Crime+Investigation UK will debut Laura Whitmore on Britain’s Killer Teens on Monday, 8th September at 9pm, delving into some of the nation’s most disturbing teenage murder cases. The host will examine Britain’s most harrowing youth crimes as she seeks to tackle the pressing question of why these tragedies occur.
Featuring exclusive chats with family members alongside experts and investigative teams, the documentary series will also explore whether measures can be taken to prevent future devastating killings. Across five episodes, each programme will spotlight a different case.
Laura Whitmore investigates some of Britain’s killer teens including a Dexter copycat killer as she returns to screens(Image: Crime+Investigation)
From a Dexter-inspired murderer to a teen who slaughtered his own parents before departing on holiday whilst leaving their corpses behind, reports OK!. But who exactly is Laura Whitmore?
Celebrity spouse
Laura Whitmore is married to comedian Iain Stirling, who is renowned for providing the voiceover for the hit Love Island reality programme. Their relationship flourished in 2017 when reports emerged of the pair enjoying a “secret relationship”.
Following months of rumours, it was finally confirmed the duo were flourishing as a couple, with both taking to their social media platforms to become ‘Instagram official’.
Since that time, they frequently share sweet photographs of themselves and their family. In 2018, Laura and Iain took the plunge and moved in together, documenting their moving journey online.
Speculation was soon rife when Laura was seen sporting a ring on her finger. The dynamic duo have been spotted working together on Love Island and also launched their own podcast, Murder They Wrote as their relationship goes from strength to strength.
Laura and her husband Iain Sterling(Image: Getty)
Secret Wedding
It wasn’t until 2021 that Laura dropped a bombshell that left fans stunned. She posted on Instagram: “A year ago Iain asked me to marry him and we had the most magical, perfect ceremony.
“We loved having it to ourselves. We had been planning the perfect celebration and I will forever be so thankful that’s what we got. We have never spoken publicly about our engagement or wedding.
“Back at the time we never felt the need to say anything as it’s all such a personal experience. We also were too busy enjoying it! We’ve never shared this picture before now but a lot of people have contacted us and congratulated us the last month with good intentions so here’s to good news!””
OK! previously reported that Laura shared an unseen wedding photo on her anniversary which featured the stylish shoes she wore to walk down the aisle. The monochrome snap showcased the Jimmy Choo heels she donned on her big day, simply captioned: “11.11”.
Laura Whitmore will return to screens with a brand new true crime series(Image: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Private Family Life
Despite her high-profile career, Laura keeps her family life away from the spotlight. She occasionally shares snippets of her private life with her followers on social media, including the birth of their first daughter in 2021 and glimpses into their uniquely decorated home.
In a humble Instagram post announcing the arrival of their daughter, Laura expressed: “thanks for all the kind messages at this time. We are in love.”
As previously reported by Mirror, their stunning home is filled with distinctive designs and vibrant patterns, creating a light and airy atmosphere. During lockdown, fans were treated to a look inside their main residence when the couple appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox, offering viewers a glimpse into their off-screen lives.
Presenting Career
Laura Whitmore is a well-known Irish broadcaster, author, and actress. Fans will remember her from her time as the presenter of Love Island before she stepped down in 2022, as well as her role on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! Now!
The star also hosted her own radio show, The Laura Whitmore Show, and podcasts Murder They Wrote and Castaway. Now, Laura is set to present the brand new series Britain’s Killer Teens, aiming to give a voice to victims and their families.
Laura Whitmore on Britain’s Killer Teens, starts Monday 8th September 9pm on Crime+Investigation.
Love Island is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and we’ve put together a juicy trivia quiz to test your villa knowledge. Can you remember every graft, grovel, and firepit fallout from the past decade?
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Love Island (Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
The latest season of Love Island has landed back on our screens, kicking off eight weeks of sun-soaked drama, flirty singles, and ever-changing bed swapping. The ITV2 show welcomed 13 brand new Islanders to the lavish Mallorcan villa in a bid to find love, or at least someone that’s 100% their type on paper.
Over the past two weeks, tensions have reached breaking point, with explosive fights and firepit fallouts keeping viewers hooked. Bombshell Yasmin Pettet rocked the villa with her bold approach and determination to pursue exactly what she wants, while Harry Cooksley and Dejon Noel-Williams have kept their options open as they get to know the Islanders.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the iconic dating show, which has seen a staggering 366 Islanders ‘crack on’ in five different villas over a hefty 569 episodes. The show has brought us household names from Molly-Mae Hague and Olivia Attwood through to Chris Hughes and Alex George.
Love Island made its return to our screens in 2015, fronted by the late Caroline Flack, who stepped down from the role in 2019. That December, it was announced that Laura Whitmore – who is married to narrator Iain Stirling – would take over as the show’s new host.
