Love Island’s Lucie Donlan reveals she never split from Joe Garrett and they kept their ‘Jucie romance’ a secret to make sure it worked out

LOVE Island's Lucie Donlan insists she never split from Joe Garrett - they've just been keeping their romance a secret.

The Cornish surfer says she and Joe spent their time out of the villa getting to know each other in private so there was no pressure from the outside world.

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She told The Sun Online at last night's TV Choice Awards: "We're still going strong.

"What we were doing is telling everyone we were friends because we wanted to keep the pressure off.

"We wanted to get to know each other and didn't want everyone else knowing.

"So we got together seriously... and it shows that it's real."

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When Lucie and Joe left the villa they said they were "taking things slowly" but were constantly seen kissing and sneaking off to hotels.

The pair were spotted locking lips at the ITV summer party - and were even filmed having a smooch by radio host Mark Wright.

On July 30 is was reported the pair secretly gave their romance another go after leaving the villa- but then split again.

However after Love Island: The Reunion they were spotted heading back to the hotel together.

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Lucie was the third girl to go into the villa and proved a big hit with the boys.

She stood forward for Michael Griffiths but when Joe Garrett walked in she ditched him for the delivery man.

Later, Anton Danyluk, who was coupled up with Amy Hart, revealed to Lucie he fancied her more - however Lucie did not feel the same way.

Then, when Tommy Fury had to pick a girl to couple up with, he decided to steal Lucie from Joe, leaving the floppy haired hunk in turmoil.

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Lucie was embroiled in a love triangle after her date with Tommy - leaving Joe emotional.

Lucie later admitted to liking Tommy - but his head was turned when Molly-Mae Hague invited him on a date.

For a while Lucie struggled to make her mind up between her two admirers, but when forced to make her decision on who to couple up with she went for Joe instead of Tommy.

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