Presenter Maya Jama replaces Laura Whitmore as the host of Love Island. Jama announced the news over social media by posting a video demonstrating why she’s ready for the renowned villa…
Maya Jama has been confirmed as the replacement for Laura Whitmore as the host of Love Island.
The 28-year-old host stated: “I’ve always been a huge Love Island fan, and I’m thrilled to host one of the nation’s most popular series! I cannot wait to enter the villa and meet everyone on the island.”
Before the announcement, there was widespread speculation that Jama might receive the presenting position.
On Instagram, Jama and the official Love Island account posted a video of her with one of the show’s iconic luggage and a water bottle, with the caption “Okay, the rumors are real.”
Jama, a former Radio 1 presenter well renowned for TV series such as Glow Up and Save Our Summer, will host the ninth season of the ITV2 reality dating show Love Island in early 2019.
This will be the first of two seasons in 2023, with the second series taking place in Majorca over the summer.
ITV2’s head of reality programming and acquisitions, Paul Mortimer, stated: “Finding a new host to replace the fantastic Laura Whitmore was never simple.
“In Maya Jama, though, we have another prominent Love Island fan who will be a wonderful addition to the Love Island family.
I believe I speak for all of us when I say that Maya will add a unique presenting approach to the show, just as Laura and, of course, the greatly missed Caroline Flack did. We are thrilled to have her aboard.”
Jama is believed to have become engaged to American basketball player Ben Simmons this year, following the conclusion of her high-profile engagement with Stormzy in 2019.
Her appointment as the new Love Island host follows Whitmore’s confirmation of her departure.
In 2020, Whitmore, 37, will serve as a temporary host of the show and its spin-off series Aftersun. The shift became permanent after Flack, the original host, passed away.
Since 2015, Whitmore’s husband, the comedian Iain Stirling, has supplied the narration for the program.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu, a Turkish actress from Essex, and Davide Sanclimenti, an Italian businessman, won the 2022 series.