Maya Jama took the reins in January 2023 and has returned for every summer and All Stars season since, welcoming fresh Islanders to the villa and staying at the heart of all the drama. While you spend the next few weeks catching up on those steamy villa antics, it’s the perfect time to find out if you’re the ultimate Love Island fan.
Can you remember all the muggy moments, dramatic recouplings, Islanders getting pied, and iconic quotes from the last ten years? Do you know your Millie from your Lillie? Or your Olivia Hawkins from your Olivia Attwood? From “Congrats, Hun” all the way to “You are a liar,” we’ve searched far and wide for some juicy Love Island trivia just for you.
If you know which Islander made coffees to get everyone “ready” for the morning, or who was caught ‘moving mad’ as they crawled across the terrace in secret, you might just scoop a full house. If you can remember every graft and grovel, then you’re in for a treat.
So, test your knowledge by answering the questions above to find out if you’re the official Love Island expert. If you can’t see the quiz above click HERE.
IN 2015, 12 twentysomething singles walked into a Majorcan villa for the very first time – and viewers fell head over heels for Love Island.
The premise was simple: couple up and don’t get dumped, to win £50,000.
Ten years on, psychologist Dr Louise Goddard-Crawley says: “Love Island rewired the way we think about love, attraction and even language. It normalised enhanced beauty.”
With the 12th series kicking off next Monday, here we look at how the show shaped the nation.
SKIMPIER SWIMWEAR
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Antigoni Buxton wears a bikini top upside downCredit: Instagram
THE Islanders’ clothes — or lack of — made us reassess our own poolside wardrobes.
Thongs stole the show in 2018, with contestants including Laura Anderson and Georgia Steel wearing the painful-looking cheese-string variety.
Sales of thong bikinis subsequently soared as the nation got on board.
But a family-friendly pool in Lincolnshire banned customers from wearing “thongs or see-through” garments, dubbing it the “Love Island effect”.
In 2019, Molly-Mae Hague and Yewande Biala helped spark an underboob revolution, while 2022 contestant, Antigoni Buxton, inspired us to turn swimwear tops on their head, with searches for “upside-down bikini” rising by 203 per cent.
Sun Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend says: “At the start of each series I’m hit with a barrage of emails from retailers reading, ‘Get the Love Island look’ as they all quickly roll out the on-trend swimwear for that year.”
MAKE-UP RITUALS
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Dani Dyer uses a hairdryer to dry her false lashes in 2018Credit: ITV
AS well as putting their love lives under the spotlight, the Islanders revealed their beauty hacks.
In 2018, Dani Dyer brushed her false eyelashes with a spoolie and blasted them with a hairdryer to give them a fluffy look.
The following summer, Molly-Mae sparked the top-knot trend after she gave a tutorial on how to achieve her trademark hairdo, while in the show’s Beach Hut.
And last year, Ella Thomas changed the way we cleanse our faces when she blew on a cotton pad soaked in micellar water — causing the liquid to foam.
Series two’s Malin Andersson has given up BotoxCredit: Rex Features
BOOB jobs, fillers, Botox — you name it, a Love Island contestant has had it.
Every summer, fans take to Google to see what islanders looked like before their tweakments, with bombshell Megan Barton-Hanson’s transformation one of the most talked about.
The “Love Island Effect” has been blamed for a boom in the number of women — many of them young or even teenagers — seeking cosmetic procedures.
One plastic surgeon said that requests for dermal fillers increased twelve-fold after last year’s series. Demand for other tweakments at High Street salons is up 31 per cent in five years.
However, many former contestants such as Molly-Mae and Shaughna Phillips have had their filler dissolved.
Adam Collard was accused of ‘gaslighting’ Rosie WilliamsCredit: Rex Features
THE show has made headlines over the years for demonstrating the problematic and toxic behaviour of both men and women.
In 2019, domestic abusecharity Women’s Aid accused Adam Collard of “gaslighting” Rosie Williams by denying he was flirting with Zara McDermott, who he later ended up with.
Similarly, in 2022 the charity was “forced” to speak to ITV after being tagged by viewers in social media posts criticising Luca Bish for his “misogynistic and controlling behaviour” towards screen partner Gemma Owen.
Earlier this year, media watchdog Ofcom received thousands of complaints about All Stars contestant Elma Pazar’s “alleged bullying” of co-star Ekin-Su Culculoglu during an argument.
However, the pair were soon shown working through their fall-out before making up.
THE LINGO
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‘The ick’ was made popular by Olivia AttwoodCredit: Getty
REMEMBER the time when “muggy” referred to the weather and “my type on paper” was just a font?
The show’s catchphrases have left a lasting impression on the English language.
“The ick”, made popular by Olivia Attwood, was added to the Cambridge Dictionary in 2024, defined as “a sudden feeling of dislike or loss of attraction towards someone or something”.
