There was yet another brutal dumping on Love Island 2026 following the entrance of four new bombshells.
After just a day in the main villa, newcomers Tina, Finley, Halle and Chidi all had to decide who they wanted to couple up with, leaving two Islanders single and therefore dumped from the island.
For Sam Workman and Namibia Olpherts, their time in the villa came to an abrupt end when they received a brutal text to reveal they had been dumped.
Do they have a favourite couple? What’s the one thing they’ll miss? And are Lorenzo and Jasmine back on?
Radio Times caught up with Sam and Namibia upon their return to the UK as they gave us the lowdown on their time on Love Island and delivered their verdicts on some of the couples…
How does it feel to be leaving Love Island at this stage?
Sam: “100 per cent I think it would have been nice to have a little bit longer, find that connection. You never know who’s going to walk in, and they could be your person, but I think it was kind of the right time for me. I’m happy to be out and see all my family and friends.”
Namibia: “It’s a bit 50/50. I would have liked longer in there to have more time to explore connections. Obviously, majority of our time was in a friendship couple, and I was only with Aidan for a few days, but equally, the love that I’ve come out to has been amazing, and you never know if I was in there longer, you never know what can happen in there. I might not come out to the same reception, so it’s bittersweet, but I’m still happy.”
Namibia, your friendship with Lorenzo has been spoken about in recent episodes, but we didn’t get to see a lot of it. How close were you?
Namibia: I’m really sad that none of mine and Lorenzo’s friendship got shown. We were really close. This didn’t happen until like a week in, and it was like a flip just switched in him. He would not leave me alone. He’d be taking pictures of me on his phone. If in a group setting, having a conversation, I’d get up and he’d be like, ‘Where you going, Mibs?’ Any conversation me and Lorenzo had, he would do it in Leeds accent. I think I rarely heard Lorenzo’s actual accent. We were really close.
“And one thing I’ve seen since I came out, as well, I think it was when I coupled up with Aidan, and he made a comment like, ‘Look after her’ or ‘Don’t hurt her’, which was really nice, because we had such a banter friendship. Not that I didn’t think he didn’t care about me, but I was a bit shocked by it. But yeah, we were really close.”
Your one-liners and reactions have been keeping fans entertained. Have you seen any memes of yourself? Do you have a favourite?
Namibia: “I didn’t realise how comfortable I was in there. Some of the things I was quite shocked at myself. One of my favourites is probably, ‘I’m not a parrot, because why are you asking me to keep repeating myself?’ I don’t know if I’ve got a set favourite. I feel like they were all quite funny to be fair.”
What are some of your best memories from the villa?
Sam: “I think my favourite moment in the villa was when all the lads went out on the date night. It was nice to just get out of the villa, everyone was really hyped up. We listened to some music in the car, which we didn’t get in the villa, and then had a few cocktails, met two beautiful bombshells.
“It was a great night, and that was my favourite moment in the villa.”
Namibia: “I think going in, obviously the way we went in was actually such an exciting way to go in. That was nice. I think just being with the girls, like, I built such good friendships, and it was nice to just be around them.”
What is the one thing you miss about villa life?
Sam: “I actually was always in the snack draw. There were sweets, biscuits, crisps. I was in there every night, and I’d probably get through a box of sweets a night, so it’s probably a good job I’m out! But that was a really great time for me.”
Namibia: “Just being around so many different people, like now back home, it’s just so quiet, like it doesn’t feel right. So I’ll definitely miss that.”
You both were in a few couples during your time in the villa. Do you have a favourite?
Namibia: “I mean, obviously we [Namibia and Sam] were in a friendship couple, and me and Aidan, it was different. So I don’t want to label it as a favourite, but obviously I did prefer that one, because we did have a romantic relationship, if you want to call it that.”
Sam: “I was with Robyn for probably the most amount of time. Again it was a friendship couple, but we got really close, and I was really upset when she left. They didn’t show it but I went in the beach hut and was crying to the camera. So it’s mad how close you get in a short amount of time.
