LOVE Island star Grace Jackson has admitted she was shocked to get the boot alongside Reuben Collins with just days before the final.
The pair were dumped in a surprise move at the end of a game after the public voted them least compatible.
And while Grace, 25, admits her exit was ‘brutal’, she is looking forward to the future with Reuben after a rocky journey in the villa with Joey Essex.
In her first interview after the show, Grace told us:“100% it was a shock, you have to expect the unexpected.
“They say that all the time. And I feel like you really start to take it seriously when things just happen which you least expect.
“I think it was the last question of the game and we were all getting really tired. We'd been out in the sun and then Josh got the text.
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“I think I half expected it to be like islanders gathering on the fire pit and some sort of dumping. But it was just literally like, ‘you've got the least votes, pack your bags and leave the villa’. It's brutal. It honestly is.”
Despite the initial shock, Grace said she wasn’t too worried, telling us: “Whether I made it to the final or if I didn't, I was really pleased just to be there.
“I think, ultimately, what I went in for, I found. I'm enjoying my time with Reuben so much. So, whether it meant I left when I did or made it to the final, it wasn't a massive deal in that sense.
“I'd found what I wanted so I was happy to go at any point.”
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The couple are now planning to build on their romance, with Grace saying things are going “really, really well.”
“We're planning date nights. I'm going to go and meet the rest of his family. He's going to be coming to see my friends and family and just making it work,” she explained.
“He's London, I'm Manchester. But I'm hoping to move to London soon anyway.
“I'm really excited to get on the outside with him.”
Love Island the live final airs Monday 29th July on ITV2 and ITVX
Love Island series 11 - feuds in the villa
No edition of Love Island is complete without its fair share of drama - and series 11 is no different. Here's a look at some of the most fiery feuds so far.
- Joey Essex & Samantha Kenny: Samantha entered the villa on Day 1 and was initially coupled with Sam Taylor. However, Samantha was 'stolen' by Joey, the first bombshell of series 11. She was 'dumped' on Day 16 - with the make-up artist saying she had been brutally snubbed by Joey in the villa - although it never made it to air.
- Matilda Draper & Jess White: While Matilda arrived as a bombshell on Day 12, Jess was part of the original line-up. The two clashed in Casa Amor, over Jess' frustration that Matilda was talking to new hunk Hugo Godfroy - who Jess previously snogged.
- Harriet Blackmore & Jess White: The two women were caught up in a love triangle for much of their time on the programme. The pair were fighting over Ronnie Vint, 27, from Greenwich, who wound up being dumped alongside Harriett.