family visits love island

Love Island stars meet the families as one sibling offers 'choice words' in reunion

The Islanders will reunite with their family and friends on the next episode of Love Island, with their visits coming shortly before the final of the latest series which is set to air tomorrow evening

• 16:48, 12 Mar 2023
• Updated 17:04, 12 Mar 2023

There will be some special visitors in the villa on tonight's Love Island , as the remaining Islanders are reunited with their family and friends ahead of the upcoming final.

The latest series of the popular ITV2 dating show is drawing to a close, which means it's now time for the Islanders to meet their partner's loved ones before heading home.

The remaining couples will be shown catching up with the surprise guests this evening, ahead of one pair being dumped from the villa in South Africa later in the episode.

The reunions - which came ahead of the final tomorrow night (March 13) - have been teased in first-look teasers for the episode which have been released this weekend.

Ron Hall , 25, and Lana Jenkins , 25, are the first to receive their visitors. Ron reunites with his dad Rodney and friend Harry, whilst Lana is visited by her mum Rachel and friend Rebecca.

Upon the two families meeting, Ron's dad says to his son and Lana: "You make a lovely couple." The feeling is shared by Lana's mum who agrees, saying: "They do, don't they."

And Islander Ron seems keen to know Rachel's opinion on him, asking Lana's mum after meeting her: "Any hesitations about me, what's the impression? Be honest, I don't mind."

Tanya Manhenga , 23, and Shaq Muhammad , 24, are also visited by their loved ones. She reunites with her mum Polite and her aunt Cynthia, whilst Shaq is visited by his sister Tahira and friend Levi.

Tanya’s Auntie Cynthia says: "We've seen you guys from the start, we've seen you grow, we've seen you fall out, we've seen you pick up the pieces, we've seen you make up. What does it say? I think to me, that's love."

There may be some tension during the reunion though, as Shaq admits to Tanya and her family at one point: "My sister had a few choice words to say."

Tom Clare , 23, and Samie Elishi, 22, reunite with their loved ones too. Tom's mum Maxine and sister Laura head into the villa, whilst Samie is visited by mum Wendy and sister Courtney.

Ahead of their families meeting, Tom's sister tells him: "You make such a good couple [...] I think she's the one for you." Whilst Samie's mum tells her: "He's so lovely, he absolutely adores you."

Upon meeting, Samie's mum teases her over the talent show, saying: "Can I just say, the singing, we’re going to karaoke… because I can’t sing either."

Kai Fagan , 24, and Sanam Harrinanan, 24, reunited with loved ones too. Kai catches up with his mum Jill and step-dad Kenneth, whilst Sanam is visited by her mum Gayatri and friend Imaan.

Asked for her opinion on Kai, prior to meeting him, Sanam's mum tells her: "He seems like a pretty amazing person and he said that he will look after you."

As the families meet, Kai's step-dad tells Sanam: "You both look perfect, absolutely perfect together, I couldn't have wished for a better partner for him."

Jessie Wynter, 26, is reunited with her mum Alice and sister Rachel, who have come from Australia, whilst Will Young , 23, gets to catch up with his dad Andrew and brother Tom.

Will invites Jessie and her family over to meet his family at one point, saying: "It's so lovely to see you guys here, from the bottom of my heart, it's so lovely to see you two."

Later sharing her opinion, Jessie's mum tells him: "I've watched you support her and love her, you've got our hearts too and dad's ready for the two of you to get married."

And whilst the Islanders are thrilled to reunite with their loved ones, the episode will also see one couple dumped from the villa - narrowly missing out on being finalists.

Love Island continues tonight on ITV2 and ITVX from 9pm. The final will air tomorrow night from 9pm. You can catch up on previous episodes of the latest series through ITVX.

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at [email protected] or call us direct 0207 29 33033.

MORE ON Love Island ITV Ron Hall Lana Jenkins Tanya Manhenga Shaq Muhammad Tom Clare Kai Fagan Will Young (Love Island)

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My sister was on Love Island and here is what really happens during the family visits

• Mary Gallagher
• Published : 9:57, 15 Jul 2022
• Updated : 10:45, 15 Jul 2022

LOVE Island's Meet the Parents episode where stars' relatives come into the villa is one of the highlights of the series.

Now 2021 star Kaz Kamwi's sister has revealed what it's like to take part - and the things producers will absolutely not let you do.

Firstly, Banji revealed familes are only allowed into the villa for 20 minutes and they're told to have a private reunion with their islander before the cameras roll.

She shared in an interview with OK! : "Before I went in, the producers encouraged me to have a good time and to just have a natural catch-up with my sister.

“I was so excited to be in the villa that even if I’d planned to say something fake for the cameras, I’d have forgotten about that the moment I walked in.

"As soon as I came out I was crossing my fingers hoping that I hadn't made a fool out of myself by saying something embarrassing since it was all a haze."

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However, families are prepped and given a set of topics that are strictly forbidden to discuss while filming.

“We were told that we weren’t allowed to talk about the outside world in relation to the show,” Banji added.

“You are allowed to speak about things that have happened in relation to family life, but you couldn’t talk about things that had happened as a result of the show.

"For instance, our younger sister got a place at uni while Kaz was in the villa and that’s the first thing we told her. It was extremely emotional and Kaz was more interested in catching up with us rather than what was happening with the show anyway.”

