Entertainment

Love Island winners Amber and Greg fly back to UK after scooping £50k

They were joined on the plane by their fellow finalists.
They were joined on the plane by their fellow finalists. They were joined on the plane by their fellow finalists.

Love Island winners Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea will return to the UK today after scooping the £50,000 prize.

The pair both shared videos on their Instagram stories as they boarded a flight in Majorca alongside other finalists Molly-Mae Hague, Tommy Fury, India Reynolds, Ovie Soko, Maura Higgins and Curtis Pritchard.

Greg wrapped his arm around Amber in a video as he said: “Let’s go! She’s finally coming home after nine weeks away!”

Greg and Amber
Greg and Amber (Instagram)

Meanwhile, Amber shared a selfie of the pair captioned: “Home Time.”

Last night the pair celebrated their first chance of privacy away from the glare of TV cameras as Greg shared a selfie of the pair in bed together, writing: “Love island…completed it mate.”

Amber and Greg
Amber and Greg Amber and Greg (Instagram)

More than 3.6 million people tuned in to watch the couple be named the surprise winners of Love Island, according to ITV.

A further 400,000 fans streamed the episode on non-TV devices such as phones and tablets.

The climax of the ITV2 dating series was watched by 3.63 million, up slightly from the 3.56 million who tuned in to watch Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham win last year.

This made it the most watched Love Island final ever and the most watched episode of the series, which has been a ratings triumph for the youth-skewing channel.

They are the first winning pair who have not been together for the majority of the series.

Greg only entered the villa in the July 16 episode as the very last bombshell of the two-month series.

The other finalists also shared videos and photos from their journey home, with Maura posting a picture of her and Curtis, writing: “I’m back everybody. Absolutely shocked & overwhelmed with all the support for me and @curtispritchard12.

Maura and Curtis
Maura and Curtis (Instagram)

“Thankyou so much from the bottom of my heart. We love you all. London we on the way.”

Popular contestants from the show stand to rake in a lucrative income in endorsements and appearances, but will be subjected to increased scrutiny and attention.

Amber already has 2.1 million followers on Instagram, while Maura has 1.6 million and Ovie has 1.5 million.

Molly-Mae, who was already an Instagram influencer before she joined the show, has 2.5 million and boxer Tommy has 2.1 million.

They took part in the first series since ITV announced an enhanced duty of care process for participants on the show, including a minimum of eight therapy sessions.

The deaths of former Love Island contestants Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis led to increased scrutiny on ITV over the reality show’s aftercare.

On Monday, Ofcom announced proposals for new rules to ensure people who take part in television and radio shows are properly looked after by broadcasters.

One element of the proposed guidance for post-production is advising potential participants on steps to minimise or limit social media contact post-transmission.

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has also launched an inquiry into reality TV following the deaths of Gradon, Thalassitis, and The Jeremy Kyle Show participant Steve Dymond.

It has been announced that next year Love Island will run for two series.