Linguist and interpreter Ana Clarke says the show’s own lingo has even helped British men drop the stiff upper lip and better express emotions.
She said: “Now we see younger males talking about their feelings. They talk about ‘my type on paper’, ‘being mugged off’, ‘keeping their options open’.
“They often talk about relationships and use the word ‘journey’.”
Other terms popularised by the show include “pied” (to be dumped); “it is what it is” (that’s the situation); “putting all my eggs in their basket” (focusing on one person); and “melt” (liking someone so much that you don’t mind embarrassing yourself to prove it).
MENTAL HEALTH
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Former presenter Caroline Flack’s suicide threw ITV into turmoilCredit: Rex
SADLY, Love Island has been hit by a number of tragedies, which highlighted how reality TV shows that thrive on conflict and emotions can harm the mental health of contestants.
After the suicides of former Islanders Sophie Gradon (series two) and Mike Thalassitis (series three) and presenter Caroline Flack within a period of 20 months, ITV was thrown into turmoil.
Bosses introduced new duty-of-care protocols including pre-show psych-ological and medical assessments, training on social media impacts and ongoing support both during and after the programme aired.
Following Caroline’s shock death early 2020, Love Island and its sponsor JustEat replaced advertising with messages from charity Samaritans.
PR expert Nick Ede said: “ITV understood that they do have a duty of care. They put in place stringent guidelines to really support each of the contestants.
“After Caroline, it was important for them to support their viewers as well.”
A STAR IS BORN
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Ovie Soko poses for Asos after signing a brand deal
A BEVVY of beauties have found fame on the show — becoming some of the our most talked about and successful celebs.
Even the losers have walked away winners thanks to lucrative brand deals or showbiz gigs.
Nick Ede says: “They are kind of relatable. Millions feel they could be with them or be on Love Island.” Season five runner-up Molly-Mae has been the most successful influencer.
She has made an estimated £6million from deals with Pretty Little Thing, L’Oreal and Beauty Works.
She now has a daughter with her Love Island boyfriend boxer Tommy Fury, her own clothing line and a docuseries with Amazon Prime Video.
Alex and Olivia Bowen have a son and are worth almost £10million, mainly due to sponsored Instagram deals. Maura Higgins has fashion and beauty deals and hosts a US Love Island spin-off.
Olivia Attwood makes document-aries and a podcast.
CUT-OUT dresses and co-ords and, for men, spray-on jeans were all popularised on the show.
The early seasons’ contestants were dressed by sponsors including fast-fashion retailers I Saw It First and Missguided, but it soon sparked a backlash.
In 2022, the show made headlines by announcing it would now dress the Islanders in pre-owned outfits from eBay, to promote more sustainable shopping habits.
PR expert Nick Ede said it was a savvy move by ITV to appeal to eco-conscious Gen Z.
“It opened them up to a whole new generation,” says Nick. “We know younger audiences are more conscious when it comes to clothing.”
ONE SIZE FITS ALL
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Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan became the first black couple to be crowned winnersCredit: Rex
YOU can’t deny there is a stereotypical Love Island look.
While the show has included contestants such as Tasha Ghouri, who is deaf and wears a cochlear implant, raising awareness around her disability, it has been criticised for failing to include any plus-size contestants.
Dating coach Eimear Draper says: “TV shows such as Love Island are putting a huge amount of pressure on beauty standards. For those who already struggle with self- esteem, this is concerning.”
Eimear, founder of Kindling Dating, adds: “All the women look the same with their bikinis, tanned skin and long, flowing hair.
“The Love Island guys likeChris Hughes are all hunks. They are buff. They, too, are tanned and tattooed.”
Young blokes have been warned by the group UK Anti-Doping not to resort to performance-enhancing drugs to achieve “ripped” physiques,
Periodically, Love Island has also been accused of tokenism, with often only one or two black contestants each series. Last year, Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan became the first black couple to be crowned winners.
LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX
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Alex Bowen and Zara Holland have sex on TV in series 2
IN the early days, the show was a bit of a bonkfest.
Ofcom received complaints about one couple getting busy in front of their rival housemates in series two.
And Miss Great Britain Zara Holland was stripped of her pageant title after getting it on with Alex Bowen.
Series three winners Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies were also at it like rabbits.
In 2018, producers decided to stop showing sex scenes. Nowadays, you might just get a glimpse of a headboard banging or happy feet under the sheets.
But experts reckon the show has, in some ways, sexually empowered women.
Therapist Sergio Rebelo says: “Many women on the show are unafraid to talk about their bodies and sexuality. This can encourage others to discuss their own sexuality.”
Case in point: Maura Higgins talking about which of the men gave her “fanny flutters”.
Then there’s ex-stripper Megan Barton-Hanson, who was on Love Island in 2018 and later paired up with Ann Summers to launch her own range of sex toys.