“I think she was only in there for a week, and I felt this strongly about someone. So the connections that you see are very strong and very intense in such a short amount of time, but yeah, me and her were quite close.”
Read more: Robyn, Ope and Victoria reveal all – and talk Yasmin’s love triangle and All Stars
Sam, you didn’t have the best luck when it came to romance in the villa. Who would have been your ideal type to walk in?
Sam: “I think when Halle came into the villa, I told her she was my type. We had a good long chat and we had a lot in common. We just didn’t really get an opportunity to have many more chats after that.
“She definitely had a few more chats with Tommy, and that’s why their connection was stronger and she chose him. So, it would have been nice to have a few more conversations with her, but in the villa, you don’t know how long you’re going to have, you don’t know if you’re going to be able to have time to chat to people, so you’ve definitely got to take the opportunity while you can.”
We saw on Aftersun you reunited with Victoria, are you open to continuing getting to know her?
Sam: “Yeah, we’ve messaged a few times, and obviously saw her on Aftersun, and after Aftersun. So [I’d] definitely be open to getting to know her. I guess we’ve just got to see where it goes, see what life’s like after the villa.”
Would you be open to returning to the villa on Love Island All Stars?
Sam: “I’d definitely have to think about going on All Stars. It’s not something that I would jump at. I don’t think I really suit reality TV after experiencing it. Maybe I might change my mind after I’ve sort of come round it, but at this stage I probably wouldn’t go on All Stars.”
Namibia: “I probably would. I really liked the environment I was in. I think it was just fun. I like being around people, and people clearly find me funny. So, yeah, I probably would do it again. I think life is about experiences, that’s how I live my life. So, again, it’d be a different experience.”
Whose head do you think will turn in Casa Amor?
Sam: “I think that everyone’s head will turn, other than Fitzy and Kavan. I think no one else is really in a strong couple. They were all hoping bombshells would walk in, so I’m hoping Fitzy will stay loyal. I’m sure he will, and Kavan – I think those two are really strong couples.”
Namibia: “I agree, like, those are strong couples. But again, I think if Kavan’s actual type came in, he could possibly, but yeah, I think everyone else is free game.”
Samraj, Mica and Priya find themselves in a love triangle. Did you see any of this happening?
Namibia: “I kind of knew because Mica told me that she was missing him when she was at the sleepover villa, and she wanted to get to know him again as well.”
Is Mica getting to know Samraj again because she knows she’s at risk while single?
Namibia: “Obviously, Mica is my girl, so I don’t look at her as a game player. If it came out that that’s what she was doing, I would be really shocked. Obviously, I do know Samraj isn’t her normal type, but no, I don’t think she’s playing a game.
“I think, obviously, the way it’s been with Priya, like, her not telling her, I think she should tell her, but again, I know it can be difficult in there with certain situations, but I don’t think she’s doing it maliciously at all.”
Simba has said there is no more misbehaving when it comes to Angelista, could his head be turned?
Namibia: “Unfortunately, I do think Simba’s head could be turned. He is my boy, but I just have no faith in him.”
Sam: “I think he does really like Angie, and that connection is there, but he’s open to exploring other connections. So until they actually lock it off, his head could definitely turn I think.”
Kavan wants to make things exclusive with Jasmine! Do you see them going the distance? Could Jasmine be swayed by Lorenzo?
Namibia: “I don’t think she could be swayed by Lorenzo. I think he’s too nonchalant. She’s not into a guy that’s like that. I think her and Kav really suit, I would like to see them go the distance, because I think they’ve grown week by week, like it’s actually nice to see.”
Sam: “I think Jasmine’s feelings for Kavan are 100 per cent genuine. She was devastated when Kav went to the sleepover, and you could see she missed him and cared. So, that’s all genuine and she really likes him.”
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
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