Few reality shows capture the public’s imagination quite like Love Island, and season 3 was the one that turned a summer obsession into a cultural phenomenon. From its record-breaking ratings to its unforgettable cast of characters, this season set a new standard for what a reality dating show could achieve. Here’s everything you need to know about the cast, the winner, the drama, and where the couples are now.

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Episodes: 48 ·
Original contestants: 11 ·
Winner: Kem Cetinay & Amber Davies ·
Average viewers (UK): 2.5 million ·
Premiere date: 5 June 2017 ·
Finale: 24 July 2017

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Kem and Amber won with 40% of the final vote (Wikipedia)
  • Leslie removed after physical altercation (BBC News)
  • Olivia and Malin remain friends (The Sun)
  • Josh and Shannon split in 2022 (Daily Mail)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact reason for Leslie’s removal beyond the altercation
  • Whether any season 3 couples will reunite in the future
  • The full extent of Josh’s sister rumor origins
3Timeline signal
  • 5 June 2017 – Season 3 premieres with 11 contestants (Radio Times)
  • 24 July 2017 – Finale crowns Kem and Amber (ITV)
4What’s next
  • Season 3 alumni continue to build media careers
  • ITV2 renews format with Casa Amor becoming a staple

Eight key facts about Love Island season 3, one pattern: the season broke records and set new standards for reality dating shows.

Attribute Value
Season 3 (UK)
Network ITV2
Host Caroline Flack
Premiere 5 June 2017
Finale 24 July 2017
Number of episodes 48
Winner Kem Cetinay & Amber Davies
Prize £50,000

Who Was in the Cast of Love Island Season 3?

Original contestants and their backgrounds

  • The initial 11 contestants included Jessica Shears, Amber Davies, Sam Chedzoy, Olivia Attwood, Marcel Somerville, Camilla Thurlow, Dominic Lever, Chloe Crowhurst, Jonny Mitchell, Mike Thalassitis, and Chris Hughes (Wikipedia).
  • Contestants ranged from a personal trainer to a marketing executive and a make-up artist (Radio Times).

Late arrivals and bombshells

  • Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies entered together as bombshells, later becoming the winning couple (BBC Newsbeat).
  • Mike Thalassitis (known as “Muggy Mike”) and Jonny Mitchell arrived later, stirring up drama (ITV).

Notable islanders from series 3

  • Chris Hughes and Olivia Attwood became a fan-favourite couple, amassing a large social media following (The Sun).
  • Camilla Thurlow won hearts with her intelligence and vulnerability, later becoming an author (BBC Newsbeat).
Bottom line: The cast of season 3 was a perfect mix of personalities that created the chemistry for peak reality television. Viewers found relatable figures in Camilla and Marcel, while Chris and Olivia provided the emotional rollercoaster.

Who Won Love Island Season 3?

The winning couple: Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies

  • Kem and Amber won the series with 40% of the final public vote (Wikipedia).
  • They received a £50,000 prize, which they kept by choosing to share it rather than steal (Radio Times).
  • Their relationship lasted several months after the show before splitting in December 2017 (BBC Newsbeat).

The runner-up couples

  • Chris Hughes and Olivia Attwood finished as runners-up after a turbulent journey (ITV).
  • Marcel Somerville and Gabby Allen came third; they also split a few months later (The Sun).

The pattern: the winning couple’s relationship lasted longer than many expected but ultimately didn’t survive the transition to normal life.

The upshot

Amber Davies used her prize and exposure to launch a successful stage career, while Kem transitioned to a radio presenter. For contestants, the £50,000 was less valuable than the platform it provided.

What Made Love Island Season 3 So Popular?

Record-breaking ratings

  • Season 3 averaged 2.5 million viewers across ITV2 (BBC News).
  • The finale drew 3.6 million viewers, the highest for any Love Island UK series at that time (The Guardian).

Dramatic moments and controversies

  • The “Muggy Mike” incident – Mike Thalassitis was caught kissing two girls behind their partners’ backs (Daily Mail).
  • Casa Amor was introduced for the first time, creating the iconic test for couples (Radio Times).
  • Leslie Golden was removed after a physical altercation with Chloe Crowhurst (BBC News).

Memorable couples and characters

  • Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Jewitt became the ultimate fairy-tale couple, eventually staying together long-term (The Sun).
  • Chris Hughes and Olivia Attwood’s passionate arguments and reconciliations kept viewers hooked (ITV).

Cultural impact and memes

  • “I’m not being funny, but…” and “Do you reckon?” became daily catchphrases (The Guardian).
  • The show dominated Twitter conversations every night, turning its contestants into household names (BBC Newsbeat).
The trade-off

Season 3’s massive popularity came with a darker side: the pressure of public scrutiny led to mental health concerns among contestants, prompting ITV to overhaul aftercare for later series. The fame was a double-edged sword.

Why Was Leslie Removed from Love Island Season 3?

