LOVE Island’s Harry Cooksley has revealed a HUGE step in his relationship with Shakira Khan.
The pair finished in second place on the 2025 edition of the long-running show.
Harry Cooksley has revealed a huge step in his relationship with Shakira
The reality star told The Sun that he is travelling up to Burnley to spend time with her family
He didn’t get off to the best start with her family after the Grafties
Now they are out of the villa, the duo are getting used to life together away from the cameras and , 30, could not be happier.
“Obviously it’s new for both of us. It’s a new experience for both of us and I’m so grateful to be doing it with her,” he told The Sun in an exclusive chat.
Speaking to us at the launch event, he added: “I think both of us lean on each other so much.”
Although he was introduced to mum as part of the obligatory ‘meet the parents’ twist, it’s fair to say they didn’t get off to the best start.
During his time on the smash-hit reality series, he was at the centre of gripping drama.
Although he struck up a romance with , 22, his head was turned by air hostess , 29.
Despite becoming ‘exclusive’, he still maintained a connection with Shakira, and the duo .
This was later exposed at the ceremony, where clips were played out to the villa.
, however it now seems that Harry plans to win them around.
In a huge step, the footballer told us that he to meet the wider family – and he’s looking forward to the quality time.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, he admitted: “I’m going up to Burnley, within the next few days, so I’m hoping I’ll get to spend some time with her family then.
“It’s a big step, it’s a massive step and it’s a huge thing for me as well, like her family have [only] seen an hour [of me] a day.”
‘The real me’
Harry is determined to prove himself to Shakira’s family and show that he’s different than from how he appeared on Love Island.
The told us: “They , but they’ve seen the TV view.
Love Island 2025 full lineup
- : A 30-year-old footballer with charm to spare.
- : A 22-year-old Manchester-based model, ready to turn heads.
- : A payroll specialist from Southampton, looking for someone tall and stylish.
- : International business graduate with brains and ambition.
- : A gym enthusiast with a big heart.
- : A Londoner with celebrity connections, aiming to find someone funny or Northern.
- A model ready to make waves.
- : A personal trainer and semi-pro footballer, following in his footballer father’s footsteps.
- : A towering 6’5” personal trainer.
- : A 25-year-old Irish rugby pro.
- : Love Island’s first bombshell revealed as sexy Las Vegas pool party waitress.
- : The 24-year-old bombshell hails from London and works as a commercial banking executive.
- : Bombshell Welsh brunette from the same town as Love Island 2024 alumni Nicole Samuel.
- : Pro footballer and model entering Love Island 2025 as a bombshell.
- : The 30-year-old will be spending his summer in the sun, potentially his sister Alessia’s successful tournament at the Euros in Switzerland.
- : Professional DJ from Manchester who appeared on X Factor 2016 in girl group Four of Diamonds.
- : Miss Bikini Ireland 2019 winner who hails from Dublin and works as a nail technician and personal trainer.
- Emma Munro: Harry Cooksley’s ex who entered as a bombshell and works as a hydrogeologist.
Departures:
- : Axed after an arrest over a machete attack emerged. He was released with no further action taken and denies any wrongdoing.
- : A model and motivational speaker who has overcome adversity after suffering life-changing burns in an accident.
- : A boxer with striking model looks, seeking love in the villa.
- : A teaching assistant from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, who entered Love Island 2025 as a bombshell.
- : Works as a scaffolder day-to-day and plays semi-pro football on the side.
- : The 26-year-old bombshell owns a nursery in Romford.
- : The bombshell broke up with her boyfriend after finding out she would be in the villa
- : The fourth fittest farmer in the UK according to Farmers’ Weekly in 2023 entered the villa as a bombshell
- : An Irish actress part of the OG line-up.
- : Boasts over 18million likes and 500k followers on TikTok thanks to his sizzling body transformation videos.
- : 23-year-old personal banker from Glasgow who fancies herself as a ‘good flirt’.
- : 27-year-old gym hunk who entered the show as a bombshell.
“They don’t know the nice scenes, the nice parts of you that weren’t necessarily shown on the show, the nice scenes that don’t make the edit.”
He’s also admitted that he is looking forward to properly get to know her nearest and dearest away from the cameras.
Harry added: “I want to just spend time with her family off camera and actually get to know them and for them to get to know me.
“I’m quite a good guy. I like to think so, as long as she’s happy.”
Bedroom chat
But it’s the one-on-one time with Shakira that Harry relishes the most, especially in the bedroom.
Harry exclaimed: “The only time we really relax is in bed, and I don’t mean that in any sort of way!”
It’s a big step, it’s a massive step and it’s a huge thing for me as well
Harry CooksleyThe Sun
However, he revealed that this is the time when the pair open up and have deep and meaningful conversations together.
“But when we get in bed, we’ve been living out of hotels, when we get in bed in the evening, we really talk honestly and about how we feel,” he exclusively told us.
“It’s just so lovely to spend that time with her. Like those are the moments I’m living for.
“[When I am] just in bed with her and we can talk openly and honestly about how we feel.”
The footballer noted that they only saw one hour a day and not necessarily the nice scenes
The couple had a turbulent journey in the villa but they ended up in second place
He now loves spending time with Shakira away from the TV cameras
Harry admitted that the pair have deep and meaningful conversations in the evening
The footballer also admitted that they open up to each other and they ‘lean’ on each other
The 2025 series of Love Island is available to watch back on ITVX
