The Rollercoaster of Jess and Sammy: Every Break-Up Since Winning Love Island
Love Island 2023 winners Jess Harding and Sammy Root certainly captured the hearts of the nation during their villa romance. However, life outside the sun-drenched confines of the villa proved far more turbulent than their journey to victory. Since being crowned champions, the couple endured not one, but four public break-ups, leaving fans constantly checking social media for the latest update.
With Jess Harding set to return to the spotlight—potentially for Love Island All Stars in 2026, as hinted by recent announcements—it’s time for a comprehensive recap of the messy, on-again, off-again saga that defined their post-villa partnership.
Break-Up One: The Villa Shake-Up
While their relationship survived the ultimate test inside the villa—winning the public vote—it wasn't without its early cracks. The very first split occurred during the show itself. Sammy, in a moment of villa temptation, temporarily strayed from Jess by coupling up with a bombshell from Casa Amor. This dramatic deviation tested their bond significantly, but through heartfelt reconciliation, they managed to put the villa drama behind them and ultimately clinch the £50,000 prize.
The September Saga: Two Reconciliation Cycles
Following their summer win, Jess and Sammy appeared to be navigating the pressures of fame successfully. In August, they were seen integrating into each other's real lives, with Jess introducing Sammy to her family. However, September brought confusion and social media speculation. The couple seemed to experience a period of intense fighting, leading to two separate, short-lived splits and subsequent reconciliations.
Sammy later shed light on this confusing period on the Staying Relevant podcast. He explained that the intense pressure post-villa life was a major contributing factor, suggesting Jess struggled more with the sudden transition.
The Argument Cycle
“Long story short, we spoke, and like for a week or something, things were all over the place,” Sammy revealed. He admitted that in the heat of arguments, they would declare the relationship “done,” only to reconcile shortly after. This pattern repeated itself twice during that turbulent month, leaving observers guessing about their true status.
Adding fuel to the fire, social media activity became cryptic. Sammy reshared a TikTok post that seemed to hint at underlying relationship issues, while simultaneously, Jess’s agent insisted they were still very much an item. This public ambiguity only amplified the confusion surrounding their status.
Break-Up Four: The Final Split in October
The fourth and definitive break-up occurred at the beginning of October, concluding the saga entirely. After yet another significant row, Jess reportedly decided to take a break and headed to Ibiza.
Sammy’s account of this final moment is particularly dramatic. He believed that upon Jess’s return from holiday, they would discuss things in person and attempt to salvage the relationship. However, Jess had apparently made up her mind.
Learning the News Via Tabloids
On October 3rd, mainstream tabloids reported that Jess and Sammy were officially over. The shocking element? Sammy claims he found out about the final decision through the media, not directly from Jess.
He took to his Instagram stories to express his disbelief and hurt: “I thought I would come online to address today’s news about me and Jess. Yes, we had a private conversation regarding our relationship but this was left up in the air as Jess is still away and we haven’t had a chance to speak in person. For me to then see today via the media that we had officially broken up came as a total shock.”
Sammy emphasized his desire for a respectful, face-to-face conversation, concluding that seeing the news reported publicly felt like a profound lack of closure. Ultimately, the relationship could not be saved, concluding one of the most high-profile post-villa pairings in recent Love Island history.
Fans will undoubtedly be watching closely to see if Jess Harding makes a return to the villa for future series, bringing a whole new dynamic to her reality TV presence.
