Love Island favourite Shaughna Phillips has admitted she wishes she’d swapped Callum Jones for Luke Mabbot sooner, after being dumped from the villa.
The democratic services officer, who has been hugely popular among fans of the ITV2 reality show, was voted off the Island after Luke picked Demi Jones over her in Friday night’s recoupling.
Shaughna had only just confessed her feelings for Luke M over the last few days, but it was a case of too little, too late for the Justin Bieber look-a-like.
Speaking after her exit, Shaughna – who was coupled up with Callum, before he dumped her for Molly Smith in Casa Amor last week – said: “If I had my time again I’d definitely have ditched Callum sooner, which would then have left me with some ‘openness’ and then I’d have probably noticed I liked Luke M a lot sooner than I did.
“I didn’t know I fancied him at first, but I knew there was something there.”
She continued: “I’m glad I went out on a genuine note and didn’t force anything with anyone else.”
Despite Luke not choosing her, Shaughna confessed she still hopes she could be in with a chance if things don’t go well between him and Demi.
“I’m more than happy to carry on talking to him,” she said. “Obviously depending on how things go with Demi.”
Of the pair’s relationship, Shaughna went on: “I think there could be a genuine connection there. They are two of the loveliest people I’ve ever met. They’re two very good looking people and they’re honestly such sweethearts so I can only imagine those two going on to do.”
She added: “I’m definitely glad I stayed for as long as I did. There wasn’t a chance of me leaving. I’m an Aries and I’m stubborn. If I was going to leave, it was either going to be by winning or by being dumped.
“My time in the villa, I wouldn’t change it for the world and I left when I needed to leave.”
Aside from Luke and Demi, Friday night’s recoupling also saw new boy Jamie Clayton pick Natalia Zoppa, while all other couples remained together.
With just over a week until the final, Siannise Fudge and Luke Trottman are the current bookies’ favourite to win the series, closely followed by Finn Tapp and Paige Turley.
Love Island airs Sunday at Friday at 9pm on ITV2.