Luke and Josh Packham may have only just hit screens for the latest season of The Block Fans V Faves, but the hunky Sydney twins are no strangers to headlines.
WATCH Josh and Luke introduce themselves in a promo vid for Love Island
The 27-year-olds first shot to fame on the second season of Love Island Australia in 2019, and have since gone on to become bonafide reality tv stars.
WHO takes a look back at the lives of Josh and Luke, from mental health struggles and family tragedies, to failed relationships and their foray into television.
Love Island
The twins not only starred on season two of Love Island Australia, but Josh also won with co-star and girlfriend Anna McEvoy.
Luke and Josh both entered the villa as intruders one week in, and were the drama-free favourites that sent female contestants’ tongues wagging.
Josh and Anna ultimately beat runners-up Cartier Surjan and Matthew Zukowski for the $50,000 cash prize.
“Obviously, Josh and I really didn’t think we had any chance of winning because we weren’t in the original cast and normally the winners are an original cast member. So when our names were called out we were like ‘Oh my god! What’s happened?'” Anna explained after their win.
Meanwhile Luke – who was dumped from the villa on day 30 – enjoyed a romance with fellow islander Cassie Lansdell.
The fan favourites broke up on the show but briefly rekindled after arriving back in Australia.
They were spotted kissing in a Sydney park shortly after filming wrapped, but called it quits for good just weeks later in November 2019.
“We tried to see how things would work in the real world, but ultimately decided that we’re better off as friends without benefits,” Luke said following their breakup.
“Cassie’s a great girl and instead of complicating things we think it’s better to just let it go now while we’re still good friends.
“We really gave it our best shot inside the villa and out in the real world so there’s no regrets.”
Relationships
Josh and Luke have enjoyed their fair share of public romances and breakups since first hitting the spotlight.
Following their sting on Love Island, Anna and Josh moved in together in June 2020 ahead of Melbourne’s second lockdown and documented the experience on social media extensively.
The couple shared vlogs to their personal YouTube accounts explaining that they’d been looking at rental properties for a couple of months.
“This has been a long time coming, we’ve been wanting to tell you guys for ages but we were like ‘We have to hold off and try and make it a surprise.’ Finally it’s out so we’re super excited,” Anna said in her YouTube video.
The couple regularly posted loved-up snaps during their time together, and were active on social media.
Josh and Anna sadly ended their relationship in late 2020, just months after moving in together.
In typical influencer style, the pair announced their shock split on Instagram in November.
“It is with great sadness that Josh and I are going our separate ways,” Anna posted on Instagram.
“I know that so many of you are invested in our relationship but please know we did everything we could to make it work.
“It’s extremely difficult to break up with someone who you still love but it is the right thing to do. Please respect our privacy and thank you for the ongoing love and support.”
Josh shared his own Instagram Story about the break up, writing: “We have had an amazing journey but unfortunately sometimes relationships don’t work out and two people simply grow apart.”
“I am incredibly grateful for the time we have shared.”
Meanwhile, just a month after Luke and Cassie went their separate ways, the hunky tradie got into a new relationship.
Luke and Olivia made their Instagram debut in December 2019 when the Love Island star shared an intimate photo of the two sharing a kiss.
“If your God is money, you will always be poor; But if your God is love, you will always be rich. X” he captioned the snap.
The pair got engaged last October during a diving trip in Byron Bay.
In the photo, Luke and his fiancée shared a sweet kiss on board a raft dressed in wetsuits, with the Levendi engagement ring glittering on the bride-to-be’s finger.
Luke’s fiancée can also be seen holding a sign that reads: “OLIVIA JESSICA KISS you make me the happiest man. WILL YOU MARRY ME?”
Family
Luke and Josh, who were born and raised in Sydney’s northern beaches, have been candid about the tragedies their family has faced.
The twins’ father Kevin, a successful real estate agent, was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer that affects the tissues that line the chest and abdomen, the space around the heart and other organs.
The 61-year-old developed the illness after coming in contact with asbestos while inspecting houses during his career.
“I ingested it at some stage and it sits in the lining of your stomach for 20 to 40 years before anyone knows,” Kevin told Woman’s Day. “It’s a very nasty form of cancer, sadly.
Luke said learning of his father’s disease was “heartbreaking”.
After surgery last year to remove parts of his stomach and colon, and several sessions of chemotherapy, Kevin says he’s had two scans “showing a clean bill of health for the time being, but I just take every day as it comes”.
Ever the optimist, he says his illness has brought the family “even closer”.
“When you get this sort of news, it makes you reflect and look at your values, and you just don’t take anything for granted,” Kevin said.
“It makes you look at every day as a special day.”
Josh and Luke say they’re proud of their dad’s resilience.
“He’s done exceptionally well. He’s gone through a very difficult six months, but he’s come out on top,” Josh said.
Careers
Before heading to Love Island in 2019, Josh had a finance background and worked in sales.
But after his breakup with Anna and moving from Melbourne back to Sydney to live with his parents, Josh realised his passion was in mental health, and has since gone to uni to study.
“I suffered a lot with social anxiety growing up and to have come through it, it would be great to pass that message on to other people,” he said.
On the other hand, Luke – who once tried out for the Royal Marine Commandos, is a seasoned tradie and runs his own synthetic grass installing business.
“I do backyards [for a living], so hopefully we will win backyard week… if we don’t it will be really disappointing!” he said, when asked about their stint on The Block.
The Block
Luke and Josh got off to a rocky season on The Block Fans Vs Faves after they were accused of “cheating” by fellow contestant Kirsty Lee Akers.
The twins rubbed Kirsty the wrong way after using their builders to help them paint their house.
“Rule number one on The Block is that only contestants can paint,” Kirsty told cameras on Sunday’s episode.
“That’s the one job that we have to do, unfortunately because painting sucks, and I hate painting.”
Kirsty then confronted the twins, telling them she had to “be the bearer of bad news”.
“You know the rule is that only contestants can paint?” she told Luke and Josh, whose builder was then forced to put his paint roller down.
Josh said he wasn’t happy that Kirsty dobbed them in to production.
“It’s not something that Luke and I would usually go and do, go and pull someone up if they’re doing the wrong thing,” he said.
“It was as if Kirsty was saying it for our sake, but in her best interest.”
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