
Lana was left to form a friendship couple with Will, while Olivia chose to couple up with Haris after Zara picked Tom. But things weren’t likely to stay this way for long, as two new bombshells – Love Island Australia alumni – Aaron and Jessie entered the villa, both of whom appeared in Love Island Australia.
Not their first rodeo, and clearly not seeing distance as a problem, the pair arrived in the middle of a villa pool party and immediately stuck it on a few islanders.
But it wasn’t all romantic sparks. Bubbling under the surface, Zara and Olivia finally came to blows. Having shared her first kiss with Tom, Zara was none-too-happy when Olivia pulled him for a chat, demanding she tell her what their conversation had been about. Olivia dubbed Zara a gameplayer, killing any hopes of the two getting on.
Sleeping on it, the two chose to agree to disagree and Olivia was able to distract herself when the Aussie islanders got to choose two people to take on a date each. Aaron invited Olivia along with Lana, while Jessie chose Will and Tom for the picnic date.
Finally getting some action, Will and Jessie’s connection has slowly been blossoming, sharing a lipstick-smushing first kiss, while Aaron has yet to fully set his sights on any girl in particular. Meanwhile Zara seems to be cracking open a few other doors with some day-bed flirting with Shaq and rumours she could be setting her sights on Aaron next. This, while Olivia and Tom confirm they haven’t completely closed off getting to know one another.
If that wasn’t enough to encourage Olivia, Haris – along with Anna-May – was dumped from the island following a public vote that saw the two of them (alongside Kai, Tom, Tanya, and Tanyel) vulnerable. Jessie and Aaron were then tasked with choosing who should be dumped from the island.
Not to worry, though, because two new bombshells entered the villa, right at the beginning of a recoupling ceremony no less. Before the boys could choose who they wanted to couple up with, though, new islanders Ellie and Spencer were able to take their pick. Ellie chose to couple up with Ron, dashing his and Lana’s hopes of finally reuniting, while Spencer coupled up with the recently-made-single Olivia.
With no other recoupling surprises, Aussie Aaron formed a friendship couple with Lana while Will finally got to choose Jessie and start the true Love Island experience.
Pouring salt into the wound, islanders enjoyed a romantic breakfast, leaving Lana to sneak glances at Ron and new girl, Ellie, before later having a discussion with her about her comments made during the recoupling, alluding to the fact Ron had yet to meet his ‘match’ in the villa. Ultimately, the two blonde babes were able to maintain a respectful conversation, with Lana adamant a spark between her and Ron would soon be revealed to Ellie. That won’t stop her attempting to crack on, though.
While Ron had all but promised to ‘dead’ anything further developing with Ellie, he left Lana in tears when he ultimately…didn’t. Lana called time on their relationship, making clear she would not wait around for him. Meanwhile, the Hideaway was open for the first time with the islanders voting that Shaq and Tanya should be the first to christen the place.
A treehouse date saw the end of Ron persuing Ellie as he returned with his tail between his legs to Lana, while the graft has just begun between Spencer and Olivia – though it’s fair to say there may be unfinished business between her and Tom. That’s if a night of games by the firepit are anything to go by.
There was plenty to unpack from the game, but the most explosive admission was from Tom. When asked to create his perfect girlfriend, picking one islander for the face, body, and personality, Tom chose Olivia’s face, Zara’s body, and Lana’s personality. Bearing in mind he’s coupled up with Zara, it’s fair to say this didn’t go down well. In fact, Zara called time after Tom’s muggy behavior, leaving him open to rekindle a spark with Olivia…or cop-off with Ellie on the terrace…
Let’s not forget there was another bombshell arrival. Real estate agent Samie has got a handful of the boys hot under the collar, with Ron admitting that she was his exact type on paper – brunette, tan, petite… Lana need only let her roots grow out and she’d be safe. Alas…
Kai is also keen to get to know Samie, sticking it on her in spite of Tanyel, who he’d dubbed potentially the reason other girls hadn’t pulled him for a chat due to how intimidating she is. Sounds like an excuse to us, but hey.
Samie is keeping her cards pretty close to her chest, though, chatting to Kai, Ron, and, of course, Tom. With a storm on the way for Tom, however, she might end up second thinking becoming a victim of his alluring stare.
While Tom may have thought he and Ellie were remaining close-lipped about their terrace tonguing, Ellie couldn’t help but confide in Will. A big mistake when Will’s initial response was declaring gleefully how much drama it would cause in the villa. Of course, unable to keep stumm, he told Shaq, Tanya, and Jessie, who immediately passed on the news to Zara.
Bombs went off left, right, and center – although, surprisingly, Olivia remained fairly calm, while Shaq and Aaron were quick to rush to her defence, dubbing Tom a bit of a gameplayer. Zara took a shot or two at Tom, too, for being disrespectful while they the two are still technically coupled up.
Tanyel and Kai also had beef. While Kai pulled Tanyel for a chat to apologize for speaking more to new girl Samie than her, Tanyel set him straight that she wouldn’t be anything other than first priority. In just one night, then, could that be three (Rana, Kaiyel, Tovia) well and truly dead?
Well, it certainly made the next recoupling look interesting with many of the seemingly strong couples in turmoil and three boys eyeing up Samie. Boys choice, there was plenty if disappointment around the fire pit the revival of Friendship (not love) Island.
While Will and Jessie and Shaq and Tanya remain loved up (in fact, Shaq only went and dropped the ‘L’ bomb on the terrace), Aaron and Lana and Ron and Tanyel look to be forming a friendship couple. The latter follows as Kai snuck in to couple up with Samie who didn’t exactly appear buzzing by the decision. Spencer chose to recouple up with Olivia, while Tom was left to choose between Ellie and Zara.
Considering the bust-up between him and Zara, it was hardly surprising he sent Zara packing, though whether anything is due to blossom with Ellie… Well, only time will tell when it comes to Tom.
While Lana and Tanyel were feeling pretty fed-up, the Love Island gods spoke, dropping in two hunks to get on job with. Casey and Jordan waltzed into the villa to toast mimosas with the girls, later receiving a text that announced they could take three girls of their choosing on a date.
First up for Casey was Lana, while Jordan chose Tanyel to take on a date. Olivia was in demand, chosen by both Casey and Jordan to go on dates. Casey also chose Jessie for a date, while Jordan chose Samie.
It certainly seems like Jordan might have eyes for Olivia, getting a little flustered when discussing with the rest of the boys how the dates went and who the new bombshell has his eye on. However, things have been heating up between Olivia and Kai, throwing it right back to the launch show when Liv tried to couple up with Kai before he was swiftly swiped away by Tanyel.
With the return of the Kissing Challenge giving Kai and Liv a taste for each other, it wasn’t long before they were sharing a ‘out of challenge’ smooch on the terrace.
But let’s talk about that challenge, eh? Tanya was scored as the best kisser, laying it on thick for all the boys, leaving Shaq pretty annoyed after dropping the pair had said those three little words. There was also a surprisingly long snog between Tanyel and Ron, leaving a few perfectly plucked eyebrows raised on if there could be more to it than just friendship.
Ron is all focused on Lana now though – apparently. Beating Casey to make her breakfast, he did then allow the bombshell the honors the following morning, though he seems pretty set on his intentions this time around, parking any developments with Samie.
The doorbell of the villa was ringing once again – but it wasn’t another bombshell this time. Maya Jama slow-mo’d into the villa to inform the islanders the public had been voting for their favorite boy. The three vulnerable boys were Spencer, Kai, and Aaron, with the girls left to decide who would be dumped from the villa next.
