Love Island star has crazy job as a body double for famous Premier League footballer

A reality TV star has revealed what it takes to be a body double for one of the Premier League's leading footballers.

Harry Cooksley, who is already no stranger to the cameras as a player for YouTube documentary project Farnham Town, is due to contribute to the bleeding edge of British high culture this summer as one of the creosoted contestants on the twelfth series of Love Island.

But the 30-year-old's most-watched previous appearances haven't been for the Southern League Premier South outfit.

Like a number of Love Island contestants from years gone by, Cooksley also works as a body double for a better footballer.

"It’s mainly for close-up shots when they don’t have time with the actual players. So it’s essentially my body on camera for those shots," says Cooksley.

Cooksley's head double in return? Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice, who will have to provide his own body if any impromptu filming opportunities crop up while Cooksley is doing whatever happens on Love Island.

"I spoke to Dec before I came out [to the villa]," said the semi-pro star and gold trader. "I’m sure he’ll be fine – he’s got the summer off now so he’ll manage without me.

"He was happy for me. He just told me to be myself. He’ll be supporting from the outside. He was excited."

When he's not pretending to watch Love Island this summer, Rice will be in preparations for his third season in the heart of the midfield for Arsenal.

Declan Rice (Image: Getty)

The England international was in great shape for the Gunners in 2024-25 and will be eager to help them push on another level in what looks certain to be a much closer and rather trickier Premier League title race in 2025-26.

Mikel Arteta and the Gunners are looking to flex their muscles in the summer transfer window with a significant gap to close on champions Liverpool, who have already been active in the market since the end of their successful season, while Manchester City have traded in some gold of their own to bring in some critical additions after a disappointingly timid title defence.

Rice will hope that he's the one getting a tan in full view of the ITV audience this time next year.

If England can secure a place at the 2026 World Cup in a scorching United States, Mexico and Canada, Cooksley can return the favour and support Rice from the outside next June.