Love Island legend Alex Bowen reveals why he finds it hard to rewatch his old episodes

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A shorter version of this article first appeared in TopMob magazine.

This year marks a decade since Love Island‘s reboot, and one of its enduring couples – Alex Bowen (aged 34) from Wolverhampton and Olivia (aged 31) from Chelmsford – are set to expand their family with the arrival of their second child. They found each other on the show in 2016, where they finished as runners-up.

Previously known as the Islanders, they’ve been married for nearly seven years now. They’ve established a real estate company called The Bowen Homes Ltd and previously managed a clothing brand named Exempt Society. Alex refers to participating in Love Island as “the most outstanding decision I’ve ever made.

His journey started when he was employed as a scaffolder. On a gloomy day, he got a text inviting him to join the second season of Love Island amidst his mud-covered attire. His boss assured him that his job would be there for him whenever he returned, and so he embarked on this adventure. Since then, it’s been etched in reality TV lore.

It takes effort to make a lasting relationship on Love Island, according to Alex. He explains, “You need to work hard for it. Nothing worth having ever comes easily.

As a passionate film enthusiast, stepping into the villa felt like walking onto the set of my favorite movie. My objective was to stir things up, but what I’ll never forget is the first time I laid eyes on Olivia – let’s just say it left an X-rated impression. “I remember it clearly,” I chuckle, “they were all asleep, and the curtains parted to reveal Liv’s charming derriere. I thought to myself, ‘Now that’s a captivating sight.’

He finds it challenging to describe to an outsider just how strong the connections formed among Island residents inside the villa truly are, as they’re hard to understand without personal experience.

He mentions, “There are no wall-mounted clocks here.” As a result, since you’re in an unusual environment, you find yourselves talking to each other quite frequently. Conversations that might normally take place six months from now seem to happen just two days into it. It’s certainly an odd experience.

On the day of the finale, Alex had made up his mind about Olivia. Regrettably, expressing his feelings towards her didn’t turn out as planned.

He recalls a moment when he felt deeply in love. He expressed his feelings by saying, ‘I love you,’ but she didn’t seem to hear him. They were on the verge of starting their life together, and as he whispered ‘I love you’ and gave her a hug, she looked puzzled and asked, ‘What?’ It wasn’t until two weeks later that she confessed her feelings for him, to which he let her believe she had said it first.

Additionally, he recalls that he was so surprised by the possibility of winning the show, he hadn’t even packed a suit for the finale. Consequently, the production team had to quickly fetch him one.

After the series ended, there was a lot of backlash towards Alex and Olivia from the audience. When we stepped out of the villa, people assumed that I would quickly get rid of Olivia. However, we showed everyone that we are not easily defeated. While we do have disagreements and quarrels, I must admit that I can be quite bothersome as I still have a bit of an immature streak.

Additionally, he highlights the fact that viewers only get a glimpse of the Love Island participants’ full personalities while they’re on-screen. Everyone portrays a character or fits into a specific mold, even him.

In a dramatic entrance, he describes himself as initially causing chaos, only to later find love. However, he points out that what viewers saw wasn’t an accurate portrayal of him acting foolishly or throwing grapes at conversations, just being silly. Instead, everyone seems to have a unique aspect to their character.

Six months after departing from the villa, Alex popped the question to Olivia on New Year’s Eve in New York City. He reminisces about the tension involved in sneaking the engagement ring past airport security, narrowly avoiding detection, but he considers the anxiety a small price to pay for the joy that followed.

He acknowledges that re-watching the series where he first met Olivia is challenging for him, despite its significant role in building their relationship foundation.

Alex remarks, ‘I’ve seen snippets of those moments.’ It feels strange for him because he and Liv experienced it firsthand. They had disagreements, and he’s not keen on revisiting those times. That period in their lives molded them into the couple they are today. Perhaps when he’s more mature!

In 2025, the significant change in the influence of social media compared to 2016, including issues like trolling and cancel culture, creates a vastly different experience for contestants on Love Island than it was for Alex back then.

Alex remarks that he’s currently watching the show, but doesn’t believe their challenges are more severe. However, one can easily make a mistake and face harsh criticism. He adds, ‘It seems everyone on social media is quick to pounce on mistakes. People seem eager to bring others down when they’re already struggling.’

“But at the end of the day, you go on there, you’re putting yourself out there, it’s your choice.”

With the growing popularity of the show, there’s been an idea floating around that participants aren’t so much seeking love within the villa, but rather, fame and financial gain. Alex acknowledges this allure, yet he believes that at heart, contestants are still yearning for a fulfilling romantic conclusion in their lives.

He notes, “That’s primarily why individuals participate – to find love. However, many reality TV participants today seek personal growth, professional advancement, and a chance to transform their lives. They aspire for something beyond their current jobs, and I understand that desire too.

He ponders over the growing impact of social media since departing from the show, and expresses his gratitude for having Olivia with him during their journey through the chaos that followed the villa. On the day of the finale, he amassed 250,000 new followers on Instagram.

He expressed, “As soon as we stepped out, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly fortunate to have someone by my side.” He explains that he was informed he had only six months to prove himself before the cast for the next series was revealed. They were unaware of their tasks and lacked a plan. At that time, social media wasn’t as widespread as it is now, so they simply went along with whatever happened.

As they prepare for the arrival of their second child (who joined the family in 2022, a son named Abel), the dilemma arises: When should parents reveal to their children that they first met on Love Island, and is it appropriate for them to watch the show?

Alex states that he won’t allow them to watch [something] until they reach a specific age, implying that it may not come up as an issue unless they inquire about how we became acquainted.

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2025-07-28 23:34