SHOCKING: The Love Island All Stars finale spiraled into chaos when host Maya Jama made a jaw-dropping on-air blunder, mistakenly calling Ciaran Davies “Curtis” — leaving both Ciaran and Curtis Pritchard visibly stunned.… Read more
Hold onto your bikinis, Love Island fans – because the live finale of the All Stars 2026 series just delivered a moment so cringe-worthy, it’s already being hailed as one of the most awkward blunders in the show’s scandal-soaked history! Host Maya Jama, usually the epitome of cool composure, left contestants and viewers alike red-faced and stunned when she forgot a key moment on air, mistakenly calling finalist Ciaran Davies by the name of dumped islander Curtis Pritchard. The slip-up sparked instant buzz across social media, with Ciaran and Curtis caught in the uncomfortable aftermath as the villa erupted in laughter – and the internet hasn’t stopped talking about it since.
Viewers are already branding it ‘the ultimate cringe-fest’, with memes flooding X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok recreating the hilarious gaffe. From live TV slip-ups to spilled reactions behind the scenes, this finale wasn’t just about crowning winners Samie Elishi and Ciaran Davies – it was the episode everyone will be debating for weeks. But what exactly went down? And why is the online world still buzzing? Click through as we break it all down, from the jaw-dropping name mix-up to the fiery confrontations that had even Maya stepping in.
Let’s set the scene: The Love Island All Stars finale, broadcast live from the sun-drenched South African villa on February 23, 2026, was meant to be a glamorous wrap-up to a season packed with recouplings, bombshells, and enough drama to fill a dozen series. With the final two couples – Samie Elishi, 26, and Ciaran Davies, 23, versus Millie Court, 29, and Zac Woodworth, 25 – lined up for the big reveal, tension was high. Maya, 31, stunning in a plunging black gown, was wrapping up before an ad break when disaster struck. Pointing to the pairs, she announced: “Well, lovely, thanks guys. Samie and Curtis, Millie and Zac – make some noise!”
The villa fell into shocked silence for a split second before exploding into laughter. Samie and Ciaran put their hands to their mouths in disbelief, while Millie and Zac looked equally stunned. Maya, realising her error, quickly backtracked: “No no no! Samie and Ciaran! Sorry sorry!” She pulled a face, later joking, “The fridge was on my brain” – a bizarre excuse that only added to the hilarity. Curtis Pritchard, 30, who had been dumped earlier after failing to spark a romance with Millie and was back in the audience for the finale, was the unintended victim of the mix-up. Sources say he looked “red-faced” as the camera panned to him, with insiders whispering it may have stemmed from Curtis being on Maya’s mind after his recent villa exit.
Fans at home were in stitches, with one X user posting: “Maya calling Ciaran ‘Curtis’ has sent me! The boys nearly falling off the couch laughing – peak Love Island chaos!” Another added: “Did Maya really forget Ciaran’s name? Most awkward finale moment ever!” TikTok exploded with recreations, including one viral clip mimicking Maya’s flustered correction that racked up over 2 million views in hours. Even fellow celebs weighed in – former islander Olivia Attwood tweeted: “Maya’s face when she realised! Iconic blunder 😂” But not everyone found it funny; some viewers called it “unprofessional,” with one fuming: “How do you host a show and forget a finalist’s name? Cringe!”
To understand why this gaffe hit so hard, we need to rewind through the rollercoaster that was Love Island All Stars 2026. The third instalment of the spin-off brought back fan-favourites and villains for a second shot at love – or fame – in the iconic villa. Ciaran Davies, a Welsh rugby player from series 10, entered as a bombshell and quickly coupled up with Samie Elishi, a series 9 stunner known for her fiery personality. Their journey wasn’t smooth: Ciaran faced accusations of mistaking Samie for his ex during a boys’ chat, with The Sun reporting he called her by the wrong name in a heated moment. But they powered through, winning hearts with their genuine connection and ultimately taking home the £50,000 prize in a shock victory that had fans claiming “fix!” on social media.
Curtis Pritchard, meanwhile, returned from his 2019 stint (where he famously coupled with Maura Higgins and finished fourth) hoping for redemption. But his time was short-lived; after failing to click with Millie Court (series 7 winner with Liam Reardon), he was dumped mid-season. His post-villa antics, including a Valentine’s Day Instagram post hinting he was ‘looking for love’ despite leaving with American bombshell Kyra Lizama, set the stage for more drama. And oh boy, did the finale deliver on that front!