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Meanwhile, security checks are not only applied to the islanders when they first enter the hit show.

“Before we went into the villa, we had to give in our bags and possessions to stop us bringing anything forbidden in.”

“Since the contestants are so disconnected from the outside world, I imagine that if we brought a watch or mobile phone into the villa they would’ve got extremely disoriented if they knew the time.”

Banji also revealed who goes into the villa can be a last minute decision because families only get 48 hours warning, so it depends on who can get time off work.

And families are put put up in the same hotel, but do not get to see each other on the day of filming and are unable to exchange notes until after they've met their islanders.

She added: “I was hoping that I could speak to them and get the tea about what it was like but I had to go in there with zero knowledge.

"It would’ve been super helpful to have someone who could’ve told me to walk a bit slower when entering because I nearly fell over on the stone pathway!"

She also had some words of advice for the islanders families who are preparing to jet to Majorca this year.

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“It’s quite overwhelming, especially if you’ve seen or managed the contestants’ social media. There’s lots of opinions out there, so it’s easy to worry about how you will be perceived,” she said.

“I would encourage anyone going in this year to forget about the stress and to enjoy themselves and smile. Also, my biggest regret is not taking a souvenir or some sort of selfie outside the villa, so definitely do that.”

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My sister was on Love Island and here is what really happens during the family visits

• Mary Gallagher
• Published : 4:57 ET, Jul 15 2022
• Updated : 7:50 ET, Jul 15 2022

LOVE Island's Meet the Parents episode where stars' relatives come into the villa is one of the highlights of the series.

Now 2021 star Kaz Kamwi's sister has revealed what it's like to take part - and the things producers will absolutely not let you do.

Firstly, Banji revealed familes are only allowed into the villa for 20 minutes and they're told to have a private reunion with their islander before the cameras roll.

She shared in an interview with OK! : "Before I went in, the producers encouraged me to have a good time and to just have a natural catch-up with my sister.

“I was so excited to be in the villa that even if I’d planned to say something fake for the cameras, I’d have forgotten about that the moment I walked in.

"As soon as I came out I was crossing my fingers hoping that I hadn't made a fool out of myself by saying something embarrassing since it was all a haze."

However, families are prepped and given a set of topics that are strictly forbidden to discuss while filming.

“We were told that we weren’t allowed to talk about the outside world in relation to the show,” Banji added.

“You are allowed to speak about things that have happened in relation to family life, but you couldn’t talk about things that had happened as a result of the show.

"For instance, our younger sister got a place at uni while Kaz was in the villa and that’s the first thing we told her. It was extremely emotional and Kaz was more interested in catching up with us rather than what was happening with the show anyway.”

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Meanwhile, security checks are not only applied to the islanders when they first enter the hit show.

“Before we went into the villa, we had to give in our bags and possessions to stop us bringing anything forbidden in.”

“Since the contestants are so disconnected from the outside world, I imagine that if we brought a watch or mobile phone into the villa they would’ve got extremely disoriented if they knew the time.”

Banji also revealed who goes into the villa can be a last minute decision because families only get 48 hours warning, so it depends on who can get time off work.

And families are put put up in the same hotel, but do not get to see each other on the day of filming and are unable to exchange notes until after they've met their islanders.

She added: “I was hoping that I could speak to them and get the tea about what it was like but I had to go in there with zero knowledge.

"It would’ve been super helpful to have someone who could’ve told me to walk a bit slower when entering because I nearly fell over on the stone pathway!"

She also had some words of advice for the islanders families who are preparing to jet to Majorca this year.

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“It’s quite overwhelming, especially if you’ve seen or managed the contestants’ social media. There’s lots of opinions out there, so it’s easy to worry about how you will be perceived,” she said.

“I would encourage anyone going in this year to forget about the stress and to enjoy themselves and smile. Also, my biggest regret is not taking a souvenir or some sort of selfie outside the villa, so definitely do that.”

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My sister was on Love Island and here is what really happens during the family visits

• Mary Gallagher
• Published : 9:57, 15 Jul 2022
• Updated : 10:50, 15 Jul 2022

LOVE Island's Meet the Parents episode where stars' relatives come into the villa is one of the highlights of the series.

Now 2021 star Kaz Kamwi's sister has revealed what it's like to take part - and the things producers will absolutely not let you do.

Firstly, Banji revealed familes are only allowed into the villa for 20 minutes and they're told to have a private reunion with their islander before the cameras roll.

She shared in an interview with OK! : "Before I went in, the producers encouraged me to have a good time and to just have a natural catch-up with my sister.

“I was so excited to be in the villa that even if I’d planned to say something fake for the cameras, I’d have forgotten about that the moment I walked in.

"As soon as I came out I was crossing my fingers hoping that I hadn't made a fool out of myself by saying something embarrassing since it was all a haze."

Read more on Love Island

From Love Island to the Prime Minister - top dinner discussions revealed

Love Island fans worried for Jacques as he fails to return to social media

However, families are prepped and given a set of topics that are strictly forbidden to discuss while filming.

“We were told that we weren’t allowed to talk about the outside world in relation to the show,” Banji added.

