Former Love Island winner Gabby Allen has publicly addressed growing calls from some fans for the popular ITV dating series to be temporarily taken off air. The champion of last year's All Stars edition, who triumphed with partner Casey O'Gorman, has firmly stated her belief that the show should continue.
"They Say That Every Year": Allen Dismisses Pause Calls
Ahead of the show's launch on Wednesday, 15 January 2026, Allen revealed she would be cancelling her plans to tune in. "They say that every year," she said of the critics. "I think every year, the show is different. I don't think they should pause it. I look forward to it – even in the summer – we don't get a lot of sun, but I'm at home watching it at 9pm every night."
The series faced an initial delay to its start this week due to ongoing wildfires in South Africa, which caused road closures around the villa and forced producers to postpone filming. However, bosses confirmed filming had commenced and the show would air as planned on Wednesday evening.
"I couldn't believe that it couldn't start on Monday but I'm so excited, I'm going to be there with my feet up at 9pm," Allen added, while expressing relief that everyone was safe from the wildfires.
Authenticity and New Ventures: Life After the Villa
Allen, who first appeared on the show in 2017, described her second stint on Love Island: All Stars as a profoundly different experience. She credits this to embracing her true self on camera. "I was just authentically myself... It made the whole experience more pleasurable. I wasn't worried about what everybody else was thinking all the time," she explained.
Since winning and subsequently splitting from O'Gorman three months later in May 2025, Allen has focused on her career. She starred in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and is building her own female-focused fitness brand. She described last year as "career-driven" and is not actively seeking a serious relationship, preferring to meet someone organically rather than through dating apps, which she called a "minefield."
Opening Up on Screen and Building Community
Her time on Celebrity SAS saw Allen open up about personal struggles, including the death of her father from brain cancer when she was 20. She found the experience "scary but rewarding," especially after receiving messages from viewers who related to her story.
Looking forward, Allen's primary focus is her fitness community aimed at women from all walks of life. "I want as many women as possible to feel healthy. It's not about anything else; it's just about feeling healthy and fit," she stated, emphasising her goal to enter the new year surrounded by strong women.
Despite the controversy, Allen remains a "super fan" of Love Island and is confident it still has a place on television. Love Island: All Stars launched on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on Wednesday night.
