Maya Jama is ‘revealed as the new Love Island host!’ TV presenter ‘WILL replace Laura Whitmore on the hit ITV2 dating show after mounting speculation’
- Maya Jama is reportedly set to become the new Love Island presenter
- Former host Laura Whitmore announced her departure for the show in August, saying she found flying back and forth from the Majorcan villa ‘very difficult’
- Broadcaster Maya is said to be in the final stages of organising her contract but has agreed to the role which will kick off next year in South Africa
- She was hotly-tipped to front the show along with fellow TV and radio host Vick Hope
- Latest news and updates on all of your favourite Love Island contestants
Maya Jama will be the new Love Island host, reports suggest.
The TV presenter, 28, has been hotly-tipped to replace former host Laura Whitmore as the host of the popular ITV2 reality dating programme.
Maya is said to be in the final stages of organising her contract but has agreed to the role which will kick off next year in South Africa, according to The Sun.
Fresh start: Maya Jama, 28, is said to be in the final stages of organising her contract but has agreed to the role of Love Island host, starting next year
An ITV source said: ‘Maya was ITV’s dream option. She is fun, beautiful and a brilliant presenter.’
An ITV spokesperson said ‘we will announce in due course’ when contacted by MailOnline.
MailOnline has contacted a representative for Maya for comment.
Farewell: The TV presenter has been hotly-tipped to replace former host Laura Whitmore (pictured) as the host of the popular ITV2 reality dating programme
Laura announced in August this year that she was quitting Love Island and will not be returning to host the next series of the ITV2 dating show.
The Irish presenter, 37, joined the show back in 2020 and has hosted the hugely popular reality programme and its spin-off Aftersun for three series.
Laura – who is mother to a 16-month-old daughter with Love Island voiceover star Iain Sterling – took to her Instagram at the time to confirm she would be leaving, saying she has found flying back and forth from the villa ‘very difficult’.
Favourite: An ITV source said: ‘Maya was ITV’s dream option. She is fun, beautiful and a brilliant presenter’
More to come: An ITV spokesperson said ‘we will announce in due course’ when contacted by MailOnline
The broadcaster’s stint on the ITV2 dating show received mixed reviews this season; some viewers praised her handling of sensitive topics, while others criticised her for ‘encouraging slut-shaming’ in a segment which sparked 427 Ofcom complaints.
Laura replaced Caroline Flack as the presenter of Love Island when she stood down in December 2019. Caroline tragically took her own life aged 40 in February 2020.
In her statement, Laura said she was only planning to fill in for Caroline for one series, emotionally saying that she hope she did her late friend ‘proud’.
Exit: Laura announced in August this year that she was quitting Love Island and would not be returning to host the next series of the ITV2 dating show
Leaving: She took to her Instagram to confirm that she would be leaving the show, saying she has found flying back and forth from the villa ‘very difficult’
Taking to Instagram, Laura said: ‘Some news! I won’t be hosting the next series of Love island.
‘There are certain elements of the show I’ve found very difficult that cannot be changed some due to the format, including the flying back and forth to South Africa along with my new conflicting projects.
‘I wish it was still possible but know you’ll be in safe hands. I was only planning to fill in for Caroline for a series and it turned into 3 series. I hope I did you proud Caroline.’
Host: The Irish presenter, 37, joined Love Island back in 2020 and has hosted the hugely popular reality TV show for three series
Speaking of Laura’s exit, an ITV spokesperson said: ‘Laura has been a fantastic host across the last three series of the show.
‘We are so grateful for everything she has brought to the programme but understand and respect her decision, and we look forward to working with her on upcoming ITV projects.’
TV and radio star Vick Hope, 32, was also reportedly being considered for the hosting show as ITV hoped to bring a ‘cooler edge’ to the show.
Speaking about both Maya and Vick previously, a TV source told The Sun: ‘They’re viewed as two glamorous, fun figures who would also bring a slightly cooler edge to the format.
‘Over the past three years they’ve both seen their careers go from strength to strength, and have the high profile to match that of the hit ITV show.
‘It’s going to be a close call who ITV bosses will pick in the end.’
Maya has presenting experience on shows such as Walk the Line and Soccer Aid while Vick has fronted spin off shows for The X Factor, The Voice and I’m A Celebrity.
Career move: Maya was one of the front runners to take over Laura ‘s Love Island presenting job along with TV and radio presenter Vick Hope (pictured)
Laura’s exit from the show came after she opened up about the ‘exhausting’ and ‘tough’ aspects of hosting Love Island.
She told the Distraction Pieces podcast: ‘With stuff with Love Island, it’s just a bit exhausting sometimes because some of the stuff is just mental.
‘As a host, this takes up not a huge amount of my time compared to my other work. It’s over eight weeks.
‘The host only comes on three or four times, it’s always been the way, but it gets the most attention. It’s a bit exhausting and it’s tough.’
Bye: Irish TV star Laura (pictured) revealed her shock decision to quit her job after three years this summer – blaming, in part, the format of the show for her career choice
Source: Read Full Article