Ron and Lana Are Early Favorites for Love Island 2023
The ninth series of Love Island has entered its second week. The ITV show initially welcomed 11 contestants. Producers choose to call these ‘islanders’. But, as the hit show is filmed in South Africa, ‘islanders’ is an inaccurate description. Maybe consideration should be given to renaming the program Love Continent!
This current series of Love Island is filmed in the Franschhoek Valley in South Africa’s Western Cape. The area is best known for winemaking. ©GettyImages
Islanders or candidates… the initial 11 ‘characters’ were joined by two fresh faces on day three and two more on day seven. One person has already departed. Of the initial five couplings, only one pair – Shaq and Tanya – stayed together following a recoupling exercise on day five.
These are very early days. A Love Island series normally runs for eight weeks and encompasses 49 episodes. The only nights the entertainment show is not broadcast are Saturdays. However, this void is filled by a companion show, ‘Love Island: Aftersun’.
Love Island Doors Are Ajar
There is always a revolving door of candidates arriving and leaving the ITV2 show. The last series – won by Davide Sanclimenti and current Dancing on Ice contender Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu – saw 36 individuals come and go. Series seven featured 38 people, as did 2018s summer Love Island won by Dani Dyer.
But punters and Love Island’s four million viewers will know the eventual winning couple will probably have a long tenure in the Love Island villa. The winning couple from series two, three and four were both residents of the Love Island villa from day one. And one-half of the winning duo from series one, five, six and eight were day one arrivals.
As usual, the online betting sites that offer odds on television shows have in-play markets on top female, top male and winning couple. It is Ron Hall and Lana Jenkins that top the winning-couple betting list. Bizarrely they are not currently coupled.
Ron Only Has Eyes for Lana
Ron can be backed at 2/1 to be the top male. The 25-year-old financial advisor from Essex was stolen away from Lana by rival Tanyel during a recoupling on day five. He may be blind in one eye, but that eye appears focused on reuniting with Lana at the earliest opportunity.
During Monday’s show, Lana revealed to Ron that her ex-boyfriend is actor Owen Warner. The Hollyoaks star appeared in 2022s I’m a Celebrity where he was a viewer favorite and finished runner-up to Jill Scott with 43 percent of the final vote.
From a public voting standpoint, this relationship could work in Lana’s favor. Most firms have made the connection and currently quote the blonde make-up artist at just 13/8. William Hill offers a more generous 5/2.
Talking and Supporting Will Young
Since Monday morning, there has been significant market support for Will Young. Stories in that day’s press suggested the 23-year-old farmer from Buckinghamshire is the most talked about male contestant on Twitter. That news seemingly set a ball in motion.
It was a ball that snowballed when a positive date with Jessie Wynter – a day seven arrival from Australia – went well so well Will declared: “It’s probably the most romantic date I’ve ever been on.” For her part, Jessie confided in fellow female contestants: “I could have sat there and spoken to him all day.”
