As Dani and Jack leave the Love Island villa, will our fave couple go the distance?
They’re out! Now the real test begins
W ho can believe that, only a few months ago, “Jack and Dani” was rhyming slang for a lady’s privates? But, in just eight weeks, two love-searching singletons by the names of Jack Fincham and Eastenders’ Danny Dyer’s daughter Dani stole each other’s hearts, and the nation’s, with their mutual adoration (and the fact that they instantly became the best kind of old married couple – the gran and granddad type who feed you toffees and invite you over to watch Countdown).
Yes, they really are the golden couple of 2018, arriving just in time to restore our faith in love after yet another Katie Price divorce. But that’s not to say they didn’t have drama – Jack’s player past, coupled with 21-year-old Dani’s insecurities after years of cheating boyfriends, was a recipe for turmoil.
And, as much as Jack, 26, swears he’ll be loyal and wants to marry her sooner rather than later, Dani’s scars run deep, and they – and us – are now left questioning if they really will be able to make it work on the outside. Or will more secrets, lies and trust issues rear their ugly heads?
Let’s rewind to when our besotted pair met on day one of Love Island. Both Dani and Samira stepped forward for Jack, but it was the former who caught his eye, greeting her with the classic line, “I’m shitting myself, mate”. And things went swimmingly… until Dani learned that her partner had cheated on all his exes (which he defended by countering he’d only had two). Then came the waterworks – suddenly, the ever-cheery Dani revealed her vulnerable side, crying that she’d been hurt before. And, while she didn’t mention her famous dad, we couldn’t help but think of bad-boy Dyer, whose 27-year on/off relationship with Dani’s mum Joanne Mas has been marred by years of his infidelity – including reports of a fling with Girls Aloud’s Sarah Harding. Clearly, her scars ran deep, and she quickly dumped Jack.
But jealousy makes the heart grow fonder – and all Jack had to do was crack on with some cheeky chirpsing in front of Dani to get her back in his arms, where she stayed for the rest of the series. Their feelings got deeper, their proclamations got louder – with Dani admitting she’d been waiting her whole life for someone like Jack, and the pen salesman telling the cameras, “I just want to make her happy.” Cue breakfast in bed, (PG) spooning, kisses, cuddles and plans for the future, and one adorable girlfriend proposal.
Evil producers’ attempts to rock the steady couple persisted, coming to a head when they sent in Ellie Jones, Jack’s former fling, who quickly told Dani just how badly she’d been treated by him. Once again, mini-dyer lost her nerve, echoing her zerotolerance policy to dickery. But they weathered the storm – and did so again when the totally accurate and scientifically sound lie-detector test suggested Jack could be attracted to other girls one day. Poor wee Dani was beside herself, ignoring his truthful proclamations that he wanted marriage and kids with her, and telling her fellow islanders that she was more concerned by the possibilityof him being unfaithful. “I completely get that I probably have changed Jack, everyone wants to be that girl,” she said. “But I don’t want my boyfriend’s head to be turned.” Mercifully, they kissed and made up.
So, here we are now in a postvilla world. And the big question remains: will Jani survive? It’s a tricky road ahead – one paved with endless club appearances and rumours flooding their social media feeds. As is tradition for the Love Island boys, Jack will most likely be “touring” across the UK club scene – where, fingers crossed, he’ll perform some kind of pen-selling showcase. There’s no denying he’s committed to Dani, but it’s her insecurities that concern us. How will she possibly deal with the inevitable claims and suggestive photos? Meanwhile, she too will be kept inordinately busy with stylish shoots and – let’s hope – acting
‘The boys will have girls throwing themselves at them’
gigs. Can Jack handle the glamming up of his adorably down-to-earth girlfriend?
General consensus seems to be that they WILL survive the storm. In fact, every dumped islander heat spoke to throughout the course of the series said the couple would go the distance, all convinced that their unbreakable bond couldn’t be smashed. Then we have to consider precedence, which promises hope and heartbreak in equal measure. Of last year’s finalists, only one couple remains, Jamie Jewitt and Camilla Thurlow – and this is most likely due to the fact that they have largely eschewed the media circus and kept their romance out of the spotlight. Even last year’s “Dr Love”, Marcel Somerville, seemingly the ultimate nice guy, massively cocked up by cheating on Gabby Allen while they were on holiday – and while she was asleep in the same hotel!
Speaking exclusively to heat, series two’s Kady Mcdermott – who was with her Love Island beau Scott Thomas for a yearand-a-half before breaking up at the end of 2017 – says it’s a tough transition into the outside world. “You’ve been living in a bubble surrounded by happy couples, then you come out and it’s not like that,” she says. “The boys will have girls throwing themselves at them, but it’s all about trust.” Kady’s tip? “Take things slow” – advice we’re not quite sure Jack and Dani are taking heed of. Days before the final, they decided to move in together straight away. “You’ve already rushed your relationship in the villa, it’s so intense,” Kady says. “But when Scott and I came out, we rushed even more. We moved in within a month, we got a dog, we actually forgot to date. Don’t feel like you have to move in together, get engaged and have babies within a week.” Guys, don’t say Kady didn’t warn you.
Meanwhile, series three’s Olivia Attwood, who broke up with Chris Hughes in March, believes instant fame can corrupt even the nicest of gents. “I literally have zero interest in dating any boys in this industry,” she told heat earlier this year. “It does something weird to men that it doesn’t do to women. The ego that comes with it – I just can’t.”
We have every hope for our golden couple – they’re certainly compatible and mega-lovestruck. But they’re still young, they’re entering a whole new world, and even the most innocent intentions can go astray. For now, we’re optimistic – the rest is up to them: Jack must prove his devotion, while Dani must learn to let her past hurts go. If they succeed – well, they’ll have a future as rosy as Dr Alex’s sun-scorched complexion. ■ CHARLOTTE OLIVER