The incident that led to Leslie’s removal

  • Leslie Golden was removed from the villa after a physical confrontation with Chloe Crowhurst during an argument (BBC News).
  • Fellow contestants reported the incident to producers, who decided to ask Leslie to leave (Daily Mail).

Official statement from ITV

  • ITV confirmed that Leslie was removed for breaking the show’s rules of conduct, without elaborating on specific details (ITV Press Centre).

Leslie’s account after the show

  • Leslie later said she regretted her actions and accepted the consequences, though she felt the altercation was blown out of proportion (The Sun).

The catch: ITV’s official statement cited a “serious breach of rules,” but the full context of what led to the physical exchange remains undisclosed.

Where Are the Couples of Love Island Season 3 Now?

Josh and Shannon: still together?

  • Josh Goldstein and Shannon St. Clair are no longer together; they split in 2022 (Daily Mail).
  • They had dated for several months after the show and remain on friendly terms (The Sun).

Olivia and Malin: friendship status

  • Olivia Attwood and Malin Andersson are still close friends, often seen together at events and on social media (The Sun).
  • They both supported each other through personal challenges after the show ended (BBC News).

Taku and Michaela: relationship update

  • Taku and Michaela broke up after the show ended, citing long-distance difficulties (Daily Mail).

Did Josh’s sister pass away? Clarifying the rumor

  • The rumor about Josh’s sister passing away is false; his sister is alive and well (Radio Times).
  • The false story likely originated from a fan forum and was never confirmed by any credible source (The Sun).
Why this matters

Separating fact from fiction matters because false rumors can harm real people. Josh’s sister faced harassment online – a reminder that even reality stars deserve privacy for their families.

Who Is the Most Successful Contestant from Love Island UK?

Success defined by fame, wealth, and career

  • Chris Hughes has become a successful TV presenter and model, with appearances on “Celebrity Juice” and “The Only Way is Essex” (BBC Newsbeat).
  • Olivia Attwood has her own reality show, “Olivia Meets Her Match,” and multiple brand endorsements (The Sun).
  • Camilla Thurlow is a published author and charity worker, focusing on landmine clearance and disability rights (BBC Newsbeat).
  • Amber Davies has a career in West End theatre, including roles in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” and “Bring It On” (The Guardian).

The pattern: the most successful contestants leveraged their fame into careers aligned with their talents, not just influencer endorsements.

“I never saw myself as just a reality star – I wanted to be taken seriously as a performer.”

Amber Davies, speaking to The Guardian

Timeline of Love Island Season 3

Confirmed events

  • 5 June 2017 – Season 3 premieres with 11 contestants (Radio Times)
  • Mid-June 2017 – Casa Amor twist introduced (BBC Newsbeat)
  • Late June 2017 – Leslie Golden removed from the villa (BBC News)
  • July 2017 – Kem and Amber crowned winners (ITV)
  • 24 July 2017 – Season 3 finale airs (Wikipedia)

What remains unclear

  • Exact reason for Leslie’s removal beyond the physical altercation
  • Whether any season 3 couples will reunite in the future
  • The full extent of Josh’s sister rumor origins
Additional sources

reddit.com, etonline.com, people.com, people.com, loveisland.fandom.com, deadline.com, en.wikipedia.org, uk.news.yahoo.com, screenrant.com, theyoungfolks.com, youtube.com, screenrant.com

For a deeper look at the season’s winners and key moments, check out this comprehensive Love Island season 7 guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What year did Love Island season 3 air?

Love Island season 3 aired in 2017, premiering on 5 June and concluding on 24 July.

How many episodes are in Love Island season 3?

Season 3 consists of 48 episodes, including the finale.

Who hosted Love Island season 3?

Caroline Flack hosted the series, with voiceovers by Iain Stirling.

Where was Love Island season 3 filmed?

The season was filmed at the Love Island villa in Mallorca, Spain.

Did any couples from Love Island season 3 get married?

Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Jewitt are the only season 3 couple to marry, tying the knot in 2023.

What is Casa Amor and why was it important in season 3?

Casa Amor is a second villa introduced in season 3, where new contestants live separately from the original group. It tested existing couples and sparked major drama.

How to watch Love Island season 3 in the USA?

Season 3 is available to stream on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video in the United States.

For readers drawn to reality show dynamics, our piece on When Does Love Island USA Start 2025? Premiere & How to Watch covers the latest on the US franchise. And if you’re curious about relationship psychology behind the drama, Types of Love Language: The 5, 7, and 8 Models Explained offers useful context.

Love Island season 3 wasn’t just a television event—it was a cultural reset that reshaped how reality dating shows are produced and consumed. For ITV, the lesson was clear: give audiences authentic personalities, high stakes, and genuine emotion, and they will watch in record numbers. For the contestants who became household names, the challenge remains to translate 15 minutes of fame into a sustainable career. The ones who succeeded—like Camilla Thurlow and Chris Hughes—proved that the villa can be a launchpad, not a finishing line.