Exclusive: Jessy Potts exposes the ‘shocking’ secret behind Love Island texts

'I got a text!' Did you though, hun? Did you really?

jessy potts love island phones

by Ben Pulsford |
Updated on

Love Island's "I GOT A TEXT" phrase is probably the most iconic in the show's history. Day in day out, Islanders' lives seem to be controlled through receiving texts - from news of hot new bombshells to the dreaded, "Can Islanders please gather around the fire pit immediately?"

It's all very dystopian and Orwellian – even the good news means drama one way or another...

Anyway, those four dystopian words are vital in ensuring those pesky Love Island 2024 producers can keep the chaos machine running.

Matilda
Matilda ©©ITV

However, while we already knew that Islanders could receive a text at any time, we thought that when the little 'tring' trings, the timing would come as somewhat of a surprise. After all, they all seem to jump out of their skin every time a phone goes off.

Well, not only has Love Island 2024 bombshell Jessy Potts lifted the lit on an almighty villa phones secret, but she's explained why Islanders' souls leave their bodies every time one rings...

Josh
Josh ©©ITV

When asked to reveal a Love Island secret she unearthed while in the villa, she exclusively told Closer online, "We knew when we were going to get a text."

"You'd get called in over the Voice of God and they'd be like, 'Can you discreetly take your phone out?'"

She continued, "You'd be so nervous, and even when you got the text the genuine shock was genuine shock. You'd be so on edge. They'd be like, 'Have you got company with you?' and you'd be like, 'No, I'm just here to take photos.'"

Jessy
Jessy ©©ITV

Why are we having flashbacks to crying playing Buckaroo as children?

And Love Island 2020 legend Shaughna Phillips can back Jessy's claims up; according to the reality star, the text process isn't as organic as we have been led to believe.

Speaking exclusively to Closer alongside Love Island 2018 winner Jack Fincham in 2022, Shaughna admitted that producers would give out phones just before a text pops through.

Shaughna found fame on Love Island 2020
Shaughna found fame on Love Island 2020 ©ITV

Shaughna exclusively told Closer, "Sometimes [producers] walk past you and drop your phone you're like 'HERE WE GO'.

"You start prepping, sucking in everything, because you know it's going to be you."

During the same interview, Jack revealed that there is a tannoy system in the villa that tells the Islanders where they need to be.

He told Closer online, "You'll be sitting there and it will go, 'Islanders, please make you way to where ever' and you know something is going to happen."

And just like that, the magic is ruined FOREVER.

Molly on her Love Island phone
Molly receives a text ©ITV

At least the phones are real, eh? In fact, did you know that All Stars Tom Clare and Casey O'Gorman managed to hack their Love Island phones and get on the Wi-Fi? Forget a text, they'd be able to check their DMs...

WATCH: Wait, what? Love Island's Nicole had her phone confiscated after getting in trouble with producers 😱

This article first appeared on Closer on 15 June 2022 and was updated on 15 August 2024.

Ben Pulsford is a digital writer for Bauer Media, writing for both Closer online and heatworld. When he's not getting paid to gossip about Big BrotherLove Island and The Real Housewives of Cheshire, he's storming the London LGBTQ+ scene as drag queen, Beary Poppins. Both Ben and Beary are awaiting an invite to join The Real Housewives of Cheshire for series 18. The budget's not there, but the drama is 💅

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