OLIVIA and Alex Bowen have admitted that their “nightmare” younger selves never would have dated without the Love Island villa.
The married couple are convinced things wouldn’t have turned out how they are now if they didn’t go on the ITV2 dating show five years ago.
When asked if they wish they’d met away from the cameras, the pair agreed that being stuck in the villa was a blessing in disguise.
Speaking exclusively to The Celeb Report at BBC’s Out Out Live last night, Olivia, 27, said: “No! We were both nightmares when we were younger so I don’t think it would’ve worked unless we had no phones and we were locked in.”
With Alex, 30, from Birmingham and Olivia from Essex, fans would assume that the pair had no chance of meeting each other.
However, the two used to go out clubbing in the same bars when they were younger.
Alex confessed: “You know what, before we met we’d actually been to the same places and never even knew it!”
Olivia added: “I went to Birmingham with my friends a lot and we used to go out to the same place as he did!
“I’m so sure we must’ve crossed paths but obviously we were meant to meet in Love Island where it was a controlled environment. It was meant to be.”
The happy couple also touched on starting a family together and said they’re “not putting any pressure on each other” but letting “nature on its course”.
Olivia explained: “We love each other’s company and we love a night out so obviously we don’t want to do anything too soon.”
The happy couple shot to fame in 2016 on the second series of Love Island alongside the likes of Kady McDermott, Scott Thomas and Malin Andersson.
Alex and Olivia coupled up on day 20 after the Brummie lad entered as a bombshell.
They ended up placing second on the programme behind winners Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde and quickly moved in together when they returned to the UK.
They got engaged five months later after the hunk proposed to the beauty during a romantic trip to New York in December 2016.
Alex and Olivia became the first couple from the show to tie the knot during their lavish ceremony in 2018.
The pair, who are reportedly worth £4.2 million, also own a stunning £1 million Essex mansion which they bought back in February 2020.
