Michael Owen says he won't appear on 'Love Island' for 'meet the parents' episode

Michael Owen has confirmed that he won't be appearing on Love Island's famous "meet the parents" episode if his daughter Gemma makes it to that stage of the show.

Gemma Owen has formed one of the strongest relationships in the villa this year with fishmonger Luca Bish, sparking rumours that the 42-year-old former footballer could make an appearance.

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But he told At the Races on Sky Sports — reported via Metro — that he won't be getting on a plane and heading to the idyllic Mallorcan villa, with his wife Louise filling the role instead.

"My wife will do that duty. I’ll represent the horses and she’ll represent the daughter," he said.

Watch: Gemma discusses Michael Owen in Love Island scene

Owen added: "I don’t know what I’ll get from [his racehorse] Box To Box, but I know what I’m going to get from my daughter.

"I’ve fathered her for 19 years so I’m pretty sure what I’m going to get from her."

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Owen has previously spoken of his discomfort at watching his 19-year-old daughter on Love Island, saying last month that the show is "not something any father wants to watch".

He added: "If there is physical contact I think I’ll be throwing something at the screen. I don’t want to see kissing. Do not make me see kissing."

The topic of Gemma's dad came up on Wednesday night's episode of Love Island, in which viewers saw her and Bish leave the villa to go on their first date.

Gemma told Bish he has a similar sense of humour to her father, with him replying: "If only I could kick a ball as good as him."

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Gemma joins a number of other famous offspring to have taken part in the reality series, with Ronan Keating's son Jack appearing on the show this year and Dani Dyer — son of Danny — winning back in 2018.

In the latter case, Danny Dyer did take part in "meet the parents", appearing on a video call to Dani and her then-partner Jack Fincham.

Other celebrities have made it clear they do not want their kids to enter the villa, with Peter Andre and Amanda Holden both banning their children from ever taking part.

One of Owen's former teammates almost ended up in the same position, with ex-Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy revealing to Talksport that his son nearly joined the show.

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Murphy said: "My eldest son who’s 25 now, he got down to the last 25 when he was about 19. I was praying he didn’t get on. Thank God he didn’t."

Meanwhile, the Love Island villa continues to be shaken up by the arrival of former contestant and notorious bad boy Adam Collard.

Watch: Jacques O'Neill quits Love Island