Love Island Luca grew up with EastEnders icon and close friend Patsy Palmer

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Love Island star Luca Bish confessed he is a "very close family friend" to EastEnders icon Patsy Palmer.

Patsy was one of the first to congratulate Luca on being announced as part of the official 2022 line-up for the ITV dating series, posting alongside a snapshot of his official photo: "Omg @lucabish all grown up and going on @loveisland. We cannot wait to watch you."

She added: "You will smash it so beautiful, kind & funny. Yay from your Malibu crew!"

Now, speaking to Daily Star and other press, Luca has opened up about his relationship to the star.

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Responding to the message of support, he said: "She’s a very close family friend – I didn’t actually know she said anything because they keep everything away from you here. So I’m glad she’s got my back!

"My mum’s been very close to her, and it ended up with her and [husband] Richard [Merkell] and my dad being very close. They just became really close family friends. When they were in England we spent most weekends with each other."

Patsy now lives in Malibu with hubby Richard and their children Fenton, Emilia and Bertie, leaving her eldest son Charley behind in the UK.

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Luca knows what it's like to be in the public eye, having previously dated Love Island star Saffron Barker. And his mum has plenty of famous pals too.

He went on: "Being around Patsy Palmer, and my mum’s got a few mates in the public eye, Saffron, you kind of get used to the scenarios that are happening.

"I think [Saffron and I] were in Pizza Express once, and we had kids running up to the window taking pictures of me stuffing my face with dough-balls!"

Saffron has also thrown her support behind her ex, writing on his Instagram post: "Good luck Luca," with a red love heart emoji.

Meanwhile, Luca's sister will be handling his social media while he's out at the Majorcan villa, though he has admitted he's most nervous about being separated from his phone.

Love Island returns to ITV2 and ITVHub on June 6 at 9pm

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  • Love Island
  • Luca Bish
  • Eastenders
  • Exclusives

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