Michelle Keegan‘s ‘body double’, and a PE teacher and part-time rugby player from Manchester, are just two of the contestants heading into the Love Island villa.
Yes, whether you can believe it or not, it’s that time again.
Just less than six months after Davide and Ekin-Su stole the nation’s hearts, smash-hit reality competition show Love Island is set to return to screens for its 9th series, and it’s second Winter edition, and ITV has today revealed the lineup of hopeful singletons who will be making the trip to South Africa in the look for love.
The show is returning for the first of two series this year on Monday 19 January.
With brand-new host Maya Jama taking over presenting duties, ITV says contestants will be guided through the “twists and turns of coupling up” in a jaw-dropping villa.
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Love Island is back for its 9th series on Monday 19 January on ITV2 / Credit: ITV
Greater Manchester and the North West has always been well represented on Love Island over the years, and this series looks set to be no different – with 24-year-old Kai Fagan from Manchester revealed as one of the lads heading into the villa.
Claiming to have three different degrees from three different universities, Kai works as a PE and Science teacher, but also plays semi-professional rugby for Burnage RFC.
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He describes 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.”
While Kai may be the only person actually from Manchester on the lineup so far, the region is somewhat also represented by the fact that another one of the contestants is 27-year-old ring girl and actress Olivia Hawkins – who says one of her claims to fame is the fact she has acted as the body double for Mancunian actress Michelle Keegan.
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“I did a film with Jason Statham and had a nice 10-minute convo about life,” Olivia said.
“I’ve been a ring girl for KSI, I played a waitress in James Bond with Daniel Craig, and I’ve also been a body double for Michelle Keegan and Emma Watson.”
The Love Island 2023 lineup / Credit: ITV
A farmer, a TV salesman, an airport security officer, and a hair stylist are just a handful of the other contestants taking part in the new series.
Love Island is back on ITV2 and ITVX on Monday 19 January at 9pm.
BRITs 2026 – A (completely subjective) ranking of all the performances from worst to best
Emily Sergeant
The BRIT Awards brought all the action to Manchester last night, including some absolutely stellar performances by huge names.
But who gave the best performance of the night? And who sadly missed the mark?
That’s right – The BRITs landed in Manchester for the first time in its 46-year history, electrifying Co-op Live as part of a two-year deal described as a ‘bold new chapter’ for the legendary event, and there was some incredible live acts performing to celebrate.
Now, before we get into it, this piece right here very much defines what Op-Ed is. This is an article written up based on personal opinion, and should only be viewed in that way. You see, we usually like to remain as impartial as we can on The Manc, and always aim to present things from all perspectives where possible. Often, you’ll even see us referring to ourselves using collective pronouns (as we just did there… and right then too), but right now, it’s time for some first-person pronoun usage – hi, my name’s Emily, and this is my ranking.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of the lucky The Manc Group team members who got to attend the BRITs in person at Co-op Live last night, so I just sat at home watching from the comfort of my sofa while live-reporting on all the winners instead.
That did mean, however, that I got a front-row seat to all of the night’s performances, so I’m arguably *qualified* to rank them all from worst to best… right?
Okay, so here it goes then.
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Honourable Mention
I only feel it’s fair to put this performance into its own category and not include it as part of the full ranking, given the fact that it paid tribute to indisputable rock icon Ozzy Osbourne following his passing last year, and came after he was award the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Rock on, Ozzy.
9. Sombr
Look, I’m sorry to Sombr. I actually am. I don’t even really dislike his music that much, ’12 to 12′ is an undeniable banger (a banger he didn’t perform though, I might add) and for all I know he could be a really genuinely nice lad in real life – but when he gets up on that stage, I just… it’s not for me okay.
Also the fake ‘stage invasion’ wasn’t needed. I know his new song’s called ‘Homewrecker’ but he didn’t perform that one either, so it just didn’t make sense to have it in there.
8. Alex Warren
I have to confess, straight off the bat – this was not as bad as I was expecting it to be.
I mean, I can’t say I’ve ever willingly listened to Alex Warren’s chart-topping song ‘Ordinary’ all the way through before, so I don’t know what exactly I was expecting from it, to be honest, I just wasn’t expecting it to be good… and it wasn’t, but it also wasn’t that bad either, so I respect that.
HUGE shoutout to James Blunt, though – like what the hell? Sure.
7. HUNTR/X (KPop Demon Hunters)
Right, why were they in the car park?
I mean I know ‘why’, it’s for the kids. But imagine being an East Manchester resident just trying to enjoy a quiet Saturday night in, and then all you can hear are three singers reaching excessively high notes outside your house, even when all your doors and windows are closed. Should’ve just let them inside. Song’s a banger though, it genuinely is.
Also, if we’re still doing confessions, I genuinely thought HUNTR/X were an AI band until only a couple of months ago and was truly humbled to find out they weren’t after exclaiming it with my whole chest. Anyway, the more you know. I blame the fact it’s an animated film for fooling me.
