Love Island UK bombshell Tommy will look familiar thanks to his side hustle

Ever done a double take while watching Love Island and wondered where you've seen an Islander before? You're not imagining it.

Before stepping into the villa, many contestants have already been building their profiles through side quests like unexpected TV appearances, influencer gigs, sporting careers, and celebrity connections.

While Love Island may be their biggest spotlight yet, it's rarely their first brush with fame and every new reveal is just as surprising as the last.

Just look at one of the newest bombshells Tommy Murphy. The 28-year-old builder from Newcastle immediately turned heads upon arriving in the villa alongside Simba Kudyiwa in last night’s episode.

Tommy and Simba's dramatic entrance happened during a tense recoupling. Three of the girls - Ellie, Angelista, and Robyn - were left without a partner. In a shocking twist, the Islanders were sent a text announcing the arriving of two male bombshells.

Tommy ultimately coupled up with Ellie (ITV)

Moments after meeting their fellow Islanders, Tommy and Simba had to choose which girl to couple up with, leaving Robyn single and she was dumped from the Island.

After making his small screen, some viewers instantly recognised him from his modelling pictures. Fans found pictures of him modelling Newcastle United merch on the official shop, including a very cozy dressing gown.

“This blokes gone into Love Island tonight. Hope he’s took the dressing gown,” one viewer posted on X, along with a picture.

Tommy Murphy has modelled for Newcastle United (Newcastle United)

We’re more likely to see him in swimwear over the next few days.

Dressing gowns aren’t the only items he’s modelled. Over on his Instagram, Tommy has pictures wearing sportswear too.

When asked about his dating life outside the villa, Tommy said: “Outside the villa, I meet a lot of girls through work, but I think I’ve got a bit of a mental block when it comes to relationships and committing properly.”

Being in the Love Island villa, where you can’t really escape and you’re fully immersed in it, could actually be the perfect environment for me.

He warned: “Someone always wants to be the loudest person in the room, and I’m usually somewhere in the mix.

“I think competition makes things more exciting. You wouldn’t want it to be too easy.”

Tommy said he’s looking for a ‘genuinely nice girl’ but warned that his head could possibly turn.

“I’ve met all sorts of people, so my head could definitely be turned in different directions,” he said. “Personality matters a lot to me too.”