He’s been an Islander twice and Chris Taylor is now sharing his knowledge as an Aftersun panellist and podcast host
KENZI DEVINE
It’s been five years since Chris Taylor first rose to fame on Love Island and, while he may not have found love on the show, he has had one heck of a ride ever since.
After his appearance raised Chris’s profile and even led to a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role in the hit movie Barbie, the 33-year-old returned to the villa for a second go at romance in January in Love Island: All Stars.
And with the iconic dating show back on our screens, Chris chats exclusively about what life on the ITV2 show is really like – from queuing for cameras to leaving the villa for cheat meals. After bagging a regular spot on the show’s spin-off Aftersun and currently filming for the 13th series of Celebs Go Dating, he also provides an update on his ongoing search for love…
Hi, Chris! What are your thoughts on this series of Love Island so far?
It’s early days, but it’s looking really good. The line-up is looking spicy and they threw in Joey Essex, which is kind of like a multiverse moment. I liked that they did something different during the first episode by coupling up the Islanders based on who was the most “boyfriend or girlfriend material” – it added more depth to it rather than being purely based on aesthetics.
Is it nerve-wracking going into the villa?
It’s the next level of nervousness. I actually forgot how to walk the first time I did it. They make you do your “walk-in” over and over again. My legs failed, my brain failed. It feels like you’ve gone for a nap and then, all of a sudden, you’re walking into this villa that you’ve seen on TV so many times but never seen in real life. And if you’re going in as a bombshell, you’ve been watching all these people on TV so they feel famous to you. It’s weird. It’s hard as a bombshell, especially if you go in late. I was basically doing the graveyard shift when I went in because everyone was so settled.
What can the Islanders expect when they leave the show?
Leaving the show is really weird. My favourite comparison for this is finding out that you’re Harry Potter. People just randomly start chatting to you in the street. It can be tough some days when you just want to get a coffee and go home, but it is nice too. Being on the show matures you because you have to learn things fast.
You’ve been successful since the show. What’s your secret?
I think finding a niche is important
