In a 2024 interview with L360, Luca Bish stated that he’d be unlikely to return to reality TV. In 2025, it’s been announced that he’s a confirmed contestant for Love Island All Stars. So, why the change of heart?
When an individual exits the Love Island villa, their career route is likely to go in a certain way.
Social media, influencing, events, clothing collaborations, beauty releases and so on. It’s a well-trodden trail, and one that’s proved successful with many a past contestant, winner or otherwise.
But Luca Bish, who took part in Love Island back in 2022, told us that he’d decided to shun all that. Instead, he wanted to pursue ventures that were better suited to his personality and interests.
Having confessed he left the villa in 2022 with no desire to return to his old job, and with The Sun revealing contestants of Love Island All Stars earn £2,000 per week, we can’t blame him for changing his mind.
View this post on Instagram
“When you leave a show like Love Island, and you aren’t interested in returning to your original job, you feel this expectation to become an influencer,” explained Luca. He chatted to me while recovering from a torn ACL, an injury sustained while playing football with friends.
“There’s an expectation to follow this route, and it’s kind of forced upon you in a sense, but it was never for me.”
These days, some controversy surrounds the hit reality show as viewers question whether contestants are only going on for fame and fortune, rather than its intended purpose (to find love).
Despite Luca maintaining that influencing and social media stardom was “never his intention”, his willingness to return to the villa certainly makes you question if it’s for love or money.
How to deal with societal pressure
“One of the things that I did learn from Love Island was that anything external can’t hurt me. People are always going to have opinions, that’s part and parcel of life, and all you really need to care about is the opinion of your circle.”
He went on to reference his friendship with the Irish professional boxer and MMA fighter Conor McGregor, noting that despite Conor’s international fame, he’s never let public criticism phase him.
View this post on Instagram
In terms of blocking out the noise, Luca points to spending time with friends as being his favourite form of self-care.
“Just going out with the boys, going for dinner, playing football or even just watching my friends play football,” he explained. “When it comes to my mental health, it does me a lot better to spend time with the people that know me best rather than dwelling and overthinking things on my own.”
He also emphasises the benefits he’s found in embracing passions and interests, despite what others may think. After leaving the show, Luca doubted whether he’d return to TV, but opted to try his hand at Celebrity MasterChef due to his interest in cooking and desire to try something new.
View this post on Instagram
Having made it all the way to the final, Luca notes that it’s when you’re doing something that you truly enjoy, that people see the best of you and, in turn, you feel best in yourself.
