Explaining the bizarre and gross reason Wes Nelson says he’d never go on Love Island All Stars

Former Islander Wes Nelson officially turned down Love Island All Stars, listing reasons that ranged from having a partner to the “smell” of the villa giving him anxiety.

You might remember that Wes Nelson featured on the standard show in 2018 with names such as Dani Dyer, Jack Fincham, and Laura Anderson. He ultimately coupled up with Megan Barton Hanson and the two went on to come in fourth place.

Though Wes is arguably the perfect former Islander to make a return, especially following the success of his music career, he turned down the comeback for a few sensible – and one very strange – reasons.

Here’s why Wes Nelson rejected Love Island All Stars

Love Island All Stars is set to premiere on Monday with Luca Bish, Olivia Hawkins, and Gabby Allen all set to wear nothing but swimwear and sandals for the next seven weeks. Though he would have fit in with 2025’s crop, Wes Nelson rejected ITV’s offer.

“They said would you consider it? And I spoke to them, and I said, obviously, I’m in a relationship, and I just don’t think I’m down to do it anymore,” he recently told FUBAR Radio.

But here’s where the strange moment comes in because while saying “I’m in a relationship” would have been enough, Wes seemingly blamed his hesitance on the “smells and sight” of the villa which he claimed gave him anxiety during his performance for the 2024 cast with Craig David.

“I don’t think I could, you know when I went and performed with Craig [David], just even being in the villa and the smells and the sight of everything, I got anxiety,” he added.

Most Read

It’s finally here: Watch the full video of Bonnie Blue’s 1,000 guys in 12 hours challenge

Bonnie Blue’s gross message to all the guys in the queue waiting to sleep with her

Then and now promo pics of Love Island All Stars 2025 cast prove who’s changed the most

What does the Love Island villa even smell like?

Though Wes Nelson’s comments are indeed very strange, after all, surely it just smells like fake tan and desperation, statements from previous Islanders do suggest that the iconic villa is basically a dumpster.

“The Beach Hut used to stink because obviously all during the day we’d been in the pool, got suncream on, or will go and do a challenge and do the horrible food challenges,” 2021’s Brad McClellend said. “And obviously we’re sitting on a big wicker chair and you’re wet and after a while, the cushion will be damp and they used to just have a bottle of spray and you’d go in and spray it. The Beach Hut gets used loads it’s probably the most popular place so there’s even more dirt and stuff.”

The actual villa is not much better according to former host Laura Whitmore, who told The Times that it’s an “eclectic medley” of scents you’d rather not be confronted with after a full day of filming.

“The Love Island villa smells – that’s the one thing the audience at home never see,” she explained. “When you walk into a house with that many men and only two or three toilets, the smell of fake tan, the flatulence, the perfumes and aftershaves all together is like this eclectic medley.”

Gross, just gross.

For all the latest reality TV news and gossip, like The Holy Church of Love Island on Facebook. 

Featured image credit: ITV