Love Island catch up: Couples wait for public vote after islanders decide who will be up for eviction

It's crunch time for the contestants as the live final - and £50,000 cash prize - looms

Love Island: Alex says he doesn't have feelings for Alexandra

With only two episodes of Love Island 2018 left, one can only image how gruelling the ITV2 producers will make them for our islanders.

So it seems they decided to give them a break, sending the remaining couples on incredibly lavish dates.

Megan and Wes got to go on a luxury boat ride, where the L-Bomb was once more dropped.

Meanwhile Kaz and Josh had a fairylight-lit dinner (I suppose candles were too dangerous with so many hair prodcuts), accompanied by a woman playing a white grand piano while a man danced in a hoop. Even Dr Alex and Alexandra made up after their acrimonious breakup.

But, as only Love Island knows how, the happiness soon gave way for suspense. The sunny Spanish skies fast turned grey as the islanders found out their fate.

The contestants had to vote for the couple that they wanted to put forward for eviction on Sunday (29 July) night. Tensions ran high, intense discussions about friendship and unconditional love were had, but choose they must.

After texting in their choices, we are left with three couples up for eviction. Josh and Kaz, Dr Alex and Alexandra, Laura and Paul. It had seemed so obvious that the two Alexs would go, but after scrabbling around to make-up - with £50,000 gleaming in their eyes - they may have clinched it.

So who will leave on Sunday? And with the parent visit looming, will we actually get to see Danny Dyer after all these weeks? Keep informed as we stay true to the cause, to the bitter end, and live-blog everything Love Island as it happens.

Please give the live blog a moment to load.

Love Island continues nightly, except Saturdays, on ITV2 at 9pm.

[27 July 2018 13:00 · Andrew Buncombe]

Hello and welcome to The Independent's Love Island live-blog! We'll be keeping an eye on all the news from the villa throughout the day and watching along with you this evening, so stay tuned. 

[27 July 2018 13:12 · Andrew Buncombe]

Bookies William Hill have released their odds on who will win Love Island, with Jack and Dani firmly ahead, while Alex and Alexandra are dead last.

Female: 1/8 Dani Dyer; 11/2 Kazimir Crossley; 16/1 Laura Anderson; 20/1 Megan Barton-Hanson; 25/1 Alexandra Cane

Male: 1/8 Jack Fincham; 11/2 Josh Denzel; 16/1 Paul Knops; 20/1 Wes Nelson; 25/1 Alex George

[27 July 2018 13:42 · Andrew Buncombe]

In breaking Love Island news... former contestant has hopes to become a political pundit...

[27 July 2018 14:42 · Andrew Buncombe]

And while we're talking Brexit, why not sign The Independent's petition for a Final Say on the deal...

[27 July 2018 15:21 · Lucy Anna Gray]

"Now we move into Love Island’s pantomime phase, where the islanders court not each other but the general public, with all the determined energy of a bird of paradise building its shiny love nest from discarded crisp packets." The latest sketch from Tom Peck.

[27 July 2018 16:02 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Wait...what?!

[27 July 2018 16:53 · Lucy Anna Gray]

As the final grows ever nearer...

[27 July 2018 17:12 · Lucy Anna Gray]

If watching the final in your PJs with a hot tea isn't very 'you', here's your solution: 

[27 July 2018 18:01 · Lucy Anna Gray]

Here you have it folks, it's your first look at Friday's episode of Love Island...

[27 July 2018 18:25 · Lucy Anna Gray]

So what have we seen from our tantalising first look? 

Alex and Alex continue to fade into obscurity after the dramatic break up.

Meg and Wes are going on a date, as are Jaz and Josh (but who cares? They're far too happy).

Most intriguingly, something is set to disturb the perfect Jack and Dani...