Love Island contestant Kai Fagan has revealed he used to be in the same year as Marcus Rashford at school, and has dished on what the footballer was like back in the day.
In case you somehow hadn’t heard, just less than six months after Davide and Ekin-Su stole the nation’s hearts and clinched the win, smash-hit reality competition show Love Island returned to screens for its ninth series and it’s second Winter edition last night – with brand-new host Maya Jama taking over presenting duties.
A whole new lineup of hopeful singletons have made the trip to South Africa in the look for love, and one of those single lads is Kai Fagan from Manchester.
Before heading into the villa last night, fans of the show had already learned that the 24-year-old claims to have three different degrees from three different universities, and that he works as a PE and Science teacher, but also plays semi-professional rugby for Burnage RFC.
But now, we’ve also learned that Kai went to the same school and was in the same year as Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford.
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Kai revealed to The Sun that Marcus was just as “quiet” in school as he is now.
Kai Fagan and the rest of the 2023 Love Island cast lineup / Credit: ITV
He said: “Marcus was in my class from 11 to 16 and we went to the same sixth form.
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“The school I went to was sponsored by Manchester United, [so] I had so many experiences because of that. Marcus was quiet, reserved and kept himself to himself, he’s always loved football, and he got a scholarship from [Manchester United] when he was like 11 years old, so he was always trying to be the next big thing.”
Kai added: “I often bump into people who work for [Rashford], like his PA, at the gym.”
The current Love Islander also added that his former classmate’s ongoing mission to end child food poverty and give children more access to free school meals across the UK has been “inspiring” to him as a teacher.
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“There are so many kids who are going to school that don’t have the right nutrition, that don’t have food, that don’t have anything,” Kai continued.
“There are kids going to school that don’t have uniforms, so what he’s been doing for the communities, it’s absolutely amazing.”
Before he entered the villa, Kai described himself as “chilled, caring, and very impulsive”.
“I’m single by choice,” Kai explained in his ITV Love Island cast announcement bio, “I’m looking for the right girl. I feel like I have quite high expectations. I don’t feel I should commit to someone unless I’m absolutely buzzing over them, because it’s not fair on them.”
Love Island is back on ITV2 and ITVX on Monday 19 January at 9pm.
Featured Image – Manchester United & ITV
TV & Showbiz
Benson Boone has announced a headline gig in Manchester – and it’s a big one
Danny Jones
American pop sensation and unrivalled king of unnecessary front flips, Benson Boone, has just announced his first-ever headline Manchester arena gig as part of a new arena tour.
The solo artist and acrobatic chart-topper has seen a meteoric rise in the US and, as is usually the case across the Atlantic, he’s become increasingly popular over here too.
Benson may have performed here in Manchester before as part of the 2024 MTV EMAs and for a small show at The Deaf Institute, but now big fans have the added Boone of getting to watch a standalone show at one of Europe’s leading indoor entertainment venues.
Announced on Friday, 30 May, the 22-year-old will be making his way across the pond from Washington for a limited run of UK concerts, with a date at Co-op Live arena being one of just five dates.
Extending his ‘American Heart Tour’ ahead of the release of his eponymous sophomore record, with this autumn leg, Co-op Live will mark his individual visit to 0161.
The Grammy-nominated artist has earned several nods of recognition already for his first album, Fireworks & Rollerblades, which was released just last spring.
He has been described as among the current trend of male singers who fit into the American Idol and ‘Voice audition pop’ genre (a term recently coined online), along with the likes of Teddy Swims, Shawn Mendes, Alex Warren and others.
Regardless of the slightly tongue-in-cheek term, he’s become a huge hit around the world and landing him is still a big coup for the venue that has already welcomed similarly massive pop contemporaries like Swims, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and more.
In case you’re wondering just how big a deal he is over in the States, even this early in his career, his domestic headline dates sold out in seconds, quite literally…
The last time he visited Co-op Live was to perform at the most recent MTV EMAs
Benson Boone is coming to Manchester on Monday, 27 October and will be playing just two other British venues: The O2 in London (two nights) and the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.
Safe to say you don’t want to miss this one if you like soaring vocals and lots of flipping.
General admission tickets go live at 10am on Thursday, 5 June, but Co-op Members can gain access via the arena’s official pre-sale window from the same time on Tuesday (3 Jun).
More adult virgins needed for next series of Channel 4’s hit reality show Virgin Island
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.
You may remember that early last year, we brought you the breaking highly-important news that Channel 4 was currently in the process of producing a new reality TV series that, at the time, had the working title of ‘The Intimacy Retreat’ and was looking for a group of adult virgins to apply to take part, if they were brave enough.
But now, well over a year on, we all know that show turned out to be the hit show Virgin Island – which has just finished airing its first series this week.
Channel 4 needs more adult virgins for the potential next series of its hit reality TV show Virgin Island / Credit: Channel 4
If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before, as it follows the journey of a group of adult virgins who are whisked off to a Mediterranean island retreat to learn life-changing skills in the art of intimacy.
Working with leading international therapists, the aim is to help the young people overcome their fears and insecurities when it comes to intimacy and sex.
Channel 4 said it chose to commission the show after a recent study into intimacy found out that one in eight British 26-year-olds is, apparently, still a virgin.
Virgin Island aims to help young people overcome their insecurities around intimacy and sex / Credit: Channel 4
A casting call for the new series on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin and do you need help and guidance with your fears and insecurities around intimacy and sex? Double Act Productions is casting adults for a potential second series of Virgin Island.”
You just need to be over 21 years of age to take part in the show.
Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for the potential next series of Virgin Island are now open, and there’s still plenty of time left to put your name down.
Emily Sergeant -
17th January 2023 