“You are allowed to speak about things that have happened in relation to family life, but you couldn’t talk about things that had happened as a result of the show.

"For instance, our younger sister got a place at uni while Kaz was in the villa and that’s the first thing we told her. It was extremely emotional and Kaz was more interested in catching up with us rather than what was happening with the show anyway.”

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Meanwhile, security checks are not only applied to the islanders when they first enter the hit show.

“Before we went into the villa, we had to give in our bags and possessions to stop us bringing anything forbidden in.”

“Since the contestants are so disconnected from the outside world, I imagine that if we brought a watch or mobile phone into the villa they would’ve got extremely disoriented if they knew the time.”

Banji also revealed who goes into the villa can be a last minute decision because families only get 48 hours warning, so it depends on who can get time off work.

And families are put put up in the same hotel, but do not get to see each other on the day of filming and are unable to exchange notes until after they've met their islanders.

She added: “I was hoping that I could speak to them and get the tea about what it was like but I had to go in there with zero knowledge.

"It would’ve been super helpful to have someone who could’ve told me to walk a bit slower when entering because I nearly fell over on the stone pathway!"

She also had some words of advice for the islanders families who are preparing to jet to Majorca this year.

“It’s quite overwhelming, especially if you’ve seen or managed the contestants’ social media. There’s lots of opinions out there, so it’s easy to worry about how you will be perceived,” she said.

“I would encourage anyone going in this year to forget about the stress and to enjoy themselves and smile. Also, my biggest regret is not taking a souvenir or some sort of selfie outside the villa, so definitely do that.”

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‘So upset’: Love Island fans criticise meet the parents episode after major change

Family visit episode includes a significant change for this year, article bookmarked.

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Love Island viewers have expressed their disappointment during the “meet the parents” episode, as Islanders and guests have been restricted from physical contact.

On Sunday night’s (31 July) episode, parents and family members of the contestants entered the villa for a brief reunion.

In previous years, this moment of the show’s process has marked a major moment for the Islanders, as it is the first time in weeks that they’ve been able to contact each other.

Often, it is an emotional event, with family and contestants alike getting emotional and crying.

Since the Covid pandemic, Islanders have not been able to hug their visitors due to risks of infection.

Although restrictions have ended in the UK and in other countries, the limitations have remained in place for this year’s “meet the parents” event, meaning that the Islanders and family cannot touch each other.

Fans of the show have expressed confusion and disappointment at the changes.

“Sorry, what, the parents can come into the villa but not hug their children? WHAT’S THE F***ING POINT?” asked one outraged viewer.

Another person commented: “Just been on a plane with 100+ people but they won’t let them hug!!! Seriously!!”

“This social distancing is not making sense at all,” remarked another.

Elsewhere, some viewers found the lack of physical contact upsetting.

“The fact that they can't even hug makes me so upset wtf?” one person tweeted.

Love Island concludes on Monday at 9pm on ITV2.

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TV & Film

When Are The Parents & Families Visiting The Love Island Villa?

26 July 2019, 16:43 | Updated: 29 July 2019, 16:22

We're all looking forward to the episode where the islanders families enter the Love Island villa, and with some parents already throwing shade at their kids' other half- we're counting down the days.

As the Love Island final fast approaches, we can't wait to see when all of the islanders burst into tears at the sight of their families and nervously introduce them to their brand new girl/boyfriends.

The visit from families tends to come in the final week of the series, meaning we can expect to see mums, dads and siblings entering the villa in the next few days as the series' finale is on Monday 29 July.

> Love Island: The Morning After Podcast – How To Download And Listen

Anton's mum, Sherrie-Ann Danyluk, has become something of a hit in the past couple of weeks, earning herself thousands of Instagram followers after saying she misses shaving her son's bum and saying that she isn't a fan of Belle, so naturally, we can't wait to see how this plays out in the villa.

It also came out of the woodwork that Belle Hassan's dad is famous actor, Tamer Hassan, echoing last year's Danny Dyer situation, so we're also wondering if he'll be paying her a visit out in Mallorca, and how Anton will react to meeting the notorious hard man.

View this post on Instagram Honestly so Lovely to meet @amyhartxo ,absolutely beautiful person inside & out... Plus loving the new hair 🙌🏼Xx. #loveisland #aftersun @loveisland A post shared by A J P R I T C H A R D . (@aj11ace) on Jul 14, 2019 at 3:41pm PDT

Curtis also has a very well-known brother, Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Pritchard, who has already been hanging out with Curtis's 'half-ex' Amy Hart, which has us wondering if they'll have an emotional and probably dance-filled reunion inside the villa?

Other iconic challenges we still have to look forward to is the lie detector challenge, which always causes major drama when seemingly solid couples see cracks when difficult questions are put to them, and the baby challenge where the couples become parents for the day, which always promises to be hilarious.

However, after the recent drama between Jordan and Anna, people are questioning whether he knows the families are due to visit any day now?!

Someone should tell Jordan there is 5 days left and in 3 days he’s going to have to meet Anna’s parents. 🤦🏼‍♂️ #loveisland — Oli Bell (@olibellracing) July 22, 2019

Oh, and how could we forget Tommy Fury's extremely successful and famous brother, Tyson Fury- will he be visiting the villa to welcome Tommy's brand new girlfriend, Molly-Mae into the Fury family?!

