Love Island 2021: First disabled islander PE teacher Hugo Hammond was born with club foot

PE teacher Hugo Hammond is Love Island’s first ever disabled contestant.

The sports lover, 24, was born with club foot and braved multiple operations as a child, but explained it’s now only possible to spot when he walks barefoot, because he walks ‘slightly’ on his tiptoes.

Hugo, who is among the first confirmed islanders for the 2021 series, has travelled the world playing cricket for England PD (Physical Disability) and now teached PE to secondary school children.

Club foot (also called talipes) is where a baby is born with a foot or feet that turn in and under.

Meet Hugo: PE teacher Hugo Hammond, 24, is Love Island’s first ever disabled contestant

Explaining his disability, Hugo said: ‘I was born with clubfoot. I had lots of operations when I was a kid.

‘You can only really tell when I walk barefoot. I’ve got a really short achilles heel. I walk slightly on my tip toes.’

But the Hampshire-based hunk has gone on to represent his country, revealing: ‘I’ve actually played cricket for England PD (Physical Disability). I’ve been to Bangladesh, Dubai, I’ve been everywhere to play cricket.’

And Hugo’s love of sports guided him to his job, teaching secondary school PE, which he’s extremely passionate about.

Club foot: Hugo was born with club foot and braved multiple operations as a child, but said it’s now only possible to spot when he walks barefoot, because he walks ‘slightly’ on his tiptoes

He enthused: ‘Absolutely love my job. I love all my sports. It’s great to be able to pass on that enthusiasm to be physically active to the younger generation and hopefully they feel the same about me teaching them.

Explaining what made him want to take part in Love Island, Hugo admitted: ‘I’ve been single for a while now. With the current climate, it’s been really hard to get back into dating.

‘I saw it as an opportunity to have an amazing fun summer and put myself back out there.’

Hugo’s last girlfriend was Milly Simons, who he posted to Instagram about enjoying a date night with back in September 2020. 

Hugo will have to quarantine when he reaches Majorca, as will all cast and crew, to comply with Covid-19 safety measures. 

The pandemic resulted in last year’s summer series being postponed and fans are eagerly awaiting the new series following the ITV2 juggernaut’s extended break. 

It’s rumoured the British series may experience a crossover with its US counterpart, as both are being filmed at the same time, but bosses have yet to confirm the audacious move to ensure plot surprises are kept under-wraps.  

Each confirmed contestant will be given thorough psychological and medical assessments by health experts before, during and after the series as part of the show’s duty of care protocols. 

And every Islander must fully disclose their medical history to ensure the environment of the villa is suitable.

The 2021 summer series will be hosted by Laura Whitmore who featured in the show’s big teaser advert last week.

The hit ITV2 dating show has not aired since February 2020 after both the summer 2020 and winter 2021 editions were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.   

Love Island returns on Monday June 28 at 9pm on ITV2 and the ITVHub. 

LOVE ISLAND 2021: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

 Sharon Gaffka, 25  

Name: Sharon Gaffka

Age: 25

Location: Oxford

Occupation: Civil Servant – Operations Lead for Department of Transport

Who is their type on paper? ‘I tend to date someone who is taller than me, even though my last long-term partner, he was actually someone who was shorter than me. 

‘I’m quite an intellectual person so I want someone who can kind of match that.’

 Aaron Francis, 24

Name: Aaron Francis

Age: 24

Location: London

Occupation: Luxury Events Host

Who is their type on paper? ‘I need someone that is passionate about what they are doing – from scientist to anything – you can tell when someone is speaking about something and they are actually smiling while they are talking. I love that. 

‘I don’t like when people are doing a job just to make money and then they kind of just live for the weekend. Especially because I work on the weekends.’

 Liberty Poole, 21 

Name: Liberty Poole

Age: 21

Location: Birmingham

Occupation: Nando’s Waitress and Marketing Student

Who is their type on paper? ‘So I like tall, alpha male, confident, a cheeky chappy sort of guy. 

‘But obviously that’s always usually combined with player types, which is where I go wrong. So I am trying to change my ways and go for more of a nicer guy that is going to treat me right.’ 

 

 Hugo Hammond, 24  

Name: Hugo Hammond

Age: 24

Location: Hampshire

Occupation: PE Teacher

Who is their type on paper? ‘I’ve been single for a while now. With the current climate, it’s been really hard to get back into dating. 

‘I saw it as an opportunity to have an amazing fun summer and put myself back out there.’

 

Shannon Singh

 Name: Shannon Singh 

Age: 22

Location: Fife 

Occupation: Glamour model

Who is their type on paper? ‘I don’t feed off looks, I feed off energy, I need someone with personality. Just someone I can have fun with.

‘I’m a party girl, I love going out, I’m very social. For me it’s quite hard to find people who are genuine and looking for what you’re looking for’

Jake Cornish

 Name: Jake Cornish

Age: 24

Location: Weston-super-Mare

Occupation: Water Engineer

Who is their type on paper? ‘Looks wise, always gone for blondes. But for me, the main thing is having respect and having good fun, and someone who will be loyal to you…

‘I’ve had messages from girls that have got boyfriends and husbands. This is why I don’t trust anyone. Someone who is loyal really. But when I’m single, I like having a good time!

Kaz Kamwi

Name: Kaz Kamwi

Age: 26

Location: Essex

Occupation: Fashion Blogger

Who is their type on paper? ‘I like meeting new people, I’m ready to be in a relationship. Why not be in a place where people are looking for the same things as me?’

 

Brad McClelland

Name: Brad McClelland

Age: 26

Location: Northumberland

Occupation: Labourer

Who is their type on paper? Sommer Ray from Instagram. Zara McDermott, she’s a good-looking lass. Or Megan Fox.