Paige Turley has backed Laura Whitmore to present Love Island full-time – as she tips thousands more entrants for the summer series due to lockdown.
The Love Island beauty, 22, who was crowned winner of the first winter series in South Africa with boyfriend Finn Tapp, 20, has urged singletons in isolation to apply for ‘six weeks in the sun meeting hot boys and girls.’
She also believes TV presenter Laura, 34, should front the ITV2 show on a permanent basis after doing an ‘amazing job’ earlier this year.
‘I absolutely love Laura’: Paige Turley has backed Laura Whitmore to present Love Island full-time – as she tips thousands more entrants for the summer series due to lockdown
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, she said: ‘I absolutely love Laura; I thought she was lovely.
‘Obviously we only got to see her for short spells throughout the series, if someone was coming in or if someone was leaving so we didn’t get to see her a lot but when we did she was lovely.
‘I actually haven’t watched the series back but the bits I have seen she did an amazing job, so I definitely think Laura should be continuing and be the presenter.
‘There will be so many more applicants – and they should, they should 100 per cent apply.
Host: According to Paige TV presenter Laura, who’s reportedly signed a £1million deal to front the summer series of Love Island, did an ‘amazing job’ this year in South Africa
‘It’s six weeks and you’ll be in the sun, meeting all these hot boys and girls. They should apply.
‘I had so much fun in the villa and I can speak for Finn as well, he had a lot of fun. So definitely, if anyone is thinking about it, they should.’
It has been reported that Laura signed a £1million deal with ITV to present Love Island going forward, after taking over presenting duties from Caroline Flack.
Former host Caroline, who tragically lost her life this year, gave close friend Laura her blessing to host the show when she was unable to.
‘They should apply’: The Love Island star, who was crowned winner of the first winter series with boyfriend Finn Tapp, has urged singletons in isolation to apply for the ITV2 show
Singer Paige is currently in isolation with her mum Nicky and step-dad Stephen, as well as Finn, who’s moved from Milton Keynes to Scotland to be with her.
And while some young couples may find being in lockdown with their parents intense, Paige insists being cooped up with her boyfriend is something she’s become accustomed to.
She said: ‘Finn and I have got really good at isolating together. We had the experience in the villa.
‘It’s been a strange start to our relationship. We have been living with each other from the very start.
‘He’s been my right hand’: Paige insists the couple are still in the ‘honeymoon period’ despite isolating together at her family home in Scotland with her mum and step-dad
‘It’s strange but we’re really good at it because it’s all we’ve ever known.
‘We literally had this conversation today. We have spent I think four days maximum apart from each other since January.
‘How on earth will we cope spending a couple of nights apart? It’ll be strange. He’s been my right hand.’
She added: ‘I’m not going to lie, the first couple of days in isolation we definitely coach surfed, watched Netflix and lived off of Pot Noodle.
‘But we’ve been quite lucky; we’re very much in the honeymoon period.
‘Everything is good and rosy just now. Everything is funny and cute but give me five years and I’m sure I’ll be saying everything that annoys me.’
‘How on earth will we cope?’: The singer says she dreads when she will be separated from Finn, who she hasn’t spent longer than four days apart since they met in January
Paige, who had a two-year romance with Scots chart-topper Lewis Capaldi, 23, said her heart is set on releasing new music once normal life resumes and she’s had plenty of inspiration to write following her last four months in the spotlight.
She said: ‘When the world comes off my pause my music is something I want to be back involved in and that I’m in talks with and stuff.
‘There’s a lot of exciting stuff that’s going to happen but it’s just a case of when.
‘I went travelling last year and from then I just stopped writing music, there was Love Island so for a while I haven’t been writing but in isolation when you’re finding you have that more time, you find yourself writing.
‘I’ve had so many experiences the last half of the year; I’m like, what on earth has just happened? That’s unbelievable.
‘But that’s all the inspiration someone needs to write and put their feelings on paper. I’ve definitely had a lot of time to reflect.’
‘In talks’: She has her heart set on releasing new music when normal life resumes, following in the footsteps of her ex-boyfriend Brit Award winner, Lewis Capaldi
The couple, who beat runners-up Siannise Fudge and Luke Trotman in February, still haven’t had the chance to spend a penny of their £50,000 cash prize.
Paige confirmed they finally received their award during lockdown, so spoiling herself with her winnings hasn’t been possible.
She said: ‘We’ve had our hands tied because we’ve been in lockdown since we received the Love Island money.
‘So we haven’t been able to have a shopping spree but I’m sure once it over we will.
‘We haven’t treated ourselves to anything yet; literally this is just my luck. I day out shopping is definitely on the cards. I would love a Mac Book and a holiday.’
In the bank: The couple still haven’t had the chance to spend a penny of their £50,000 cash prize after receiving it in lockdown