View this post on Instagram FEELING GREt ahead of june15 Vegas 2019 gonna be a big year. A post shared by Tyson Fury (@gypsyking101) on May 6, 2019 at 5:47am PDT

For all the latest gossip from the Villa, download and subscribe to the official Love Island : The Morning After podcast. Available on Global Player, the Love Island App or ask Alexa to play the ' Love Island Podcast'.

Listen to Love Island: The Morning After

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Love Island’s family wars ahead of meet the parents episode including Gemma’s mum’s ‘bullying’ remarks

Love Island’s meet the parents episode is always a series highlight, though this year there have been plenty of opinions made that could make things a little awkward

• 11:20, 26 JUL 2022

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Love Island 2022 is almost over, but there’s still some major bits to go and one of those is the highly anticipated meet the parents episode.

While viewers at home are on tenterhooks watching interactions between those in the villa and their parents, the Islanders are bound to feel plenty of nerves as they introduce their partners to their parents.

This year’s series has had plenty of awkward encounters off screen thanks to moments in the villa that left some family members shocked, so its bound to have a few rather uncomfortable moments…

We take a look at the off screen opinions of this year’s Love Island’s parents.

Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page

The pair have been coupled up for most of this year’s series, though a rather unforgettable Casa Amor moment nearly ended things for Tasha and Andrew .

Andrew became very close to bombshell Coco Lodge in Casa Amor and the pair shared a few X-rated moments together and rather unkind comments from Andrew that prompted Tasha’s family to react.

Tasha's family, who are running her Instagram account while she's in the villa, shared a comment made by a fan which read: “Don't get the need to bring Tasha down while talking to Coco, it's wrong.”

They teamed it with a clip from Keeping Up With The Kardashians where Kim told sisters Kourtney and Khloe: “So I gotta be real with you guys, you look like f*****g clowns.”

However, Andrew’s family clapped back after Tasha shared a kiss with newcomer Billy.

That night Andrew's account featured a post which read: “Oh dear, looks like team Tasha jumped the gun. Pot, kettle.”

Davide Sanclimenti and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu

Ekin-Su and Davide have been one of the villa’s most on-off couples but have slowly been winning each other - and viewers over.

However, it's not all plain sailing for their family and friends at home. The Italian's family were furious when she moaned about him not making her coffee in the morning - before sneaking to the terrace for a secret snog with Jay, whom she later coupled up with briefly.

In response to her antics, Davide's loved ones wrote on Instagram : “How about you make your own coffee. Over the past few days we all had to tolerate a desperate attempt to steal the show.

“Like Davide said, 'Something is not quite right' and we really hope he figures out what is really going on and takes action.”

They added that big-hearted Davide deserves “someone genuine”, referencing the moment Ekin told newcomer Jacques O'Neill: “I'd rather be [in bed] with you.”

Davide's family snapped: “If you want to be treated like a lady, act like one first.”

Meanwhile Ekin-Su’s family were left furious by the lads’ behaviour during Movie Night.

A clip of Ekin-Su in bed with George during Casa Amor was aired, but despite her denying anything happened, Davide was doubtful.

After the topic was discussed on Aftersun, the actress’ family who are looking after her Instagram account raged: “The fact that the s**t-shaming is being passed off as banter and good television is very concerning at this rate #LoveIsland.”

Indiyah Polack and Dami Hope

Indiyah ’s family previously revealed that they've not been won over by Dami just yet after she accepted his "promise ring" on Love Island.

Indiyah told him that she's very excited for him to meet her mum and her family.

However, those running Indiyah's Twitter account appeared to joke they didn't feel the same as it posted a photo of a plane flying a banner that read: "Indiyah don’t let man take ya fi eediat."

Chatting to The Mirror , Indiyah’s mum Dee gave her cautious approval, confessing she had seen some growth in Dami since the Casa drama.

She added: "He has potential. Indi is going at a smooth pace – all the while, she is analysing situations and actions."

Luca Bish and Gemma Owen

Luca and Gemma have been pretty stable throughout their time in the villa.

However, Gemma’s mum Louise broke her silence after Luca and Dami apologised to Tasha after going "too far" in the Snog Marry Pie game on Tuesday.

Gemma's mum Louise wrote: "I hope Tasha is ok, I feel it’s close to bullying now which is so sad to see" followed with a heart and teary emoji.

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Everything We Know About The Love Island Family Visit Episode

12:32 26 Jul 2019

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Love Island family visits

The Love Island family visit episode is set to take place any day now.

Every year, close family and friends make their way to Mallorca to surprise the islanders in the villa.

It's reported Tommy Fury's big brother Tyson has declined an invite to appear on the show.

'He felt it wouldn't work with his profile.'

  View this post on Instagram   Just heading out in this lovely weather in my new favourite outfit @boxfituk @mtkglobal A post shared by Tyson Fury (@gypsyking101) on Jun 29, 2019 at 6:39am PDT

A  source tells The Sun , 'Producers had been trying to secure him for the past few months...'

They say the champ, 'politely avoided answering,' at the time.

