The 26-year-old bid farewell to the villa late last night upon discovering that the public had unexpectedly coupled him up with his ex, Liberty Poole. A source revealed the surprise element, stating, “Jake was genuinely taken aback to find Liberty in the villa – they had no inkling that the other person would be present.

“From the outset, it was evident that a romantic reunion was unlikely, and none of the girls stepped forward for him during the coupling up. Despite enjoying a pleasant three days in the villa, Jake had an emotional conversation with Maya Jama.

“Feeling that the timing wasn’t right for love, Jake decided to quit the show – it simply wasn’t his moment.”

Jake and Liberty’s romantic history traces back to series seven of the dating show, where their relationship faced a tumultuous end just days before the final.

During the latest coupling ceremony, Jake, a former water engineer, displayed a mix of displeasure and dismay upon realising his situation. Reacting to the news announced by Maya Jama shortly after the All-Stars launch, he expressed, “I knew it.”

Regarding the unexpected reunion with his ex, Jake stated, “I don’t harbour ill feelings towards her.” Simultaneously, Liberty made it clear that she harboured no interest in Jake, revealing her attraction to Mitch Taylor.

The couple, who were among the initial entrants into the villa, were visibly surprised by the twist of fate. Jake conveyed to the group that there was never any animosity between them and hinted at a possible conversation.

In a video clip, Jake reflected, “Me and Lib left the show, not seen her about, not spoke to her, but I’ve definitely matured massively. Older, bigger, wiser, better looking.”

Liberty explained her perspective in her video, saying, “I was on series seven. I’m probably best known for breaking up with my ex Jake a few days before the finals.” When asked if there was any chance of reconciliation, both shook their heads in disagreement.

Before the series kicked off, show boss Mike Spencer expressed hope for a potential reunion, stating, “I secretly hope so, I think it would be good. It would be good to see how they interact. That’s what I’m excited to see, whether they pick up from where they left off. I don’t think they’ve seen each other.”

While the All Stars series achieved the show’s most significant launch since Summer 2022 with 1.9 million viewers across ITV1 and ITV2, it also marked the biggest 16-34 commercial overnight audience of the year, reaching a combined peak of 2.1 million viewers.