Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti have won Love Island 2022 and will split the £50,000 prize money.
The couple finished ahead of Gemma Owen, 19, and Luca Bish, 23, who were awarded second place and narrowly missed out on the money, with bosses deciding to ditch the ‘split or steal’ twist that usually comes at the end.
In previous years, winners have picked an envelope which either has the prize money or nothing enclosed, with one person in the couple being given the £50,000 with the option to ‘split or steal’ the cash.
Winner, winner! Ekin-Su and Davide have won Love Island 2022 and will split the £50,000 prize money
This year, host Laura Whitmore, 37, announced they would automatically be sharing the money as producers opted to scrap the tradition which has been in place since series one.
As the news was announced, emotional Ekin-Su, 27, jumped into her Italian beau’s arms as they celebrated their win and speechless Davide, also 27, exclaimed he ‘couldn’t believe it’.
Congratulations rushed in for the genetically-blessed couple as viewers celebrated their win on social media, admitting that they thought the ‘right couple had won’.
Woo! Host laura wrapped her arms around Davide and Ekin-Su following their win
Look of love: The couple looked elated following their big win on the show
Almost… but not quite! The couple finished ahead of Gemma and Luca who were awarded second place and narrowly missed out on the £50,000 cash prize, with bosses deciding to ditch the ‘split or steal’ twist that usually comes at the end
Well done! Congratulations rushed in for the genetically-blessed couple as viewers celebrated their win on social media, admitting that they thought the ‘right couple had won’
One person gushed: ‘I knew Ekin-Su and Davide were going to win I’m so happy for them.’
LOVE ISLAND FINALISTS 2022
1st: Ekin Su and Davide
2nd: Gemma and Luca
3rd: Indiyah and Dami
4th: Tasha and Andrew
While another person said: ‘I actually think Ekin-Su and Davide might be my favourite Love Island couple ever.’
A third said: ‘Congratulations Ekin-Su and Davide. The Turkish Delight and Italian Stallion have gone and won!’
While Ekin-Su and Davide appeared to be the obvious choice to viewers, they joked that Luca appeared shocked by the news.
Luca was mocked by viewers who clocked his puzzled reaction after realising he hadn’t won.
The fishmonger couldn’t conceal his confusion when Ekin-Su and Davide were crowned the winners, while Gemma clapped politely as they accepted second place.
Sharing the screengrab to Twitter, fans of the show joked he would soon be asking for a recount, while questioning whether he ‘actually thought he would win’.
They wrote: ‘WHY THE F**K HE PULLING THAT FACE DID HE ACC THINK HE WOULD WIN,’ and, ‘Luca asking to talk to a manager about a recount.’
Others added: ‘Luca got humbled by Ekin-Su and Davide’s win. The satisfaction is real,’ and, Luca is going to sit us down and ask us why we didn’t vote them.’
‘Here we go again, are you serious why can’t Luca just be happy for Ekin and Davide for the rest of the show at least.’
More chimed in with: ‘IM FRAMING THIS AND HANGING IT IN THE LOUVRE,’ and, ‘Luca thinking he had the win in the pocket lmao.’
‘Did he actually think he would win?’ Luca was mocked by viewers who clocked his puzzled reaction after realising he hadn’t won Love Island 2022 during Monday’s final
Hilarious: Sharing the screengrab to Twitter, fans of the show joked he would soon be asking for a recount, while questioning whether he ‘actually thought he would win’
Asked what Ekin thought she would do if she won she is said to have written in a text: ‘It’s a game show at the end of the day, it’s business. If it’s not genuine I’d be tempted.
‘But I’m at the right age to find the right guy. I know what I’m looking for. I want to find The One.’
However judging by appearances, Ekin-Su certainly seems to have found the one as she gushed over her new boyfriend.
Ekin-Su said of making the final two on this year’s Love Island: ‘It feels so surreal finding the man of your dreams and just growing.’
Speaking about what she liked most about Davide, she added: ‘Apart from the perfect body, I would definitely say there was an instant spark and a genuine butterfly feeling.’
Tempting! Before enterting the villa, Ekin-Su had reportedly told a friend how she would be ‘tempted’ to steal the whole prize pot if her connection wasn’t genuine
Loved-up! However judging by appearances, Ekin-Su certainly seems to have found the one as she gushed over her new boyfriend
According to reports, Ekin-Su needn’t worry about whether she would split the prize, as experts predict she will become the richest Love Island contestant ever – even surpassing Molly-Mae Hague.