  View this post on Instagram   There’s only onneee TYSON FURYY @4mikeywilliams A post shared by Tyson Fury (@gypsyking101) on Jun 14, 2019 at 6:25pm PDT

However, the source has since revealed that, 'with family visits happening this week,' Tyson had to make a decision.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Tyson Fury (@gypsyking101) on Jul 2, 2019 at 1:19pm PDT

Earlier this month, Tyson told The Mirror that he didn't want Tommy on the show in the first place.

'I thought, he's a good looking lad. He might get carried away being a TV reality star rather than a fighting man.'

  View this post on Instagram   Our face when we remember Love Island is on in 3 hours time ❤️ Who do you think will be leaving the villa tonight? #LoveIsland #TeamTommyFury #Tolly A post shared by Tommy TNT Fury (@tommytntfury) on Jul 21, 2019 at 9:49am PDT

'It's the last thing he needs to do when he’s trying to become a professional fighter.'

'I said, 'Nah, it won't be a good idea that, you'll mess up what you're doing in your career. You're on a roll, keep with boxing.''

  View this post on Instagram   Legendary suit & shirt, @claudio_lugli A post shared by Tyson Fury (@gypsyking101) on May 14, 2019 at 4:20am PDT

Belle Hassan

We're expecting to see Belle's father Tamer enter the Love Island villa for the episode.

He's been extremely supportive of his daughter on the show.

  View this post on Instagram   My beautiful princess @bellehassan has gone into @loveisland please all support her and love her as she is my baby my life my world and an amazingly beautiful kind hearted talented driven young lady #godisgreat #daughterlove #family #loveisland A post shared by Twitter @RealTamerHassan (@realtamerhassan) on Jun 28, 2019 at 10:55am PDT

The actor even had her picture wrapped on the bonnet of a Mercedes which he drove around Dublin.

It read, 'Vote for Belle & Anton,' across the bottom of the car's front.

Good Luck on @TheCannonRun in Ireland! @RealTamerHassan @LoveIsland #loveisland @itv2 #itv2 pic.twitter.com/zc1sNe1ARV — Belle Hassan (@bellehassan) July 17, 2019

Earlier this month he revealed he's been keeping a close eye on his daughter's relationship with Anton.

'I thought if you say anything that ain’t true or upset Belle...'

'Then mate I am coming in on a helicopter with a parachute and I am picking you up and taking you out.'

  View this post on Instagram   Lounge face heading back to my beautiful London Town I have to say I have missed home #committed #positivity #godisgreat #SNATCHTV2 #london A post shared by Twitter @RealTamerHassan (@realtamerhassan) on May 30, 2017 at 11:09pm PDT

Anton Danyluk

Fans are hoping Anton's mother Sherie Ann will make an appearance in the episode.

Earlier this month she set up her very own Instagram account.

'Anton's mum who shaves his bum'

  View this post on Instagram   Everyone, meet Anton’s gorgeous mum who shaves his bum This is Sherie Ann & she’s just joined Instagram so make sure you give her a follow! @sherieanndanyluk ☀️ #AntonsMum #SherieAnn #TeamAnton #LoveIsland A post shared by ANTON DANYLUK (@anton_danyluk) on Jul 18, 2019 at 10:50am PDT

She also said she wanted to 'head butt' her son when he chose to kiss Anna in the  kiss, marry, pie challenge .

The reason he chose to kiss her over his partner Belle was because she was, 'the best kisser.'

The personal trainer's mother said of the moment, 'I felt wow, Anton, out of order when he kissed Anna.'

'It was when he turned around and said that she was the best kisser.'

So we can't wait to see what she has to say to him in the villa.

  View this post on Instagram   I’ve only been on Instagram for 24 hours & I’m absolutely overwhelmed by the love and support ❤️ can’t thank you all enough... #BeltonToWin #TeamAnton A post shared by Sherie Ann Danyluk Official (@sherieanndanyluk) on Jul 19, 2019 at 11:55am PDT

Curtis Pritchard

Fans are expecting to see Curtis' Strictly Come Dancing brother AJ make an appearance in the episode.

He's been showing his support for his sibling on social media ever since he entered the villa.

  View this post on Instagram   LOVE ❤️ you LITTLE Bro @curtispritchard12 ... don’t miss the Family on @thismorning tomorrow morning 10:30am .. @debi_fitness @ade8vdance #loveisland @loveisland A post shared by A J P R I T C H A R D . (@aj11ace) on Jul 10, 2019 at 1:51pm PDT

When Curtis was portrayed as a cheat on the show following his breakup with Amy, AJ had his back.

In an interview with Lorraine he said, "It’s been portrayed that he’s kind of cheated on her..."

"Whereas realistically, yes he kissed another girl, but that was in a task."

  View this post on Instagram   ❤️ @lorraine #loveisland talking @loveisland A post shared by A J P R I T C H A R D . (@aj11ace) on Jul 4, 2019 at 7:37am PDT

Curtis has also just been announced to appear as a dance coach on Drag Race UK with AJ.

The dancer's family and friends announced the news on Instagram this week.

