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Love Island 2021 reveals first ever physically disabled contestant – PE teacher and England cricketer Hugo Hammond
LOVE Island has revealed its first ever physically disabled contestant - Hugo Hammond.
The 24-year-old from Hampshire is a PE teacher and cricketer, who was born with a club foot.
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Explaining his condition, he said: “I was born with club foot. I had lots of operations when I was a kid.
"You can only really tell when I walk barefoot. I’ve got a really short achilles heel. I walk slightly on my tiptoes.”
He has however never let it hold him back and has enjoyed a successful sporting career.
“I’ve actually played cricket for England PD (Physical Disability). I’ve been to Bangladesh, Dubai, I’ve been everywhere to play cricket,” he revealed.
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He is a big fan of helping others, which is why he loves his job so much.
Hugo explained: “I teach secondary school PE. Absolutely love my job. I love all my sports.
"It’s great to be able to pass on that enthusiasm to be physically active to the younger generation and hopefully they feel the same about me teaching them.”
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Hugo - like many - has found it hard to date during the pandemic so thought Love Island would be the perfect opportunity to “get back out there”.
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Love Island previously featured Niall Aslam, 25, who revealed his autism diagnosis after leaving the villa prematurely in 2018.
He later told how he quit because of psychosis and hallucinations and ended up in a psychiatric hospital.
ITV has faced criticism for a lack of diversity in its line-up, in particular with race and body shape.
What is club foot?
Club foot is a condition where a baby is born with one or both of their feet pointed down and twisted inwards with their soles facing out.
According to the NHS website, it happens because the Achilles tendon - at the back of the ankle - is too short.
It can affect just one foot or both.
It is not painful for babies born with it - but if not treated can become painful and lead to difficulties walking.
In around half of babies born with club foot both feet are affected, with the condition more common in boys.
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In 2019, creative director of ITV Studios Entertainment Richard Cowles defended the show.
He said: “I think we try to be as representative and diverse as possible.
“It has to come back first and foremost – it’s an entertainment show and it’s about people wanting to watch people we’ve got on screen and then reacting and falling in love with one another.
“Yes we want to be as representative as possible but we also want them to be attracted to one another.”
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Producers have already signed up multi-lingual lawyer Sharon Gaffka, 25, who won Miss International UK in 2018, and represented Britain in a worldwide tournament.
Love Island's second contestant was named as London 'ladies man' Aaron Francis, a 24-year-old event planner.
And this morning, Nando's waitress Liberty Poole has been revealed as Love Island's third Islander. The 21-year-old student from Birmingham studies marketing - but will be spending her summer searching for a boyfriend instead.
Love Island 2021 - Meet this year's contestants as show returns to light up summer
Love Island starts at 9pm Monday 28th June on ITV2 and ITV Hub.
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Episodes are available the following morning on BritBox
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