Love Island: All Stars 2026 is finally upon us and, by our estimations, the OGs have already come face-to-face with another and Maya Jama has swanned into that villa (in an absolute sartorial slay) at least once.
This has got us thinking about said OGs and their Love Island journeys thus far – including some of their very, very public splits.
One single Islander who is coming into the South African villa off the back of not one but two Love Island relationships is Love Island 2024 finalist Ciaran Davies.
Ciaran ©ITV
His Love Island exes are Nicole Samuel and Emily Moran (from Love Island 2025), although that latter relationship was fleeting and over before it begun.
So before the third time becomes the charm (let’s see), let’s look back at his most meaningful connection on the show – his relationship with Nicole, who he made it to the Love Island 2024 final alongside, and remind ourselves as to why this fairytale sadly didn’t have a happy ending.
Ciaran and Nicole were original Islanders on series eleven, quickly gravitating towards each other despite initial couplings – him with Harriett Blackmore, her with Sean Stone. Bonding over their Welsh roots, they powered through the villa drama, stayed loyal during Casa Amor, said ‘I love you’ and even made it official with Ciaran asking Nicole to be his girlfriend. Who could forget that balcony necklace scene giving us early ’00s teen drama.
Nicole and Ciaran finished in second place on Love Island 2024 ©ITV Pictures
They finished as runners-up to winners Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan, leaving the villa in July 2024 arm-in-arm, gushing about their future. Ciaran called it ‘the greatest experience of my life,’ while Nicole swooned, ‘From beginning to end, it was always him.’
Post-villa, they moved in together and seemed unbreakable (they even did a shoot with us here at heat HQ), defending their romance against early split rumours just weeks before the end. But on 9 December 2024, a rep confirmed the shock split, stating, ‘Over the last couple of days Nicole and Ciaran have made the mutual decision to part ways. They have left the relationship on amicable terms, and will remain good friends going forward.’
Nicole and Ciaran ©ITV Pictures
Nicole later spilled the tea to Fake Bake, blaming the real world grind. ‘I was so busy with work, and he had loads of commitments. When you come out of that bubble, the real world sets in. You fall in love in the villa, but then you have to learn about each other on the outside,’ she said. ‘We drifted, and that’s fine… We’re still friends.’
So there you go, no bad blood, no cheating drama – just life pulling them apart. And before anyone starts to speculate as to whether Nicole might bombshell her way into the villa to pull a Harriett x Ronnie, cease – she is currently dating rugby player Dylan Williams, so that’s highly unlikely.
That’s not to say Emily won’t saunter in, though…
WATCH: Love Island’s Emily shares her thoughts on those Tommy x Lucy voice notes 👀
