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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Alexandra Pollard

Love Island catch-up: New Islanders arrive and three other talking points

Thank God. After several painful days trying to choose between the two "lovely ladies" who were both, inexplicably, into him, Curtis has finally made a decision. How long he and Maura will last together – given that she is the greatest Islander, and he has come up from behind to prove himself to be the worst – remains to be seen. 

And that's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what's happened lately on Love Island. After an admittedly slow start, the drama has picked up like nobody's business in the past few weeks (or, I suppose, like everybody's business, given how fast gossip spreads in the villa). 

With three new Islanders arriving in tonight's episode, here are the biggest talking points.

Anna and Jordan visit the Hideaway

Why has it taken five seasons and heaven knows how many days for any couple to actually explore the Hideaway's facilities? Does this mean that the furry handcuffs have been lying dormant this entire time? Thank goodness Anna and Jordan – who, despite being victims of a huge miscarriage of justice in Sunday night's episode, are one of the strongest couples – got the chance to have a look around. 

Maura and Amber clash

Maura and Amber have been fast friends from the start, but that very nearly crumbled after Michael's disrespectful conversation with his former flame, Amber. She, understandably, felt that none of her friends adequately stuck up for her. "I got really riled up to the point where I was gonna lose my head," she told Maura, "and everyone dispersed as if nothing has happened." "At the end of the day, the most important thin to know is I will always have your back," replied Maura, "but I'm not gonna fight people's battles for them." And then they hugged. It was perhaps the most emotionally mature resolution of the series. But I'm sure if Michael had witnessed it, he would have still yelled, "Chaldish." 

Amber and Michael (sort of) reconcile

Whilst I'm not convinced that Michael deserves either Amber or Joanna's affection, it was gratifying to see him finally almost apologising to Amber for all the hurt he's caused. "Every time you speak to me, you make us feel like a piece of s**t," said Amber in tears. Michael promptly got up and walked away, so I reached for my phone to call the police – but just in the nick of time, he returned with a tissue. 

Three new Islanders arrive

Oh my goodness, one of the new Islanders is a puppeteer! What a fun and interesting job! Oh, wait, she was making a joke. India is, in fact, a model. She's joined by Harley and, er, Greg to become the latest arrival to the villa. Tomorrow night, Greg will go on a date with Amber. Watch this space.

Catch up with our live blog of tonight's episode below

Good evening, and welcome to the live blog of day 43 – the 37th episode of Love Island
Yes, that's right – if you've not missed an episode you've now spent a solid day and a half watching beautiful people behaving fairly terribly
If you missed last night's episode, here are the biggest talking points...

Michael savagely rejected Amber

After ordering Amber to sit down, Michael turned into the ultimate ice queen and made it crystal clear to Amber that, despite her extending the olive branch to him, he has absolutely no interest in her and wants to be with Joanna. That is, despite Michael deciding to stay in the villa for two weeks seemingly pointlessly while Joanna is on the outside. It was brutal. 

Curtis finally made a choice between Maura and Francesca

Having deliberated between choosing to be with Maura or Francesca for the past few days, Curtis finally decided to go for Maura and the pair shared a kiss on the balcony. A surprising couple, but they do actually look quite cute together.

Anton and Belle got back together

While the couple’s fiery argument in the Love Island nightclub appeared to be the end of their relationship for good, Anton and Belle promptly made up and decided to get back together… much to Molly-Mae’s bafflement.

New Islanders are set to arrive in the villa

At the end of the episode, it was announced that three new "bombshells" will be entering the villa to ruffle some feathers. It’ll be two girls and a boy – and one of the girls has her eye on Ovie. She knows.

Let's just end the show now and Amber and Ovie can win and we can rename it Friend Island 
Molly-Mae's thousand yard stare just then was quite alarming
Um, how is it that no Islanders have ever used the Hideaway facilities until now?
Cutting from Anna and Jordan's lap dance to Curtis lowering his tracksuit bottoms really ruined the mood
I'm sorry to say that I wangled this Love Island personalised champagne and then it exploded all over me 
 
 
Curtis on his night with Maura: "Hot, sweaty, close." Urgh. I preferred it when he was just saying they were all lovely ladies.
Michael: I was just like, "Can you sit down there?" Well, no, you said, "Sit down."
I'm glad he didn't just tell her to stand up...
LOVE ISLAND 2019: AMBER ARGUES WITH MAURA OVER MICHAEL
 
I thought Michael was walking away from Amber crying for a second, and was about to call the police.
I'm still confused as to why this mid-noughties pop-punk star (Chris) has ended up on Love Island?
Is this the worst challenge in the history of Love Island
Have Anna and Jordan said they love each other before? While he's dressed as a dog is quite the time to say that for the first time.

Please allow the live blog a moment to load

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