The third season of Love Island: All Stars officially began, with a premiere episode that immediately set a different tone for the returning series. After a brief delay caused by wildfires in South Africa, the show opened with a format change that placed major decisions in the hands of viewers. Instead of the Islanders choosing their own partners, the first recoupling was determined by a public vote, a twist confirmed during the broadcast by host Maya Jama. The episode, which featured 12 returning ex-Islanders, was recapped through the show’s official airing and post-episode summaries.
Initial couples revealed in Love Island All Stars Season 3 premiere episode
Before the public vote results were announced, the Islanders took part in an icebreaker challenge designed to reveal early attractions and doubts. During the task, contestants indicated who they felt was a good match for them and who was not, creating a clear contrast between personal preferences and the outcomes later decided by viewers. When Maya Jama revealed the public’s choices at the first recoupling ceremony, several pairings placed Islanders with partners they had already ruled out, creating visible discomfort and early uncertainty within the villa.
Among the pairings, Belle Hassan was matched with Sean Stone despite having dismissed him during the challenge, while Helena Ford was coupled with Charlie Frederick after an awkward introduction earlier in the episode. Leanne Amaning was paired with Shaq Muhammad, a match complicated by past friendships and previous seasons’ history. Millie Court was coupled with Ciaran Davies, a pairing that showed cautious optimism, and Whitney Adebayo was matched with Jack Keating despite limited initial connection. The only pairing that reflected a mutually positive response before the vote was Jess Harding and Tommy Bradley, who entered the villa with prior communication already established.
Complete list of Love Island All Stars Season 3 initial couples
The initial couples revealed at the end of the premiere episode were Belle Hassan and Sean Stone, Helena Ford and Charlie Frederick, Jess Harding and Tommy Bradley, Leanne Amaning and Shaq Muhammad, Millie Court and Ciaran Davies, and Whitney Adebayo and Jack Keating. These pairings were confirmed during the January 15, 2026 broadcast of Love Island: All Stars Season 3, as presented by host Maya Jama and documented in the official episode recap. The public-led recoupling immediately positioned the season around unpredictability, setting the stage for evolving relationships as the series continues.