The name mix-up wasn’t the only explosive moment. American import Kyra Lizama, 28, from the US version, unleashed a tirade on Curtis and fellow dumped islander Jack Keating, 24 (son of Ronan Keating). Kyra, fuming over Curtis’s “disrespectful” post, confronted him live: “You left with me, then post that? It’s shady!” She then turned on Jack, who had slammed her on a podcast for “airtime-grabbing” by spilling about sleeping with Curtis. “Keep my name out of your mouth!” she blasted, as Jack defended: “I was just giving my opinion!” Maya had to intervene: “We’ll come back to this in a minute,” cutting the tension before it boiled over. Viewers loved the chaos, with one posting: “Kyra calling out Curtis and Jack – finale gold! She didn’t hold back.”
Elsewhere, eagle-eyed fans spotted other blunders: rumours ITV accidentally revealed the winners early via the finalists’ line-up, with Samie and Ciaran positioned in a “tell-tale” spot that matched past victors. And whispers of unaired romances, like between Tommy Fury and Leanne Amaning, had sleuths combing footage for clues. The series itself was a “total cringe-fest,” per critics, with bullying allegations against Samie and low points that left contestants like Sher Tolani issuing “gentle reminders” to trolls: “What you see is a heavily edited glimpse.”
Now, let’s meet the key players in this finale fiasco. Maya Jama, born August 14, 1994, in Bristol, is the undisputed queen of Love Island. Taking over from Laura Whitmore in 2023, she’s hosted multiple series with her signature glamour and quick wit. But even pros slip up – remember Caroline Flack’s iconic mishaps? Maya’s gaffe joins the hall of fame. Off-screen, she’s dated Stormzy (they split in 2024) and boasts a £3m net worth from presenting gigs and her MIJAM beauty line. “I’m human!” she laughed post-show on Insta, sharing the clip with laughing emojis.
Ciaran Davies, 23, from Pencoed, Wales, is the rugby hunk who stole the show. A surveyor by trade, he entered series 10 in 2023, coupling with Jess Harding but finishing third. His All Stars return saw him graft hard on Samie, overcoming a rocky start where he allegedly called her his ex’s name. “I was happy with Nicole,” he slipped – oops! But their chemistry won out, with Ciaran gushing post-win: “Samie’s the one – this is real.” His net worth? Around £500k from endorsements.
Samie Elishi, 26, from London, exploded onto screens in series 9 as a bombshell, coupling with Tom Clare but splitting soon after. A senior estate agent coordinator, she’s built a £1m empire with fashion collabs. Known for her sass, she faced “bullying” backlash this series but clapped back: “It’s edited – be kind.” Winning with Ciaran was a fairy-tale end: “We weren’t front-runners, but love wins!”
Curtis Pritchard, 30, from Cheshire, is the dancer who charmed in 2019 with his “half-boyfriend” antics. Brother to Strictly’s AJ, he’s since starred in Hollyoaks and dated Sophie Sheridan. His All Stars flop with Millie led to the Kyra drama – sources say he’s “embarrassed” by the finale spotlight. “It was a mix-up, but awkward!” he told pals.
The finale’s other stars? Millie Court, 29, from Essex, won series 7 with Liam but split in 2022. Her Zac pairing was sweet, but second place stung. Zac Woodworth, 25, a US import, brought charm but couldn’t clinch the win. Kyra Lizama, Hawaii-born, from Love Island USA season 3, became the villain-turned-hero with her confrontations. Jack Keating, 24, faced “disgusting” accusations but defended his podcast chat.
Fan reactions have been wild. On Facebook, one post asked: “Was the finale entertaining or awkward AF?” with comments praising the chaos. X buzzed with “Maya’s blunder sent me!” while Mirror readers divided on the “fix” claims. TikTok’s “Maya calling Ciaran Curtis” trend has millions laughing.
Love Island’s history is littered with blunders – from Iain Stirling’s voice cracks to Laura’s mic fails. But Maya’s mix-up? It’s up there with the best. As one expert said: “It humanises the show – pure TV gold.” With All Stars wrapping, fans wonder: Will there be a fourth? For now, the buzz continues – proof that even slips can make legends.
Diving deeper, the series faced criticism for being “dark” with lows like bullying rows. Sher’s reminder: “Edited glimpses” – a nod to the show’s selective cuts. Winners Samie and Ciaran plan to split the prize, with dates and holidays ahead. Curtis? He’s focusing on theatre work, shaking off the drama.
In the end, this finale proved Love Island’s enduring appeal: love, laughs, and lots of awkwardness. Who could’ve predicted a name slip would steal the show? The internet, that’s who – and it’s still buzzing.
