Love Island 2023: Everything you need to know about episode 16

Episode 16 of Love Island 2023 was branded the ‘best yet’ by many fans, as life in the picturesque villa took a sour turn with break-ups and arguments galore.

The fallout from Tom and Ellie’s kiss sparked several rows as the hunk struggled to keep his cool while being reprimanded by Zara, while Tanyel became embroiled in a clash with Aaron and Lana was left in tears yet again by indecisive Ron. 

But the Islanders didn’t have long to rest on their tensions, as the episode ended on a surprise cliffhanger, revealing that their would be a recoupling and one girl would be leaving the villa for good.

So, as Love Island leaves fans reeling with yet another drama-filled show, here’s everything you missed from the action-packed episode.

TOM WORMS HIS WAY OUT OF HIS KISS WITH ELLIE…

Tom struggled to manage the fallout from his kiss with Ellie, as Zara and Tanya took it upon themselves to tell Olivia before he had a chance to come clean.

When Olivia got wind of his antics, she confronted him, asking: ‘Do you have anything you want to tell me?’, before adding: ‘Nothing about the terrace today?’

Appearing baffled, Tom asked: ‘No, what?’, prompting Olivia to clarify: ‘Yeah, with Ellie, and buying time, Tom asked: ‘The terrace today?’, adding: ‘Nothing on the terrace today.’

Olivia asked: ‘No kiss?’

Attempting to back out of the situation on a technicality, Tom said: ‘Well we had a kiss the other day, not today.’ 

Unimpressed, Olivia asked: ‘Didn’t fancy telling me that?’ before slamming him for claiming the blonde beauty was ‘just a friend’. 

Stunned viewers took to Twitter to express their opinion on the situation, with many unimpressed by Tom’s antics.

One person wrote: ‘Tom doing what all men doing and only replying to a sentence that they know isn’t true within a whole paragraph of truth. ‘I didn’t kiss her today, I kissed her yesterday’ as if the new piece of information explains the reason.’

Someone else posted: ”It was just a kiss’ ‘it was yesterday not today’ ‘she came onto me’ what a gaslighter. Tom needs to go.’

…BUT QUICKLY SPARKS A VILLA-WIDE FEUD

Despite trying (and failing) to escape his row with Olivia, Zara didn’t seem so keen to to let Tom off lightly, as she proceeded to reprimand him in front of the whole villa. 

She said: ‘I was going to pull you for a chat Tom but I will do it in front of everyone.’

A frustrated Tom replied: ‘Go away Zara, I don’t want to hear it,’ but Zara cut him off and continued: ‘I don’t care. You’re community penis, I think you’re playing a game and I hope your parents are proud of you.’

The comment left Tom utterly furious, as dramatically ripped off his shirt and said: ‘F*** this,’ while the boys attemped to calm him down.

He added: ‘My family are always proud of me no matter what I do.’

TANYEL LOSES IT WITH KAI

After Kai pulled Samie in front of Tanyel the brunette bombshell was left fuming and in need of ‘space,’ and in Tuesday’s episode she wasn’t ready to hear her partner’s apology. 

After realising his error, Kai grabbed Tanyel to admit: ‘I think I was very insensitive.’ 

Yet Tanyel wasn’t ready to forgive Kai, saying: ‘I don’t feel like I’m your main priority and it’s put me off of you. I’m not going to lie.’

As Kai reasoned ‘if that’s how you feel then that’s how you feel’, fiery Tanyel hit back ‘that is how I feel and I don’t like it!’

Kai hit back as he said ‘why are you shouting at me?’ as Tanyel explained that she was just trying to express her emotions, adding ‘you’re p***ing’ me off!’ 

TANYEL CLASHES WITH AARON 

Tom’s behaviour sparked yet more drama in the villa, as Aaron became embroiled in a row with Tanyel after defending his pal.

Aaron said: ‘I don’t think it was like that though he did stick up for you for a while. We’re just saying there’s no need to get angry.’

Cutting in, a furious Tanyel said: ‘Why do you always have to get involved in things, I don’t get it?’

Insisting that he was defending Tom as a ‘mate’, Tanyel accused Aaron of having ‘aggy moves.’  

Aaron then attempted to end the row by insisting everyone needed to relax, while Tanyel said they shouldn’t speak from then on.

LANA BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS

Love Island fans rejoiced as Lana finally hit back at Ron, after he confessed his head had been turned by new arrival Samie.

