TOWIE producers have a habit of snapping up Love Island stars to join the cast after their summer of love in the Spanish villa dating right back to 2016 when Jon Clark made the transition from Mallorca to Brentwood a year after he rose to fame on the first series of the ITV2 dating show.
Since then, the likes of Olivia Attwood, Elma Pazar and even Love Island 2023 winner Sammy Root have all appeared on TOWIE, as have Cara De La Hoyde, her husband Nathan Massey and former cast member Chloe Brockett’s on/off boyfriend Jack Fincham.
Now, it’s claimed that a Love Island 2024 finalist is being lined up by ITVBe bigwigs after splitting from her villa boyfriend and sparking rumours she’s dating a TOWIE playboy.
That’s right, Matilda Draper – who recently went Instagram official with Roman Hackett following her breakup from Sean Stone – is reportedly on producers’ wish list as they put plans in place for series 35 (thirty five!!).
A TV insider said, ‘Roman and Matilda Draper have been on several secret dates, now bosses are lining her up to join the cast of TOWIE.’
They told The Sun, ‘They always want the cast to bring their real love lives on screen. Love Island proved Matilda’s not shy of getting into drama and he’s really into her, so when they start filming the new series, bosses are hoping she’ll make an appearance.’
Two words: yes PLEASE. We’d love to see Matilda back on our screens, especially now she’s seemingly loved up with Roman.
Although she’s yet to speak out on her blossoming romance with Roman, Matilda has been sharing a number of pictures of herself and the Essex heartthrob on her Instagram story, as well as a snap of herself with Roman’s sister, Saffron, and fellow Islander Jessica Spencer – who is dating Roman’s cousin, Braydon.
Just come out and admit it, guys – we all know what’s going on.
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Nathan Katnoria is Closer's Senior Digital Writer and resident TOWIE expert. He's seen all 34 (thirty four!!) series of the ITVBe show and regularly reminisces about forgotten TOWIE romances from years gone by. Although he's never been to Brentwood, Nathan has interviewed loads of TOWIE faves past and present including Sam Faiers, Chloe Brockett, Diags and Georgia Kousoulou.