Fan Holmes in on Love Island villa
A FAN of Love Island turned sleuth to identify the villa being used for this year’s show.
Victoria Allen, 44, downloaded a pic of the villa during building works and used its window design and the direction it faces to match it to a home on the internet.
The web designer established correctly that this year’s contestants will stay at a rustic villa on a sprawling estate in eastern Majorca.
Mum-of-three Vic – whose family used to own property on the island – said: “I’m a massive Love Island fan and followed news about the new villa closely. I’m in an internetbased job and I love maths, so I made it my mission to find out where it is.”
As well as spotting the unusual window pattern, Vic looked at the shadows and the direction of the solar panels in the photo, which showed the house was north facing.
She adds: “It matched beautifully. I know it sounds sad but it was fun working out where it is.” A local rental site says the property where host Laura Whitmore will introduce contestants is a “true refuge”, with “breathtaking views”.
Bosses will hope the fresh air can breathe new life into the show after last year’s viewing figures halved from six million to less than three. The villa used to sleep 12 and had six bedrooms, a sun terrace and outdoor shower.
But it has been revamped ahead of this year’s show, starting next week.
The pool is intact, while there looks to be seating areas at ground level and on an upper terrace.
There is a gym space, while the famous fire pit, where couples learn their fate, is a cert.
Hopefuls – rumoured to include singer Ronan Keating’s daughter Missy, 21 – are expected to date at nearby attractions which include four beaches, a golf course and “great tapas bars”.
I made it my mission to find out where it was.. it was fun doing it! VICTORIA ALLEN LOVE ISLAND ‘DETECTIVE’
PATRICK HILL
BY THE Duchess of Sussex is set to finally heal the bitter four-year rift with her ailing father Thomas.
Meghan is understood to have reached out to her dad’s camp after it emerged that he is in hospital recovering from a stroke.
Sources say Meghan, 40, wanted to find out exactly where he is being treated and whether he may be using an assumed name.
Thomas Markle, 77 – unable to speak after the stroke – is believed to be in San Diego, a three-hour drive from Meghan and Harry’s California mansion. If his condition worsens, Meghan’s presence at the Queen’s
Platinum Jubilee celebrations could be in question – or she may have to cut short her UK trip to be at his side. She, husband Prince Harry, 37, and their children arrive in the UK this week. An insider said: “Despite their estrangement, Meghan is, of course, concerned. She wants to know if there is any way to contact her father privately, without other family knowing about it or having to get involved. “She wants to find out what hospital he’s at, which ward he’s in and if he’s using a false name, which he is believed to be doing so no one can find him. He doesn’t have his mobile phone and, because of his stroke, he cannot speak.” Meghan is said to be concerned contacting her father will mean having to communicate with her halfsiblings Thomas Jr, 55, and Samantha.
Sam, 57 – who has launched a defamation legal case against Meghan – has remained home in Florida but may soon fly out to be with their dad.
Thomas Jr is believed to be with his dad in hospital. Our source said Meghan, who has a number of media deals, hopes contact can be established with the minimum of fuss.
The insider added: “Meghan can’t contact her half-siblings because she believes they have their own agendas.
“If she can contact their dad, she wants it to be totally private. It won’t involve Netflix, it won’t involve any photographs and it must not involve any tip-offs to the paparazzi.
“It also has to happen soon as she and Harry are due to fly to London to attend the jubilee celebrations.”
Meghan’s relationship with her father crumbled after he posed for paparazzi pics being measured for his suit ahead of Meghan’s 2018 wedding.
It caused a huge stink and he missed the nuptials. The official
reason was given as a heart attack – one of two he has suffered. Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland was at the wedding and her father-inlaw Prince Charles walked her up the aisle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Thomas later claimed Meghan had not responded to his attempts to contact her.
He also took a swipe at Harry after a tense phone call. In her interview with
Oprah Winfrey, Meghan spoke of a “betrayal” by her father. The rift grew deeper when details of a letter Meghan sent to her father ended up in the press, leading to a court battle over copyright and privacy. Thomas has never met Harry or his grandchildren Archie, three, and Lilibet, who is one next Saturday. Meghan referred to her father when talking about miscarriage and a sense of loss. She said: “I grieve a lot. I mean, I’ve lost my father. I lost a baby. But I’m still standing.” Meghan’s team was contacted for comment.