IT’S been a long wait – but finally someone with an East Lancashire link has joined the cast of this year’s Love Island.

Sam Jackson, from Clitheroe, will make his first appearance during this evening’s show when contestants will be split from their partners as the notorious ‘Casa Amor’ stint begins.

Since the third series of the show when it was introduced, Casa Amor has pushed couples to their limits as heads are turned and even the most stable of relationships are rocked. 

Lancashire Telegraph:

And 23-year-old Sam will be hoping to do just that – bagging himself a girl and a permanent spot inside the main villa.

The former St Augustine’s High School pupil flew out to Majorca over two weeks ago and has been in self-isolation ever since.

The news was announced on his Instagram page before Sunday's show with a picture of Sam alongside the caption 'The Ribble Valley's worst kept secret is finally out for all to see'.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Due to strict rules about Covid testing and isolation, it is understood that show bosses have had over twenty potential islanders waiting in the wings to make an appearance on the show.

Some have made it as one-off additions while others have had to wait until Casa Amor began to make it on screen.

Sam, a keen cricketer and footballer, is a welder who was working at Hanson Cement, formerly Castle Cement, before he signed-up for a spot on the Island.

Lancashire Telegraph:

This isn’t the first-time participants from Lancashire have appeared on the reality TV show with the hope of finding love and bagging the £50,000 cash prize.

In 2018 Burnley car salesman Dean Overson made an appearance, as did Blackpool-born Kendal Rae Knight.