Chris Hughes has stark warning for Love Island contestants as new series kicks off
It's been nine years since rapper, mood-lifter and all-round icon Chris Hughes first walked through the doors of the Love Island villa, and since then, we've not been able to 'little bit leave' him alone.
It's not just impromptu bars he's dropping nowadays, however, but words of wisdom.
Speaking to Tyla this week ahead of the launch of the 13th series, the 33-year-old shared an unexpectedly sinister message about the realities of being filmed 24/7 for eight whole weeks.
As a reminder, Chris appeared on the hit ITV2 dating series all the way back in 2017, when he arrived as a 'bombshell' for the third season.
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Immediately, fans were taken by his brazen lovability and golden retriever energy, especially after he candidly described himself as 'more' attractive than David Beckham, just minutes after arriving.
Following a brief love affair with Chloe Crowhurst, Chris fell onto the lap of fiery blonde Olivia Attwood, with whom he made it all the way to the final.
While other love-hungry lads on the show relied on old school 'treat them mean, keep them keen' tactics, Chris was hailed throughout for his emotional openness - which, at one point, even saw him shed a tear over his baby-doll companion, 'Cash Hughes'.
His naturally comedic personality also deeply resonated with viewers, and his genuine 'bromance' with cast-mate and fellow amateur rapper Kem Cetinay landed the duo a concrete spot in the 'Love Island: Hall of Fame'.
In fact, being wholly unflinchingly himself on the show is something Chris can stand by for almost a decade.
Asked what advice he'd give to the 12 fresh-faced contestants set to strut into the villa this week, he insisted: "You’ve just got to be yourself."
Chris explained: "I know it sounds so clichéd when people say that, but when you’re on a show that lasts longer than a few weeks, if you’re not genuine and not yourself, it so easily comes across.
"There’s only so much of a persona you can put on. Go in there, be the person you are, stand on your morals and what you believe in, and enjoy the experience. See where it takes you."
In Chris' case, his authenticity and connection with fans afforded him a diverse media career that lasted long after Love Island concluded, and outlived his shock 2018 split from Attwood.
In sport, he served as a live racing presenter for events like Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot, and contributed to BBC Sport's coverage of both The Hundred cricket tournament and the 2026 Winter Olympics.
He's also appeared on countless TV shows since leaving the villa, including Don't Look Down, Queens for the Night, and - as if we could possibly forget - the spin-off series Chris & Kem: Straight Outta Love Island. Last year, he reminded fans of his boyish charm as a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother, where he met his now-girlfriend JoJo Siwa.
Other islanders who have left the villa in the years since, he pointed out, haven't been so lucky.
"You have no control over the edit. When you go on a TV show, there’s no point thinking about the way you’re portrayed because you can’t dictate that," Chris emphasised.
"You just need to be yourself. On Love Island, you’re so shut off from the world outside, you quickly forget there are any cameras around - you barely see any. You forget they exist, and you forget people are watching you.
"You’re just invested in a bubble," he added. "When you come out, you’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to be in the real world. It’s a fascinating show."
More recently, Chris has partnered up with PureGym for the brand's new Joy Stroll movement. The collaboration came after alarming new research found that Brits are spending more than two hours a day doomscrolling, which is actually the equivalent of dragging their thumbs 12km every month.
As such, he'll take part in a hero Joy Stroll event in Manchester on Thursday 28th May.
Discussing the message behind the campaign, Chris explained: "It's about reminding yourself of all the benefits there are to putting your phone down, getting outside and going for a walk. It's about achieving that reconnection with life outside and boosting those serotonin levels.
"There are days when I get my 10,000 steps in daily, and when I'm able to do that, I feel unbelievable for it. You get a real sense of achievement, and your body and mind feel awake and alive."
He added: "It's a great campaign with a great message behind it."
To register for the event, head to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/joy-stroll-by-puregym-tickets-1989305552458.
Topics: Love Island, Chris Hughes, Reality TV, Celebrity, ITV
Rhianna Benson