LOVE Island series 11 kicked off with a bang on Monday night with the show’s biggest ratings in two years.
As Maya Jama welcomed the first batch of islanders into the villa – and delivered a killer twist with the introduction of Joey Essex as the show’s celebrity bombshell – millions flocked to see what went down.
The launch show peaked with 2.2million people watching across all devices, keeping an average of 1.9million throughout the 90-minute premiere run time.
This is the show’s highest ratings since Summer 2022.
The series also had a 36% share of the 16-34 age group, with 400,000 people within this frame tuning in – the highest audience of the day in this demographic.
Love Island is continuing to dominate as the biggest reality show from the UK in the past decade.
Across the entire series, and its affiliate shows like Love Island Games, Love Island All Stars and Love Island: Aftersun, the show has been watched a staggering two billion times.
It seems there’s no sign of slowing down for the show either, with bosses pulling out all the stops to make this the best series yet.
On top of introducing Joey Essex to the series, the villa was rocked on Tuesday night by the first dumping – just 24 hours after the show started.
Joey was given just 24 hours to pick a girl to couple up with, as Love Island bosses helped move things along with a game of dares that allowed him to snog three of the girls.
He eventually picked Liverpudlian lass Samantha Kenny, who he admitted he had flirted the most with.
However, in a brutal twist, Sam Taylor, who she was initially coupled up with, was immediately dumped from the villa.
Joey was left with his head in his hands as he realised what he’d done.
Fans were left furious by the decision, insisting that Joey had chosen the wrong person and the wrong guy had gone home.
With the show only two days in, it’s still anyone’s game as romances begin to take shape.
Follow our live coverage of Love Island which continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2.
Love Island line-up 2024
Love Island is back on the box with a brand new batch of sexy islanders all looking for love this summer.
The Girls
- Patsy Field – The Sun revealed how Love Island had signed stunning Patsy Field, who is an Influencer with a disability.
- Samantha Kenny – Liverpool lass Samantha Kenny is a 27-year-old works in a beauty salon as a make-up artist.
- Mimii Ngulube – Student nurse Mimii Ngulube has swapped Portsmouth for Majorca.
- Jess White – Shop manager Jess White hails from Stockport.
- Harriett Blackmore – Harriet Blackmore is good pals with YouTuber Saffron Barker.
- Nicole Samuel – Account manager and former champion dancer Nicole Samuel is a 2024 Islander.
The boys
- Joey Essex– Towie legend and reality star OG Joey Essex was a surprise bombshell.
- Ciaran Davies – Welsh rugby hunk Ciaran Davies is in the plush villa.
- Sean Stone – Sean Stone runs a sweet firm and is hoping he is just as sweet with the ladies.
- Munveer Jabbal – Munveer Jabbal is the oldest contestant in the villa this year at 30-years-old.
- Ayo Odukoya – Meet Ayo Odukoya who is a footballer and former model.
- Ronnie Vint – The Sun revealed how Ronnie Vint – who is best mates with Olivia Attwood’s hubby Bradley Dack – is in the villa this summer.
Dumped:
- Sam Taylor – Hairdresser Sam Taylor was first to go after Joey Essex stole his girl.