  View this post on Instagram   “You betta werk!” - So excited to Finally tell you that myself & @curtispritchard12 Are so honoured to be part of the all new @dragraceukbbc on @bbcthree as the dance coaches & choreographers. We shot this earlier this year and have been keeping it a secret ever since! Coming to BBC3 this Autumn, make sure you tune in to see @rupaulofficial crown the UK’s First Drag Superstar! (@michellevisage ) A post shared by A J P R I T C H A R D . (@aj11ace) on Jul 24, 2019 at 3:37am PDT

Molly-Mae Hague

We're hoping Molly-Mae's mother goes into the villa considering she has some big news to share with her daughter.

Her mother Debbie announced her engagement while Molly was in the villa.

  View this post on Instagram   Our faces when we realise it’s the baby challenge tonight!! Who else is excited?! We hope #teamtolly are safe from the public vote!❤️ A post shared by MOLLY-MAE (@mollymaehague) on Jul 24, 2019 at 10:19am PDT

The islanders have no contact with the outside world so it's believed she's unaware of the engagement.

A spokesperson for the reality star confirmed the news of the engagement with  MailOnline at the start of the month.

  View this post on Instagram   When Love Island make you wait ANOTHER 24 hours to see the recoupling... How cute are these 3 #teamtolly A post shared by MOLLY-MAE (@mollymaehague) on Jul 19, 2019 at 11:59am PDT

Greg O'Shea

Greg already reunited with his family earlier this week after his grandmother sadly passed away .

He seems to be quite close with his sister considering they have matching tattoo's.

So perhaps she'll join him in Mallorca this week.

  View this post on Instagram   Sibling day out.. @gregoshea & myself making the most of @jessqmcd flying visit home and getting tattoos #family A post shared by Laura O'Shea (@heylaurajean) on May 26, 2019 at 6:08am PDT

We spoke to his sister Laura just as he entered the villa and she gushed over him.

"You're gonna see the typical Irish lad... he does genuinely think everybody's lovely..."

"Once everyone honest and trustworthy, he will keep it friendly and very Irish."

  View this post on Instagram   Looks like we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see how Greg gets on. Do you think they hit it off? ☀️ - - #loveisland #loveisland2019 A post shared by Greg O’Shea (@gregoshea) on Jul 16, 2019 at 3:08pm PDT

Elsewhere in the world of Love Island , Chris has said there were conversations had between Jordan and India that we will never see. Read more about that here .

And go here to read Anna's sister Mandi's scathing Instagram rant about Jordan.

The show   returns to Virgin Media Two tonight from 9pm.

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Family Visits

Welcome to the doc's virtual visitor's center.

Beginning May 10, 2023, the following important changes will be in effect:

• In-person visits will operate on a walk-in basis only. Pre-registration will no longer be available for in-person visits.
• Wednesday and Thursday registration hours: 2:00pm – 6:00pm
• Saturday and Sunday registration hours: 8:00am – 12:00pm
• Visitors must arrive during registration hours to be processed for a visit.
• Televisits will operate on Fridays.
• The visit schedule based on the first letter of the incarcerated individual’s last name remains in place. Visitors should check the visitation schedule to be sure their friend or family member is eligible for a visit on a specific day. Please visit the Visit Schedule page for more information.

Please see the In-Person Visit webpage for more information.

PLEASE NOTE: All packages for persons in custody need to be mailed. Packages will not be accepted during in-person visits.

The Department recognizes the importance of connecting individuals in our custody to their family and support networks through visits. 

With this program, televisiting can be accessed from home. All you need is an electronic device with a camera, an internet connection, and an active email account. A total of three individuals are able to participate in one televisit at one time. Please see the Televisit webpage for more information.

If you would like to schedule a televisit, please fill-out the information requested on the web form. Once you are confirmed for the televisit, you will receive a confirmation email which will include the date and time of the televisit, along with an access link.

It is the Department's goal to provide visits to all those who request it, however due to high demand and a limited number of devices, not every request for a televisit will be initially satisfied. 

Please be advised that a televisit is not confirmed until a confirmation email is received at the email address provided with a date and time range for the visit. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of the last requested visit date (for example, you submitted as a possible option a visit time for a Thursday morning and have not received an email by Wednesday morning), please resubmit another web form with different dates and times.

Please visit the Televisit page for more details.

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Our passion is to create lasting memories as you discover the hidden gems of Jamaica. Whether it's the vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, or iconic landmarks, let us be your guide to unparalleled experiences. Your journey begins here, where every moment is a story waiting to be told.

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U.S. tourist faces 12 years in prison after taking ammunition to Turks and Caicos

An Oklahoma man faces up to 12 years in prison on a Caribbean island after customs officials found ammunition in his luggage.

Ryan Watson traveled to Turks and Caicos with his wife, Valerie, to celebrate his 40th birthday on April 7. They went with two friends who had also turned 40.

The vacation came to an abrupt end when airport staff members found a zip-close bag containing bullets in the couple's carry-on luggage. Watson said it was hunting ammunition he had accidentally brought with him — but under a strict law in Turks and Caicos, a court may still impose a mandatory 12-year sentence.

"They were hunting ammunition rounds that I use for whitetail deer," Watson told NBC Boston in an interview conducted last week that aired after their first court appearance Tuesday.

"I recognized them, and I thought, 'Oh, man, what a bonehead mistake that I had no idea that those were in there,'" he said.

The couple were arrested and charged with possession of ammunition. Authorities seized their passports and explained the penalties they faced.

