Belle Hassan thinks Maura Higgins would be ‘amazing’ on Winter Love Island

We're inclined to agree, yeah.

Belle Hassan has said that she thinks Maura Higgins would be "brilliant" on the winter series of Love Island.  Amidst rumours that Maura had been flown over to South Africa to appear in the upcoming series (starting early next month, let it be known), a lot of people have gotten themselves fairly hyped up at the mere prospect of having the Longford gal back on their screens. Especially considering Caroline Flack's recent departure from hosting duties.  Among them is Belle Hassan, who - like most other people, let's be honest - thinks Maura would be absolutely great.

“She’d be amazing if she was doing it, she’d be brilliant," Belle tells Her. "She has such a big personality. She’d be sick.”

The rumours may be nothing but rumours, but despite this, it is looking fairly likely that Maura is going to have some sort of involvement in the upcoming show - an opportunity that Belle says she wouldn't say no to herself.

"I probably would [go back in] if they asked me," she says. "You know, it’s just a big sleepover with all of your mates at the end of the day. It’s good fun. Yeah I definitely would go back in.”

Kicking off at the beginning of 2020, the series is the first of its kind: set in South Africa, with no Caroline Flack, and taking place in the depths of winter. Belle says that although the show is going to be entirely different, she believes they'll still be able to draw in just as many viewers. Belle was in Dublin this week to announce Just Eat's sponsorship of the show on Virgin Media Two. She says that she thinks the series will be "as popular as ever." “I do think there’ll be a lot of people thinking ‘What the hell, what is going on?’ Because it’s in winter," she says. "But people are definitely ready to have their lives taken over again. I think we’re all dying to see what they do different this time too, and what the layout will be. Like, will there be anything new? Will there be Casa Amor? It’s quite exciting.

"I do hope they don’t ruin it though because there has been so much hype around it.

Over the summer, Belle left the villa alongside Anton. The pair decided to call quits on their romantic relationship not long after returning to the UK, but Belle says that they have, in fact, remained close friends.

"He checks in all the time," she says. “He’s become a best mate like that."

"I was going to go up to Scotland a while back but I just didn’t get round to it, because we’ve both been so busy. But we do sort of talk all the time.

"You don’t want anyone to think you’ve fallen out, but everyone is just so busy. We all lives in different areas."

Although Belle may be into the idea of returning to the villa, she's also fairly certain of what the new islanders should - and shouldn't do - once they're in there. One notable thing is, naturally, being yourself.

"Don’t take anything too seriously," she says. "If you meet someone, you meet someone. If you don’t, you don’t."

"Don’t go in with any expectations about what’s going to happen or if you’re going to get loads of Instagram followers or anything. Have an open head and just enjoy every moment, because these things don’t last forever and before you know it, it’ll be over.”

Love Island returns to our screens early next year on Virgin Media Two.