Love Island 2026 contestant Sam Workman has opened up about being deaf and wearing hearing aids since he was four years old, hoping his story will inspire viewers.
Sam's Journey on Love Island
The 25-year-old electrician from Dudley entered the villa as an original cast member and quickly formed a connection with Robyn Langton. When she mentioned being loud, Sam replied: "Loud's good! I'm deaf." While some fans worried that bombshells George Knight and Yasmin Hadlow might disrupt the couple, Sam is optimistic about his run on the show.
Living with Hearing Aids
Speaking to OK! magazine, Sam said: "I've worn them since I was four years old. So they are really a big part of who I am... I would say that it's helped me with my confidence." He recalled struggles during school, noting that children often made comments. "I always say that if I was to get them at this age, then I would feel very self-conscious about them. I probably wouldn't want to wear them," he added.
Inspiring Others
Sam hopes his television appearance will encourage other hearing aid users to feel more confident. "It'll be nice for other people to see it on TV. They've helped me with confidence growing up and going through school. They don't bother me anymore and I don't notice they're even there half the time, but it would be nice for people that I know there's a lot of people that have them and don't want to wear them because they're self-conscious. So if they see me on TV wearing them, then hopefully someone realises they are nothing to be embarrassed about," he explained.
Community Connection
Sam previously played for Birmingham County, a football team composed entirely of deaf players, where he served as an interpreter. He described it as "a good experience of meeting people from that community." He also expressed interest in connecting with Tasha Ghouri, the first deaf contestant on Love Island during series 8.
Sam is the second deaf contestant to appear on Love Island UK, following Tasha Ghouri. His participation highlights the importance of representation for the deaf community on mainstream television.