Valerie Watson said in the interview: "When I heard that, I immediately was terrified, because I was like we can't both be in prison for 12 years. We have kids at home, and this is such an innocent mistake."

The charges against her were dropped, and she returned home to Oklahoma City on Tuesday after the court hearing to be reunited with her two young children.

"Our goal is to get Ryan home, because we can’t be a family without Dad," she said.

The couple also spoke about the financial burden of a much longer-than-planned trip. "This is something that we may never recover from," Ryan Watson said.

The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas issued a warning to travelers in September about a law that strongly prohibits possession of firearms or ammunition in Turks and Caicos, an overseas British territory southeast of the Bahamas that is a popular vacation spot.

It said: "We wish to remind all travelers that declaring a weapon in your luggage with an airline carrier does not grant permission to bring the weapon into TCI [Turks and Caicos Islands] and will result in your arrest."

The embassy added: "If you bring a firearm or ammunition into TCI, we will not be able to secure your release from custody."

The embassy and the government in Turks and Caicos did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The same thing happened to another American, Bryan Hagerich, of Pennsylvania, who was arrested after ammunition was found in his luggage before he tried to board a flight out of Turks and Caicos in February. He said he accidentally left it in his bag.

Hagerich was on a family vacation with his wife and two young children but has now been in the country for 70 days. He spent eight days in prison before he posted bail.

"It’s incredibly scary. You know, you just don’t know what the next day may bring — you know, what path this may take," Hagerich told NBC Boston.

"You know, it’s certainly a lot different than packing your bags and going away with your family for a few days. It’s been the worst 70 days of my life," he said.

Hagerich, once a professional baseball player, was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the MLB 2007 June amateur draft from the University of Delaware.

His case goes to trial May 3.

Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

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'survivor' season 1 contestant sonja christopher dead at 87, 'survivor' season 1 sonja christopher dead at 87 ... 1st one voted off ever.

Sonja Christopher -- the first person ever voted off the show "Survivor"  -- has died ... this according to a current contestant on the show.

Liz Wilcox -- who stars in season 46 of "Survivor," which is underway right now -- announced the sad news on X Friday ... saying she met Sonja over Christmas and shared a photo of the two talking on FaceTime on her account.

She writes, "Today, the legend herself Sonja Christopher of Season One passed away. I had the pleasure of meeting her on Christmas. She had so much spunk + love for Survivor and what the show brought to her life. I hope you’re singing + playing your heart out somewhere beautiful, Sonja."

On behalf of the family, Liz says people shouldn't send flowers ... but, instead donations to Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church in Walnut Creek, CA, the Cancer Support Community in SF, or the Sjogren’s Foundation. She did not provide a cause of death.

Sonja competed on "Survivor: Borneo" in 2000 and, despite getting along well with her teammates, got ousted after several missteps led to her team losing that first week. She received the boot because of it, making her the first person ever to be voted off the island.

In a sense, her appearance on the series was historic ... and many still remember her.

Christopher's known for playing her ukulele on the show -- and, she seemed to remember her time fondly on "Survivor" despite her early exit ... telling EW in 2020 the whole experience gave her a platform to raise money for causes she believed in.

Sonja was 87.

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What Tucker Carlson Saw in Moscow

He never quite says what precisely he thinks Russia gets right.

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Produced by ElevenLabs and News Over Audio (NOA) using AI narration.

Tucker Carlson went to Moscow last week and had an absolute blast. He rode the subway and marveled at its clean cars, the fancy tilework in Kievskaya Station, and the lack of booze-drenched hobos. He went to a grocery store and was astonished by what ordinary people could apparently buy. He even managed to meet a local history buff and sit down for tea and conversation. Carlson, who had never previously visited Moscow, declared himself “radicalized” against America’s leaders by the experience. He didn’t want to live in Moscow, but he did want to know why we in America have to put up with street crime and crappy food when the supposedly bankrupt Russia provided such a nice life for its people, or at least those people not named Alexei Navalny .

My former Atlantic colleague Ralph Waldo Emerson called travel a “fool’s paradise,” but not all forms of foolishness are equal. Many commentators have guffawed at Carlson’s Russophilia and pointed out that Russia’s murder rate is roughly that of the United States, and that its citizens are dirt poor, about a fifth as wealthy per capita as the citizens of the United States overall. “I don’t care what some flagship supermarket in an imperial city looks like,” The Dispatch ’s Jonah Goldberg tweeted. “Russia is far, far poorer than our poorest state, Mississippi.” Bloomberg ’s Joe Weisenthal suggested that Carlson instead visit the grocery stores of the “10th or 50th” richest Russian cities, and see how they compare with America’s.

In 2019, I visited several large and small Russian cities, and I went grocery shopping at least once in each. Would you believe that Tucker Carlson is on to something? In Moscow (the largest) and St. Petersburg (No. 2), the flagship supermarkets are indeed spectacular. The Azbuka Vkusa branch next to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow is more luxurious than any grocery store within 100 miles of Washington, D.C. Other branches in Moscow vary in quality, and they are usually smaller than American supermarkets. But to some extent that’s just a matter of culture: The U.S. has fewer supermarkets, but each one is big enough to feed the 82nd Airborne Division for a month; in Europe, supermarkets are more numerous but tiny.

