Michael Owen has said that his daughter, Gemma’s decision to go on ITV’s Love Island is ‘every father’s worst nightmare’ but has said he fully supports her decision.
The former Liverpool and England forward has stated that he will be watching from home as Gemma enters the famous Love Island villa in search for romance in the next ten weeks.
19-year-old Gemma is a business owner from Chester, but has also competed for Great Britain in dressage sine the age of 11.
She is this year’s line up’s youngest contestant, the decision to go on the hit reality show came after her last relationship ended.
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Gemma said ahead of her participation: “I’ve travelled all across Europe competing in big arenas in big competitions. I would say I’m very competitive.”
“When it comes to relationships I will always go for what I want.
She added: “But at the same time, I’m not going to mess up something for someone who is in a proper relationship or get in the way of a couple if they have a genuine connection.”
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“I wouldn’t do anything to another girl that I wouldn’t be happy with them doing to me.”
Owen, 42, said that the news of his daughter heading into the villa is his worst nightmare.
He told ITV news: “I have no doubts that she will make us all proud, It's probably a father's worst nightmare, but whatever she wants to do you've got be supportive.”
Owen spoke about the hardest part of this is having his daughter away from home for so long.
He said: “It's been different without her in the house. I've got other kids and my wife and it's been quite tough because she's had to switch her phone off and we've had no contact for a couple of weeks so that's been the hard bit.”
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The former player will also be tuning in to watch the show for the first time.
He said: “I've heard a lot about it, I think old, grumpy men like me will always have an opinion on it because I don't watch it and you just hear the snippets, but she assures me that it's not as bad as I think.”
“So, we'll give it a watch and I hope she enjoys herself.”
Love Island will return to the TV screens on 6 June at 9pm on ITV 2.
Topics: Michael Owen
Marcus Chan