Love Island producers have reportedly secured another celebrity bombshell to shake things up in the villa, with dancer Abbie Quinnen allegedly set to join the show shortly after Joey Essex’s unexpected entrance.
Abbie, 27, previously dated actor and Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Pritchard for four years until their split in 2022. With AJ’s brother Curtis having finished fourth in the 2019 season of Love Island, Abbie is no stranger to the dynamics of the reality dating series.
Describing her past relationship with AJ, 29, as “traumatising,” especially after it ended amid cheating allegations while she was recovering from burns sustained during a TikTok dance mishap, Abbie is now seeking a “fresh chance” at finding love.
According to a source cited by The Sun, “Joey entered as the initial big bombshell, and Abbie is poised for her moment in the spotlight. She’s been in discussions with Love Island for weeks about joining as a bombshell and is eager to dive in and shake things up. Having learned a lot about Love Island through Curtis during her time with AJ, she’s well-prepared for what’s ahead.”
Addressing her love life during an Instagram Q&A in February, Abbie revealed her struggles, particularly with trust, following her past experiences. She candidly shared, “I was pretty traumatised after my last relationship. Find it hard to trust people! And I tend to go for all the red flags so need someone to find someone for me. I don’t trust my judgement.”
Abbie suffered permanent physical scars when a TikTok attempt with AJ went terribly wrong in January 2021, resulting in her being engulfed in flames. Despite undergoing three skin grafts and ongoing treatment, she has shown resilience and determination.
The breakup with AJ in September 2022, allegedly triggered by Abbie discovering messages from another woman on his phone, left her devastated. She expressed her disappointment, stating, “He has been the biggest disappointment to me,” and reflecting on their romantic holiday just weeks prior to the revelation, adding, “Just a few weeks back AJ and I went on a romantic holiday to Turkey, it was so lovely.” AJ has since moved on with Zara Zoffany, whom he met while filming MTV’s The Challenge.