All Star viewers left gobsmacked as Tom Clare is supported by TWO very famous footballers in Love Island finale
LOVE Island viewers were left stunned last night as winner Tom Clare’s very famous footballing friends were revealed.
Fans of the show were questioning their eyes as retired premier league legends Rio Ferdinand and Robbie Savage popped up on screens during last night’s final.
The sportsmen prerecorded supportive video messages for their friend which were played before Tom and Molly Smith were crowned victors.
One viewer wrote on X: “Tom’s friend is Rio Ferdinand???! WTF! Who is this guy?”
Another posted: “Not Rio Ferdinand on love island saying he’s mates with Tom ahahaha what??”
A third said: “Woah Tom is friends with Rio Ferdinand and Robbie Savage. He is one lucky guy for sure. #LoveIsland I didn’t see that coming.”
Another posted: “Rio Ferdinand & Robbie Savage, wishing Tom luck???”
A fifth shared: “Tom being mates with Robbie Savage and Rio Ferdinand is the most random part of this years series.”
Former Leicester City midfielder Savage is the director of non-league side Macclesfield FC, who Tom plays for as a striker.
Tom’s a big asset for the club having scored 27 goals in 47 appearances, but Savage didn’t have any issue letting the finisher leave for the villa.
He told the Mirror: “I simply cannot deny a 23-year-old lad an opening which could turn into the opportunity of a lifetime.
“Yes, it’s good publicity for Macclesfield FC and it keeps us in the public eye. But if we are going to attract young people to our fanbase, I can’t think of a better way to attract the YouTube or Netflix generation than one of our players taking part in a programme which pulls in millions of viewers and social media hits.”
Manchester United and England defender Ferdinand’s link to the Tom remains unclear.
Last night winner Molly’s ex-boyfriend Callum Jones clinched second place alongside his new partner, Jess Gale.
Attractive pairing Molly, 29, and Tom, 24, were the bookies’ favourites to win ever since they first coupled up two weeks ago.
But it’s been the sizzling dynamic between exes Molly and Callum, who split in September after three years together and had no idea each other had been cast on the ITV show, that has been one of the special series’ major talking points.
Viewers became obsessed with the idea they might rekindle in the TV villa, where they first met on the 2020 series.
Fellow islanders Sophie Piper and Joshua Ritchie came third, Georgia Steel and Toby Aromolaran placed fourth and Georgia Harrison and Anton Danyluk finished in fifth.
After being declared the winners and securing the £50,000 prize, Tom told host Maya Jama “my mind’s blown” – while Molly was visibly shaking as she shouted “what the hell”.
When Callum first entered the villa as a bombshell, he initially chose to couple up with ex-girlfriend Molly as he felt they still needed to clear the air on their past relationship.
Talking about navigating romance within the villa with her ex there, Molly said: “I think obviously from the outside looking in, people won’t understand.
“We’re in an intense environment and you’ve got to get along so it kind of forced us to be friends.
“We probably wouldn’t be at this stage on the outside, it probably would have just been a bit awkward, but I feel like it’s got us to a place that we never would have gotten to, and I’m actually grateful for that.”
Discussing how viewers had been keen for them to rekindle their relationship, host Maya said she could “relate” as people had been encouraging her to get back with her past partner, grime star Stormzy.
She said: “I did have a lot of people saying I should get back with my ex – sometimes its not what you’re ready for.”
The host, who has recently gotten back together with the British rapper, revealed he was sat in the audience, adding: “Its worked out well in the end.”
The finale episode also saw singer Ella Henderson perform a medley of her hit songs for all the islanders.
The All Stars series was billed as a celebration of Love Island’s ten series on air and gathered some of the most popular Islanders from over the last nine years.
The series has enjoyed consolidated ratings around 3 million viewers as the audience now largely watch online and on catch-up.
Love Island All Stars final places
WINNERS – Tom Clare and Molly Smith
2nd place – Callum Jones and Jess Gale
3rd place – Sophie Piper and Joshua Ritchie
4th place – Georgia Steel and Toby Aromolaran
5th place – Georgia Harrison and Anton Danyluk