Anne Applebaum: The false romance of Russia

Makhachkala (22), the capital of Dagestan, followed a similar pattern to Moscow. One supermarket downtown was amazing, the equal of an upscale supermarket in Washington or Dallas. On the outskirts the quality varied, but not drastically. Local residents were not eating soups made from grass clippings. In Murmansk (71), the cramped bodega near my rented flat had a good wine selection and enough fresh staple foods to prepare a different meal your mom would approve of every day of the week. Only in Derbent (134) did I start to wonder whether the bad old days of the Soviet Union were still in effect. But even that would be an exaggeration. In Derbent, for $15, you could get champagne and caviar with blini and velvety sour cream. If you want to flash back to Cold War communism, go to Havana. There the grocery stores stock only dust and mildew.

With apologies to Emerson, travel can disabuse you of foolish notions just as often as it plants them in your head. An idea ripe for dispelling among Americans at this particular moment is that life in Russia must suck because the frigid depression of the Cold War never ended. In those days ordinary citizens were spied upon and tortured and killed, and the shops were empty, save for substandard goods at prices few could afford. Now Russia is different. The state repression is much more limited, though no less brutal toward those who attract its attention. Until the Ukraine war added a huge category of forbidden topics, the main ones that you could get locked up for discussing were war in the Caucasus and the personal life and finances of President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle. Most other topics were broachable, and you could whine all you liked about them.

Equally in need of updating are American expectations about Russian economic misery. Those whose visits to Russia stopped 20 years ago tend to have outdated views of the best the country has to offer. My visits started 24 years ago. Back then, I spent days at a time on the Trans-Siberian, crammed into railway cabins with little to do but talk with Russians and see how they lived. Life was not beautiful. The men busied themselves with crosswords and sullenly browsed pornography. When not in motion, I stayed with Russian friends in single-room flats that looked straight out of a New York tenement building 100 years ago. No one I met was starving, but women sometimes approached me in train stations hoping to rent out their homes or bodies, or to sell me family heirlooms. That type of desperation seems to have subsided, although I would be shocked if any of those people are able to buy the jamón ibérico at the Smolenskaya branch of Azbuka Vkusa yet. On the roads between the big cities, there are still villages so ramshackle that they look like sets from The Little Rascals . Evidence suggests that the Russian military’s frontline troops tend to come from these depressed and benighted lands, the places that really are stuck in the 20th century.

Certain aspects of life remain dismal even in the cities. My flat in Murmansk had surly drunks tottering outside its entrance, and its stairwell smelled like every cat, dog, and human resident had marked its territory there regularly since the Brezhnev era. But the playgrounds were decent, and you could get a delicious smoked-reindeer pizza at a cozy restaurant for $7. Remember, this is in a small, depressed Russian city—not somewhere stocked with goodies just in case an American wanders out of the lobby of the Radisson and needs to be impressed. The “useful idiots” of yesteryear were treated to fake Moscows, which evanesced as soon as the next Aeroflot flights took off. The luxuries of Moscow that Carlson sees, and that I saw, are not evanescent, and they are not (as they are in North Korea, say) a curated experience available only to those on controlled visits.

The stubborn belief that all good things in Russia must be illusory can in turn warp one’s analysis of the country, and in particular of Putin’s durability in power. After all, why would anyone remain loyal to an autocrat who delivered only hunger, penury, and the reek of cat piss? Putin rules by fear but not only by fear. Most Russians will tell you that Russia today is better than it was before Putin. They compare it not with the Soviet era but with the anarchy and decline of the 1990s. Life expectancy has risen, public parks are better maintained, and certain fruits of capitalism can be tasted by Russians of all classes. Who would risk these gains? Like every autocrat, Putin has ensured that his downfall just might destroy every good thing Russia has experienced in the past two decades. This risk is, from the perspective of regime continuity, a positive feature, because it keeps all but the most principled and brave opposition quiet, and content to shut up and enjoy their cheap caviar. Those like Navalny who object do not object for long.

Carlson’s videos never quite say what precisely he thinks Russia gets right. Moscow is in many ways superior to New York. But Paris has a good subway system too. Japan and Thailand have fine grocery stores, and I wonder, when I enter them, why entering my neighborhood Stop & Shop in America is such a depressing experience by comparison. Carlson’s stated preference for Putin’s leadership over Joe Biden’s suggests that the affection is not for fine food or working public transit but for firm autocratic rule—which, as French, Thais, and Japanese will attest, is not a precondition for high-quality goods and services. And in an authoritarian state, those goods and services can serve to prolong the regime.

I confess I still enjoy watching Carlson post videos of Moscow, wide-eyed and credulous as he slowly learns to love a country that I love too. I hope he posts more of them. One goes through stages of love for Russia, often starting with the literature and music, then moving to its dark humor and the personalities of its people, which are always cycling between thaw and frost. Inevitably one reflects on the irony that this civilization, whose achievement is almost without equal in some respects, is utterly cursed in others—consigned to literally centuries of misgovernment, incompetence, and tyranny. The final stage is realizing that the greatness of Russia is part of the curse, a heightening of the irony, as if no matter how much goes right, something is deeply wrong. Maybe when things go right, the more deeply wrong it is. Carlson seems to still be in one of the early stages of this journey.