Jake Cornish has said he exited Love Island: All Stars early as he feels it “isn’t the right time” for him to find love.
During Wednesday’s episode, the 26-year-old told his fellow islanders that he would be leaving the villa that night, days after the show launched on Monday.
His short spell on the show was still filled with drama as on day one he was placed into a couple with his ex-girlfriend Liberty Poole following a public vote.
Grab the tissues as Jake and Liberty say their final goodbyes 😢 #LoveIsland #AllStars pic.twitter.com/EjBAN9pPVT
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) January 17, 2024
Addressing the other islanders by the fire pit, he told them: “I was here to find love and there is no one here that I have that connection with.
“I just want to let you all know I am going tonight.”
Georgia Harrison offered him encouragement, saying: “We support you and we love you!”
Cornish replied: “I love you all. That means you’ve all got to have fun and find love, just because I haven’t, doesn’t mean you lot can’t.”
Following his departure, he said in a statement: “After a few amazing days in the villa, I’ve made the decision to leave Love Island: All Stars as I’ve realised that now isn’t the right time for me to find love as I would never want to force a connection.
“I have no regrets whatsoever as I’m so glad I got to enjoy my time in the villa reuniting with some familiar faces as well as finally getting an opportunity to clear the air with Liberty.
“I wish her and all of the other islanders the very best and will be cheering them all on from home.”
Later on, Liberty said in the beach hut that she knew he “wasn’t himself” in the villa and felt that his departure was “such a testament to his character”.
She also became emotional as she told him: “I know what happened happened three years ago but you’ve honestly matured so much and I just wanted you to have a good chance of finding love as well.”
He replied: “You’ve definitely matured as well in a couple of years and I can’t just fake things for the sake of just being here, I just can’t do it.
“So I thought, the best thing for me to do is take myself out of the situation. I’ve had a wicked time. I hope you find someone here.”
First Look: Chris cracks on with Molly, while a shock announcement from Jake leaves Liberty in tears 💔
Tonight at 9pm on ITV2 & ITVX #LoveIsland #AllStars pic.twitter.com/g8p9g76khY
— Love Island (@LoveIsland) January 17, 2024
Jake and Liberty were in a relationship during series seven of the dating show in 2021, but they called time on their romance just before the final and left the villa early.
In the launch show, the pair were once again brought together after the public voted for who they wanted to be coupled up.
The spin-off of the ITV2 reality dating series sees past contestants return to the villa for a second chance of love.
Elsewhere in Wednesday’s episode, tensions flared between Callum Jones and his ex girlfriend Molly Smith as she got closer to Chris Taylor.
After Callum complimented Molly on her appearance, she replied: “This is the most compliments I’ve ever had by the way.
“It’s took three-and-a-half years of me saying I just need a few little words of affirmation… you’ve been practising for the last six months on some random girls.”
Chris later took Molly to the snug for some privacy, where he joked that if you stare into someone’s eyes for two minutes you are meant to fall in love.
He said: “Well for women, it’s over two minutes. For men it’s actually 8.2 seconds…I’ll be there a lot sooner than you will be, but I think we should try it.”
When Molly asked if Chris wants to fall in love with her, he replied: “We can try, it’s an experiment…”
Love Island: All Stars continues on ITV2.