The blonde beauty admitted that she’d finally had enough of Ron’s indecision about their future, breaking down in tears as she admitted: ‘Things aren’t going to be the same’ and insisted he doesn’t ‘make her feel like he’s number one.’

Her reaction led many fans to declare that it was finally time for her to sever ties with Ron and pursue a connection with someone else, with many noting she deserved ‘so much better.’

Ron told Lana: ‘Samie pulled me for a chat, I do find the girl attractive, she is my type and she is a nice girl so I’m going to get to know her a little bit.

‘I don’t want you to feel like you’re not my main priority, that does not change. If I close myself off completely I’ll never know whether or not you’re the best for me.’

A visibly upset Lana began to look away, while Ron said: ‘Talk to me.’ 

But Lana can’t hide her upset at Ron’s confession, breaking down in tears as she said: ‘Things aren’t gonna be the same.’

Questioning Ron about his decision, Lana admitted she doesn’t feel like Ron fancies her, leading him to simply respond that she was ‘as pretty as Samie.’

In the Beach Hut, Lana confessed that she still wanted Ron to fight for her and that she wanted him to worry about losing her. 

The toe-curling exchange led many fans to tweet that Lana was far better off without Ron, with one writing; ‘Ron is so toxic I can smell it off him.’

Another added: ‘Lana you don’t need to be the number one, you can be the only one.’

LOVE BLOSSOMS FOR WILL AND JESSIE

Oblivious to the drama unfolding back in the villa, Will and Jessie’s romance continued to bloom as they headed out for their first date.

The farmer confessed that he’d always been too scared of getting serious with a girl, because he feared he’d have his heart broken, but that all changed when he met Jessie. 

Jessie went on: ‘You honestly make me so happy, no guy has ever made me feel like this.’

Will responded: ‘That’s literally all I want to do, as long as you’re happy and you feel loved and beautiful, that’s all I want to do,’ to which Jessie said: ‘Thank you, because that’s how I do feel and I’ve never felt that way before.’

Will then opened up about his past romances, saying: ‘You’ve got every single trait that I would look for in a girlfriend.

‘In the outside world I’ve probably been quite shut off, I think that’s why I haven’t formed any relationships.

‘I’m just terrified of getting my heart broken, however with you I definitely feel a lot more comfortable and it’s something that I do want to do.’

Jessie then made a promise to Will before leaning in for a passionate kiss.

FANS PRAISE SHAQ FOR CALLING OUT THE BOYS’ ‘GASLIGHTING’

While many of the boys are in Love Island fans’ bad books, Shaq was lauded by many viewers for calling out the boys on their ‘gaslighting’ behaviour.

After the drama around Tom’s kiss with Ellie unfolded, a fuming Shaq ‘laid out the facts’ for Tom in a tense chat at the firepit. 

He said: ‘A couple of days ago you were ending things with Zara, cool, you decided whatever. Then you said you and Liv have that history and said you lot are going to get to know each other cool.

‘Then Sammie’s come in and you want to get to know her and even before that Ellie’s come in and you’ve kissed her, do you know what I’m saying?

‘I’m not getting on to you but I’m laying out the facts and how it looks from their perspectives.’

Tom bluntly replied: ‘I ain’t got any loyalties to anyone’ 

Fans were thrilled to see Tom being called out and expressed their opinions on Twitter, with one penning: ‘Shaq laid it out and Tom still doesn’t get it’

Another said: ‘Shaq is right and Tom is insane because how can he not see where he’s at fault’

FANS LAUD THE ‘BEST EPISODE EVER’ 

While the rows sparked plenty of tension in the villa, it was popcorn television for viewers watching at home.

Fans were all left saying the same thing, that all the drama coming within just an evening segment of the episode was exactly what they were waiting for.

One wrote: ‘This is the night I’ve been waiting for #LoveIsland luv the dramaaaq.’

Another said: ‘Watching Tom, Ron, Aaron and Kai getting cooked is the drama we’ve all been waiting for #loveisland.’

Someone else wrote: ‘IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE. TURN IT UPPPP #loveisland.’

Similarly, another said: ‘This is the kind of episode I’ve been waiting for #loveisland.’ 

WILL THE RECOUPLING CHANGE EVERYTHING?

As the villa attempted to rebuild from a dramatic night, a surprise text message left every Islander shaken.

Asked to gather at the firepit, it was revealed that there would be a recoupling, and each boy would have to choose one girl to pair up with.

One girl will be dumped from the Island following the recoupling, and viewers will get to see the outcome during Wednesday’s show. 

Love Island continues on Wednesday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.