Former Love Island star Tasha Ghouri is joining BBC Two’s Pilgrimage, signaling a notable departure from her reality-TV roots as she signs up for the series.
The season for Pilgrimage—Britain's long-running celebrity faith journey show—will be filmed in England for the first time, with production set along historic pilgrimage routes in Northumberland. The county, with deep Christian heritage and historical links to the spread of the faith across the UK, provides a windswept backdrop for a group of celebrities from varied faiths and backgrounds as they explore questions of belief and identity on foot.
A source told The Sun that casting a former Love Island contestant without obvious religious leanings adds to the show's dynamic by prompting discussions about different world views. The insider noted that, while the premise sounds heavy, viewers have embraced the series since it began seven years ago, enjoying moments that range from tender to humorous. The move may also represent a culture shock for Ghouri, given the windswept Northumberland coastline is a far cry from the sun-soaked Love Island villa.
Ghouri’s stepping away from the reality-television circuit comes as her personal life has drawn attention. The 27-year-old recently celebrated turning 27 with social media posts that offered a reflective look at the year ahead after a period of high-profile moments, including her publicising a new relationship with Cam Whitnall. Whitnall, who has a presence in wildlife and media circles, stars in CBBC’s One Zoo Three and the BBC show OZT Goes Wild, alongside his brothers. His family runs Hertfordshire Zoo, and he is the managing director of The Big Cat Sanctuary, a nonprofit charity focused on rescuing wild cats and protecting species at risk of extinction. Reports in The Daily Mail also noted that Whitnall previously dated wildlife photographer Felicity Sutton, suggesting a recent reshuffling of his personal life amid Ghouri’s rising-profile projects.
Ghouri rose to fame on Love Island in 2022, where she quickly became one of the show's standout personalities. Her recent public appearances and social-media activity have kept her in the spotlight, even as she contends with the scrutiny that accompanies relationships formed in the glare of reality television. The shift to Pilgrimage follows her exit from Channel 4’s Celeb SAS, signaling a broader pivot toward different kinds of real-life storytelling.
Pilgrimage has long attracted viewers for its mix of faith, culture, humor and humanity as celebrities of diverse backgrounds undertake historic routes. The new England-based season represents a geographic and logistical shift for the format, which has drawn an international audience since its inception. BBC Two has not yet announced an air date for Ghouri’s participation, but producers emphasize the season’s emphasis on personal discovery, dialogue and mutual understanding among participants with differing beliefs.
Ghouri’s career trajectory—from Love Island breakout to a participant in a spiritual-journey format—highlights a broader trend in culture and entertainment toward cross-genre storytelling. As audiences increasingly seek content that blends entertainment with introspection and cross-cultural dialogue, Ghouri’s involvement in Pilgrimage may broaden her appeal beyond reality TV fans and into viewers looking for more contemplative, character-driven television.