A source said: ‘There’s a pretty well-trodden path for Love Island winners. Over the past seven series it’s the usual fast fashion, drugstore make-up and then, of course, teeth whitening and protein shakes.
‘Only Molly-Mae has really and truly broken that mould but even she ended up finding a home at a High Street fashion brand, Pretty Little Thing, albeit on a £250,000 salary.
‘Ekin’s appeal to brands appears to have gone way beyond all that. It’s not just clothing brands, but big, global corporate brands that want to work with her. She’s going to be a very, very busy girl.’
Unreal: Ekin-Su said of making the final two on this year’s Love Island: ‘It feels so surreal finding the man of your dreams and just growing’
Smitten: Speaking about what she liked most about Davide, she added: ‘Apart from the perfect body, I would definitely say there was an instant spark and a genuine butterfly feeling’
She also summed up their relationship as ‘absolutely bonkers’, while Davide said he ‘couldn’t believe it’.
Earlier in the programme, Indiyah Polack, 23, and Dami Hope, 26, were awarded third place on the dating programme ahead of Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page who finished narrowly behind them in fourth place
The four couples gathered in the villa garden for the live finale hosted by Laura, as viewers waited to discover the winners following an eight-week run of the ITV2 dating show.
Congrats! The other couples came back on stage to congratulate Ekin-Su and Davide
Finalises: (L-R) Luca, Gemma, Ekin-Su, Laura, Davide, Indiyah, Dami, Tasha and Andrew
Delighted: Ekin-Su’s face said it all as their names were announced by Laura
Sealed with a kiss: As the news was announced, emotional Ekin-Su jumped into her beau’s arms as they celebrated their win and speechless Davide exclaimed he ‘couldn’t believe it’
Love Island: Indiyah and Dami have been awarded third place on Love Island 2022 ahead of Tasha and Andrew who finished narrowly behind them in fourth place
Indiyah and Dami have been awarded third place on Love Island 2022 ahead of Tasha and Andrew who finished narrowly behind them in fourth place
Laura announced that the couple had come in fourth place, as Tasha, 23, revealed she was delighted to have made it to the final with her boyfriend Andrew, 27.
Discussing his experience, Andrew said: ‘For me it was tough, it was clear that I liked Tasha. When the Casa girls came – it was tough but I had to open myself up and see if there was another connection. But it was still Tasha.’
Tasha revealed they have plans to move in together in London and continue the ‘good vibes’.
Fourth place: Laura announced that the couple had come in fourth place, as Tasha revealed she was delighted to have made it to the final with her boyfriend Andrew
Discussing his experience, Andrew said: ‘For me it was tough, it was clear that I liked Tasha. When the Casa girls came – it was tough but I had to open myself up and see if there was another connection. But it was still Tasha’
Good vibes only! Tasha revealed they have plans to move in together in London and continue the ‘good vibes’
Next announcing that Indiyah and Dami had finished in third place, the couple joined Laura for a chat on the sofa.
Laura noted that they were ‘really strong’ ahead of Casa Amor, but Indiyah said that she was very much ‘with Dami’ when they were separated but joked she ‘used her brain cells’ and was open to connections.
Indiyah discussed their ‘unbreakable connection’ which she said wouldn’t be broken by bombshells coming in by the end of their journey.
Finalists: They entered the last day of the show alongside Ekin-Su and Davide and Tasha and Andrew but missed out on the £50,000 prize after following the final public vote on Monday evening
Earlier, reflecting on his own experience, Davide said: ‘I didn’t expect this at the beginning – I’m with my other half it’s like a dream now!’
After discovering that they were in the final two, Davide and Ekin-Su sat down for chat with Laura, who asked how he felt coming into the villa as a bombshell, Davide said: ‘I was not stressed… who does not fancy [me]…’
Answering whether his head turned while coupled with Gemma, he said: ‘As soon as I saw her [Ekin] my head turned, I was like wow. Initial attraction or something more.’
Third place: Next announcing that Indiyah and Dami had finished in third place, the couple joined Laura for a chat on the sofa
Journey: Laura noted that they were ‘really strong’ ahead of Casa Amor, but Indiyah said that she was very much ‘with Dami’ when they were separated but joked she ‘used her brain cells’ and was open to connections
They also touched on meeting each other’s parents, Ekin said: ‘That was one those moments that was so special. I felt like this was my future mum, I felt so close to her even though we couldn’t speak the same language.’
Next up was Gemma and Luca’s turn, and Luca was quick to joke that he was glad they hadn’t been coupled up since day one because ‘eight weeks…