6. Raye
I’m expecting to get a bit of backlash on this from all the Raye fans in our office, but this one just didn’t grab me to be honest. It didn’t really distinguish itself from any other Raye performances, and I think I just wanted a bit more?
Cannot fault her talent though. I really can’t.
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5. Wolf Alice
Surprisingly, given the type of music and artists everyone who knows me knows I’m a fan of, I’ve never really taken to Wolf Alice a great deal, and I’m not entirely sure as to why either, which feels a little unfair to them. This performance, however, was impressive.
My personal favourite part was when everyone climbed out of the sofa, and also when Ellie was looking dead down the barrel of the camera lens singing on that suspended bridge thing.
I might have to bury whatever non-existent hatchet I seem to have with them, and get to know.
4. Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean was the big winner of the night, hands down (I mean, she won four BRITs so it’s less ‘hands down’, more just facts) and you will never, repeat NEVER, see me tearing her down for that. But I just don’t think her performance of her huge viral hit ‘Man I Need’ here secures her a spot in the top three performances of the night.
This does not mean I didn’t enjoy it though. Oh no, I thoroughly enjoyed every single second of it, and it looks like she did too – and honestly, that’s the main thing. Nothing else matters.
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3. Mark Ronson
Dua Lipa surprise appearance coming down from the ceiling on a disco ball. That’s it, that’s the review.
Okay, to add to it a bit more, I suppose – this was overall a really lovely performance to honour Mark Ronson’s impressive Outstanding Contribution to Music award that he accepted earlier, and was a great retrospective on his illustrious career. The Amy Winehouse tribute was a tear-jerker.
Also, rogue Ghostface Killah appearance in the year 2026. Okay then (Wu-Tang are performing at Co-op Live later this month on their UK tour, so not that ‘rogue’, but we weren’t expecting him here, were we?).
2. Harry Styles
It pains me, physically pains me, that I’ve just had to write out ‘2. Harry Styles’, but unfortunately, he’s just missed out on the top spot.
Less than a week before he takes to the Co-op Live stage in Manchester for one night only next Friday to celebrate the release of his fourth studio album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, our lovely Harry performed lead single ‘Aperture’ to open last night’s BRIT Awards, and it was just joyful to witness from start to finish.
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That white boy’s got a good bit of motion, you can’t take that away from him.
It’s slightly more of a niche thing to praise, but as someone who’s grown up dancing my whole life, the choreography here really is my s**t, and really elevated – if not made – the whole performance.
1. Rosalía
I’ve only just picked my jaw up off the floor.
This was, by far, my most highly-anticipated performance of the night by a country mile, and f**k me did it deliver. It has to be said, while we’re here, that Rosalía’s Lux ended up being my pick for album of the year in 2025 according to our Audio North year-end list, so there may be a little bit of bias in my review, but this was genuinely everything I was hoping it would be and more.
This was Rosalía’s first – and so far, only – performance of ‘Berghain’ live on television since the album was released to universal acclaim this past November, so even if it wasn’t particularly up your street, you still got to witness a hugely important moment.
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The transition to the additional ‘rave’ element once the song had finished really turned it into the sort of thing that could be played in the infamous Berlin club it’s named after. Excellent touch.
Also BJÖRKKKKKKK. Ahhhhhhhh. If you wanted the most genuine re-creation of my reaction when she appeared last night, this was it. “AHHHHHHHH”.
Noel Gallagher’s BRIT Awards acceptance speech in full after on-air censorship
Emily Sergeant
Noel Gallagher was presented with the prestigious Songwriter of the Year Award at the BRITs in Manchester – but fans have been wondering what he said in his heavily-censored acceptance speech.
The Oasis legend took to the stage at the Co-op Live arena to graciously accept the accolade from Primal Scream frontman, Bobby Gillespie.
Audiences both in the venue and watching at home on TV then watched a VT highlighting Noel Gallagher’s career achievements, plus a special pre-recored message by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
But when it was Noel’s turn to speak, ITV bleeped out quite a bit of what he said – a recurring theme throughout the expletive-ridden ceremony.
Thankfully, us lot here at The Manc were in the room itself, so we can tell you what Noel Gallagher actually said in his speech as he accepted his BRIT Award.
“I’m going to start by saying, I’ve got to thank my brother,” – to rapturous applause.
He continued: “Bonehead, Guigsy, Tony McCarroll, Alan White, Gem, and Andy. They brought those songs to life.
“Without them, I’d just be a singer-songwriter, and no one gives a sh*t about singer-songwriters.
“But more importantly I’d like to thank you, the people who have kept our songs alive for the last 34 years.
“You’ve given us the most extraordinary life. Thank you very much for that.
“Have a great night.
“Up the f**king Blues.”
You can see the full list of winners from the BRIT Awards 2026 in Manchester HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
9th January 2023 
