Love Island couple Gemma Owen and Luca Bish have announced on social media that they have made the decision to split up.
19-year-old international dressage rider, fashion business owner, and influencer Gemma Owen – who is the eldest of four children to former Manchester United and England star Michael Owen – famously met 23-year-old former fishmonger Luca Bish on the most-recent series of the hit ITV2 reality show Love Island.
The pair were not initially ‘coupled up’ when the show first started, but hit it off after the first week or so and remained together for the majority of the eight-week series.
Gemma and Luca did not become an official couple until the show had ended.
Taking to Instagram Stories to announce their break-up last night, Gemma – who is now a brand ambassador for Manchester-based fashion brand PrettyLittleThing – told her over 2.1 million followers that herself and Bish are “no longer in a relationship”.
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Love Island’s Gemma Owen and Luca Bish announce they have split up / Credit: Matt Frost (via ITV) & Gemma Owen (via Instagram)
“I wanted to let you know that Luca and I are no longer in a relationship,” she wrote.
“It wasn’t an easy decision but ultimately this is what is best for us both right now. Many of you have been on this journey with us from the very beginning and I want to thank you for your continued support as we start new chapters.”
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Luca also took to Instagram shortly after Gemma to share his own words, and announce the pair had “made the mutual decision to go our separate ways”.
He continued: “Switched my phone back on after taking some time out to clear my head after an emotional afternoon to thousands of messages about my breakup.
“I would like some time to process this privately, but as you all already know, sadly, Gemma and I made the mutual decision earlier today to go our separate ways. We have been on such a journey together and have made some amazing memories which I will treasure. I can’t thank everyone enough for their support for us as a couple during and after Love Island.
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“We will remain good friends and I wish nothing but the best for her.”
The couple were runners-up in the latest series of the ITV reality show / Credit: Luca Bish (via Instagram)
Going through a series of ups and downs during their time in the villa, Gemma and Luca did not make their relationship official while starring on Love Island, but notably remained faithful to each other throughout the series, and during the infamous Casa Amor – where they reunited even after being coupled up with other contestants.
After leaving the villa, Luca asked Gemma to be his girlfriend during, what can only be described as an extravagant and lavish proposal back in August.
Gemma and Luca came runners-up in the latest series of the show, and missed out on winning the £50,000 prize after coming in second to winners and ultimate fan-favourite couple, Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Sanclimenti.
Featured Image – ITV
TV & Showbiz
Open UK casting call for new Harry Potter TV series announced
Thomas Melia
It may have been just over a year since rumours of the show had been confirmed, but now the search is officially on.
Harry Potter is one of the most successful and cherished franchises on screen, paper, and stage, and the book series by JK Rowling is the world’s number one best-selling in history, with over 600 million copies distributed across the globe.
The new original series adaptation will be produced by the American television network, HBO, known for its involvement in huge dramas like Game Of Thrones and Euphoria.
Currently, the show is looking for UK actors to audition for one of the three wizarding friends.
These roles were originally played by the now Hollywood-greats, Daniel Radcliffe, who starred as Harry Potter, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley.
Recently, Francesca Gardiner – known for her work on Killing Eve and Succession, was announced as the showrunner, and she will oversee all the writing and producing of the show, with full creative control.
In the description for these leading roles, a statement reads: “We are committed to inclusive, diverse casting. For every role please submit qualified performers, without any regard to ethnicity, disability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other basis protected by law unless otherwise specifically indicated.”
Although the statement pulled from the casting call is open to all actors, with no concern over their protected characteristics, this new original series may be affected by controversy surrounding the author, JK Rowling.
She has previously been criticised for her opinions on gender identity, especially in her condemnation of transgender people and the LGBTQ+ community.
Currently, producers are only considering children who are between the ages of 9-11 in April 2025, and the only way to officially apply is through the CastIt website here.
Applications must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian.
Featured Image – Warner Bros.
TV & Showbiz
A TV channel playing Christmas films 24/7 is now back on air in the UK
Emily Sergeant
Is it too early to say the ‘C word’? Never mind, you’ve already clicked on this article.
We may only be into our second full week of September, but given the fact the weather these past couple of days hasn’t exactly screamed summer, it already feels like the festive season is around the corner – but whether or not you think it’s too early to be talking about Christmas, it’ll soon be too tricky to escape from.
Especially not when there’s a free TV channel showing festive film favourites non-stop now back on air in the UK.
You heard that right – Christmas films, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
A TV channel playing Christmas films 24/7 is now back on air in the UK / Credit: 20th Century Studios | Universal Pictures
If you’re ready to wave goodbye to summer, and welcome autumn and winter with open arms, then there’s arguably no better way of getting into the festive spirit than with the long-awaited and highly-anticipated return of the TV channel that’s charmed audiences for the past three years running.
GREAT! Christmas the UK’s biggest seasonal channel, and it’s now live on Sky, Freesat, Freeview and Virgin Media.
You can expect almost four months of back-to-back seasonal movies.
The 24-hour feel-good and free-to-air channel will be bursting with non-stop Christmas spirit, and will be showing a heartwarming lineup of festive films – including some absolute fan-favourite classics that make it to screens every year without fail, alongside some cheesy Hallmark classics, new channel premieres, and so much more.
Viewers will find GREAT! Christmas on Freeview channel 51, Sky 319, Sky (Glass/Stream) 317, Virgin channel 424, and Freely channel 47.
Emily Sergeant -
17th November 2022 
