Nightmare behind the scenes of latest Love Island: All Stars: From diva ultimatums to ‘ethical points’ over age-gaps and even an ongoing divorce, insiders reveal how producers confronted an enormous battle to get the present on screens

Love Island has its mojo back thanks to the bombshell line-up on the new All Stars series.

After a drab few years which sparked fears within ITV the dating show had peaked, excitement levels among the Love Island fanbase has rocketed due to the selection of former Islanders returning for another crack at finding love.

But the process of piecing together this year’s cast has been incredibly problematic for producers, who’ve been faced with a number of big issues including ‘diva ultimatums’, age-gap concerns and even an ongoing divorce battle.

From former winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu’s hotly anticipated comeback after weeks of negotiations to ex-Blazin’ Squad singer Marcel Somerville, who’s 15 years older than the youngest contestant, still being legally married, the chance of a long-lasting romance forming like last year’s All Stars champions Molly Smith and Tom Clare is so far looking unlikely. 

Then there’s the return of Gemma Owen‘s ex-boyfriend Luca Bish, who was accused of ‘gaslighting’, ‘controlling behaviour’ and ‘bullying’, which raised over 3,500 Ofcom complaints, during his 2022 villa stint.  

But sources close to the show have revealed signing up controversial figures is all part of a big Love Island plan…

A show insider said: ‘It’s been a real rollercoaster getting the cast this year over the line.

‘Some cast members would only do the show if particular exes weren’t involved, while there was also a moral issue of putting in older Islanders who are on the verge of hitting 40, when there’s 20-somethings also in the villa.

‘Bosses thought it was worth the risk as they need this show to work, and convincing old favourites to return has given the series some much needed buzz.

‘Love Island is now a huge franchise for the channel and while the winter show was less popular among viewers, the All Stars series has so far been a huge hit. 

‘ITV are expecting the ratings to improve significantly from the summer season.’

The All Stars series, hosted by Maya Jama, kicks off on Monday where the ex-Islanders will be coupled up by the public in their new villa in Cape Town, South Africa.

And it’s already been predicted that Gabby Allen will end up back with ex-Marcel despite the former couple splitting up years ago after the father-of-one cheated. 

Here MailOnline reveals the inside story behind the contestants and why they’ve caused more than a few headaches for the casting team.

Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, 30 

MailOnline revealed last month that Ekin-Su is the shock signing this year and will be the first bombshell to enter the villa.

Ekin has appeared in a number of TV shows including Dancing On Ice, Celebrity Big Brother and the US Traitors following her Love Island win in 2022 with ex-boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti.

But the reality star’s confidence was shaken after she received a vicious backlash during her appearance on CBB last year and being cheated on by Davide left her heartbroken.

After weeks of negotiations with ITV producers, she has agreed to make a triumphant return to the show – but only on her terms.

A TV source told MailOnline: ‘Ekin was willing to go back in the villa but there’s no way she would sign up with the risk of Davide walking through the doors.

‘It was agreed in advance that she wouldn’t be faced with her ex like some of the other Islanders – she hates Davide being a part of her story and was against there being a new chapter with him in it.

‘Luckily for Ekin, Davide is also unavailable due to being in a relationship, so it doesn’t seem as though she’s received any preferential treatment.’

She’s expected to make her big entrance into the villa within the first 24 hours… 

Marcel Somerville, 39  

He found fame in boyband Blazin’ Squad as a 17-year-old and since his appearance on Love Island seven years ago, has got married and become a father.

But Marcel Somerville isn’t letting being in the last year of his 30s stop him from finding romance again as he makes his villa comeback, now estranged from his ex-wife Rebecca Vieira.

While Marcel told MailOnline he shouldn’t be ‘scrutinised’ for wanting to move on with his life, some viewers may find the 15-year age gap between him and contestant Catherine Agbaje, who’s 24, uncomfortable, especially given the sexual nature of the games and challenges Islander are forced to play.

Marcel’s marriage to Rebecca, with whom he shares son Roman, ended in March last year after she publicly apologised for cheating on him with a US pop star. 

Speaking about his wife’s infidelity and breakdown of their marriage, Marcel said: ‘People make mistakes, and those choices lead to other people being at a crossroads.

‘I was at a crossroads where I could choose to stay in a relationship that I was that I wasn’t happy in, or I could choose to move on and like try and live my life.

‘And then when you move on and try and live your life, other opportunities and other things arise and like this was just something that happened.’

A new romance could be on the cards for Marcel but with a very familiar face… 

Gabby Allen, 31  

Gabby Allen fell for Marcel in front of the nation with the pair going onto date outside the TV villa.

The Liverpudlian’s world came crashing down when Marcel cheated on her while they were on a couples’ holiday together in Mexico, with Gabby calling the betrayal this week ‘savage.’

Not only did Marcel bed another woman as him and Gabby were on a romantic break, he even arranged to meet up with the Canadian in her home country and invited her to spend time with him back in London.

The scandal became front-page news, with Gabby left humiliated and her confidence at an all-time low.

Despite her previous heartbreak, Gabby sympathies with Marcel and says perhaps the pair can even bond on Love Island over their respective traumas.

As Gabby and Marcel have both hinted at a shock romantic reconciliation, viewers may chose to pair them together during the show’s first coupling up ceremony after the public were given voting power.

Gabby said: ‘I would actually just like to have a conversation with him and hopefully put it all behind us and have some sort of friendship. We know each other very well… we had such an experience with each other last time.

‘There’s no reason why we shouldn’t take the positives from it and hopefully be mates of some sort. I am trying to be open-minded and keep my options open.’

Luca Bish, 25  

Gemma Owen’s ex-boyfriend Luca Bish is returning to Love Island after finishing runner-up on the show in 2022.

But the decision to bring him back is a controversial one after the fishmonger was accused of gaslighting and bullying during his villa stint.

Viewers complained to Ofcom after Luca ‘lost his temper’ at Gemma when footage was shown of her supposedly flirting with Billy Brown in Casa Amor.

Luca’s family even released a statement apologising for his ‘insensitive reaction’ saying ‘we don’t condone his behaviour.’

They said: ‘Last night was not a reflection of the boy we all know and love at home.’

Separately, Luca was branded a ‘bully’ by audiences for targeting Strictly star Tasha Ghouri during the show’s Snog, Marry, Pie game.

Tasha later said she felt ‘backed into a corner’ and ‘ready to walk out’ as a result of Luca’s unkind comments.

TV regulator Ofcom received 5,000 complaints over the duration of the series, the majority in response to the bad behaviour displayed by the male Islanders.

Kaz Crossley, 29  

In 2021, footage of Kaz Crossley snorting a suspicious white powder was exposed by The Sun.

The Love Island: All Stars contestant was filmed bending over a side table where chunky lines of powder appeared to be laid out in super-strict Dubai during the Covid lockdown.

As a result of the clip, Kaz was jailed in Dubai on suspicion of drug offences after being detained at Abu Dhabi airport in transit for a flight to Thailand.

The footage was allegedly filmed without Kaz’s knowledge and leaked to the press by an ex-boyfriend.

Following the ordeal, Kaz spoke out about how her mental health had severely deteriorated over being trolled online every day.

Speaking to MailOnline about knowing her worth ahead of her second villa stint, Kaz said: ‘When you stay with someone who hasn’t got good intentions for you and doesn’t respect you, that’s the bare minimum, you have to be with someone who respects and wants the best for you.

‘The fact I was allowing myself to stay in certain situations that only reflected on me and what I thought I deserved but now I’m not going to settle for less.’

• Love Island: All Stars returns Monday 13th January at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX