Love Island aired the emotional moment Liam Llewellyn broke the news to his fellow islanders that he was leaving the villa on Friday, hours after MailOnline revealed that he had quit the show.
The Welsh student gathered everyone around the firepit ahead of the first recoupling, where he admitted he was not giving 100% of himself and was having a ‘hard time’ with his struggle to find a romantic connection.
Liam also sat down Gemma Owen, who he was formerly coupled up with, and told her ‘I am not myself at all’ before reassuring her that his decision was not based on her being in a new couple with Davide Sanclimenti.
Shock: Love Island aired the emotional moment Liam Llewellyn broke the news to his fellow islanders that he was leaving the villa on Friday, hours after MailOnline revealed that he had quit the show
Just days before, the Italian hunk stole Michael Owen’s daughter from him, while Liam also found it difficult to woo newcomers Afia Tonkmor and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, who’ve expressed interest in Ikenna and Davide since their arrival in the villa.
Announcing to the islanders that he had big news to share, he told them: ‘I think we need to have a chat, we should get everyone by the fire pit.’
As they sat down, he said: ‘So, I’ve got to speak to you all, obviously we all came here for the same sort of reason but I haven’t really been feeling like I’ve been giving 100% Liam. I know what 100% Liam looks like and I am miles off that.
‘I literally feel like you’re missing out on 90% of what normal Liam offers. I’ve been thinking long and hard, like this isn’t a spur of the moment type thing. Trying to find someone to leave the villa with that you care about, like obviously, that’s a goal isn’t it?
It’s not you, it’s me: Liam also sat down Gemma Owen , who he was formerly coupled up with, and told her ‘I am not myself at all’ before reassuring her that his decision was not based on her being in a new couple with Davide Sanclimenti
‘When you’re not feeling that, I feel like that makes it a very hard sort of time to find that.’
Then breaking the heartbreaking news, he added: ‘So yeah, I’ve made the decision that I am gonna leave the villa.
‘It’s been a breeze, it’s been an absolute ball, you are all unreal.’
The islanders were left reeling in shock and after taking in the news, went to give their pal a hug after his huge decision.
After his reveal, Liam shared a quiet moment with Gemma in which she told him: ‘I wasn’t expecting that from you’ to which he confessed: ‘I am not myself at all.’
Big decision: Announcing to the islanders that he had big news to share, he told them: ‘I think we need to have a chat, we should get everyone by the fire pit’
Confession: ‘Obviously we all came here for the same sort of reason but I haven’t really been feeling like I’ve been giving 100% Liam. I know what 100% Liam looks like and I am miles off that’
Can’t believe it: The islanders were stunned by Liam’s decision
Sad times: Islanders including Amber and Luca shed tears after learning of Liam’s decision
She then added: ‘That’s like a big decision’, with Liam replying: ‘Yeah, it’s been brewing though.’
Gemma then shared how she felt upon his exit, saying: ‘It’s just a shame because obviously we get on well and we started it together, it’s going to be weird to see you go and not have you around. It’s going to be different.’
The dressage rider then admitted that she felt it was her fault he was leaving as she uttered: ‘I just from my point of view like, I almost feel a bit like sh*t, have I done anything.’
But Liam was quick to reassure her that the decision was entirely his own, telling her: ‘Don’t be stupid, you are an amazing girl, honestly.’
He added: ‘You’ve got nothing to worry about, that’s not even crossed my mind and it shouldn’t cross yours either. Shall we hug it out?’
Time to go: Speaking upon his exit, Liam told the camera: ‘It’s been a blast, buzzing to have met all of you and I will see you on the other side
Moving on: ‘Leaving here single, it would have been nice to meet someone even though it was early doors but yeah, I’ll get myself back out there there’s no problem about that.’
Chat: After his reveal, Liam shared a quiet moment with Gemma in which she told him: ‘I wasn’t expecting that from you’ to which he confessed: ‘I am not myself at all’
Don’t worry: Liam was quick to reassure her that the decision was entirely his own, telling her: ‘Don’t be stupid, you are an amazing girl, honestly’
Former couple :Just days before, Italian hunk Davide stole Michael Owen’s daughter from him, while Liam also found it difficult to woo newcomers Afia Tonkmor and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, who’ve expressed interest in Ikenna and Davide since their arrival in the villa
Speaking upon his exit, Liam told the camera: ‘It’s been a blast, buzzing to have met all of you and I will see you on the other side.
‘Leaving here single, it would have been nice to meet someone even though it was early doors but yeah, I’ll get myself back out there there’s no problem about that.”
‘They are all amazing people, wish them all the best, they’re going to have an absolute blast this summer.’
After Liam’s reveal, the islanders expressed what they felt for Liam, with Andrew saying that he supports Liam for doing what he needs to do, while Tasha said that he’ll definitely be missed.
Luca added that Liam should be proud of himself and everything he’s done.
Earlier on Friday, MailOnline revealed Liam had quit the show after just four days.
The student, 22, from Wales told producers that he wasn’t enjoying the experience and felt his place on the series should be offered to someone else.
It’s all over: Earlier on Friday, MailOnline revealed Liam had quit the show after just four days
Tough time: The student from Wales told producers that he wasn’t enjoying the experience and felt his place on the series should be offered to someone else
A source told MailOnline: ‘It was so unexpected, with only a few days into the series, an Islander has already walked from the villa.
‘Liam felt his place on the show should be offered to someone that would enjoy the experience better, which is admirable.’
Viewers voted for Liam to go on two dates with newcomers Afia Tonkmor, 25, and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, 27, on Thursday after being left the only singleton in the villa.
Playing the game: Italian bombshell Davide stole dressage champion Gemma from Liam, which left him the only singleton in the villa
Romance: Liam and Gemma enjoyed a passionate kiss during one of the show’s challenges before his exit on Friday
He partnered up with Michael Owen’s daughter Gemma on the show’s first day but had the dressage champion stolen off him by Davide.
Liam previously hinted being alone in the villa would be his worst nightmare.
Commenting on the first coupling up ceremony, Liam said: ‘Everybody wants to feel wanted don’t they, so I’ve put myself in a position now where I could not be wanted and it’s going be all eyes that.
‘Probably not being wanted in a recoupling or something like that. No one wants to be last do they, no one wants to be the last picked.
‘Everyone wants to be wanted, and wants to be picked. So it’s the feeling of not being picked is a nerve-wracking thought for me.’
Liam went on to add that his fear of being rejected in front of millions on TV was ‘never a nice feeling’ and added that it was not a position that ‘anyone would want to find themselves in.’
It is said that the student quit the villa because he ‘did not feel like himself’ after losing Gemma and failing to form a romantic connection with bombshells Afia and Ekin-Su.
Before heading into the show, the Welsh native said that he was ‘fully prepped’ for what was to come
Prepared? Speaking with MailOnline ahead of the show, the Welsh Masters student, 22, said he is ‘fully aware’ how big this experience can get
Speaking with MailOnline, the Masters student, 22, said he is ‘fully aware’ how big this experience can get.
He said: ‘I’m fully aware and I’ve been fully prepped by ITV throughout the whole process of how big this could get, or how little it could get. Your life could not change.’
The reality star said he was ‘not even thinking’ about what his life will be like after exiting the Mallorca villa.
‘You can’t prepare for something like this, I’m trying not to think about it, I’m going to jump in and see what happens.
Impressive! Liam’s dad has been revealed as a Welsh rugby hero avid Llewellyn (Liam and his dad David pictured at his graduation)
Family time: Liam pictured with his 19-year-old sister, Georgia, and mum, Julie at his graduation ceremony
Scouted: Speaking before the series started, his dad David told how his son had not even applied to go on Love Island
‘Whatever happens, happens, and whatever doesn’t, doesn’t.’
It was revealed earlier this week Liam has a famous father, Welsh rugby star David Llewellyn.
The scrum-half, 51, was part of the Wales 1999 World Cup in Japan and also featured in the Five Nations tournament.
He won four caps for his national team, scoring one try, while also making the bench 12 times.
The Welsh international played his club rugby for Ebbw Vale, Newport and Neath.
Speaking before the series started, David told how his son had not even applied to go on Love Island.
He said: ‘When he first rung me up, he said he needed to speak to me.
Normal life: The soon to be reality star had said he is ‘not even thinking’ about what his life will be like after exiting the Mallorca villa – but that has come sooner than planned
High spirits: Liam said he is ‘very lucky with all the support’ he has from his family and friends and was glad they’re ‘all excited and buzzing’ to watch him on the TV each night
‘I asked if everything was okay and he said the Love Island crew had contacted him – he hadn’t even applied – about an interview.
He went down to London a couple of times and obviously must have nailed it because now he’s on the show.’
Liam’s exit is one of the quickest in Love Island history, with the only similar one in 2020’s winter series – in which Ollie Williams also left after three days, claiming he still had feelings for a former girlfriend.
Previous contestants Niall Aslam and Sheriff Lanre who appeared on the show in 2018 and 2019, left after nine and seven days respectively.