The key facts

  • Maya Jama announced she is stepping down as Love Island host after three years and nine series
  • She took on the role in 2023, succeeding Laura Whitmore
  • The departure followed her appearance on Celebrity Traitors, where she did not win but received high praise from the press

Love Island host announces her departure

British TV presenter Maya Jama has announced that she is stepping down as host of the reality show Love Island after three years in the role. The 32-year-old Jama shared the news on Instagram, accompanying the post with a montage of her best moments on the show: according to her, the time has come to «dive into something new». She thanked viewers and the production team, calling her time on the show «unforgettable», and added that she «has always believed that real growth requires taking a leap every now and then». This was reported by BBC News.

Three years and nine series on the show

Jama landed the biggest presenting role of her career in 2023, succeeding Laura Whitmore as host of Love Island. During that time she fronted nine series of the programme, in which contestants couple up, take on challenges and swap partners in their search for love. The ITV channel thanked her: a spokesperson for the channel described Jama as «a fantastic and much-loved host» and wished her further success.

Departure after success on Celebrity Traitors

The announcement came shortly after Jama took part in the Celebrity Traitors final, for which she was widely praised: she played as a «Traitor» alongside actor Richard Grant, YouTuber King Kenny and comedian James Acaster, but did not win. The BBC noted in a separate articlethat, despite losing, Jama «won» in another sense — she managed to present herself «less as the host of Love Island and more as a genuinely versatile television star». The Times suggested that thanks to this success she could «command £1 million per contract».

Career before Love Island

Jama built her fame on radio stations such as Rinse FM, and in 2018 she landed a job at BBC Radio 1. She then went on to host a number of TV programmes, including Stand Up To Cancer on Channel 4 and Don't Hate the Playaz on ITV2, and in 2021 became the host of Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star on BBC Three. What exactly her next project will be after leaving Love Island has not been disclosed in the reports.

Maya Jama looks over her shoulder as she poses for a photo at the Brit Awards. She is wearing a white dress and white earrings.Image source, Getty Images
Maya Jama stands near the fire pit in the Love Island villa. She is wearing a black dress which has one shoulder open. Several of the show's contestants can be seen in the front of the photoImage source, Getty Images
Maya Jama dressed Sir Mo Farah for Halloween.A composite of three celebrities - Maya Jama, King Kenny and Miranda Hart. Maya is wearing a metallic-style bronze high-neck top, Kenny is in a blue denim-style jacket over a light shirt, and Miranda is wearing a dark blouse with light striped detailing. All three face the camera in a studio portrait against a green backdrop.Maya Jama wearing a green cloak and holding up a lit lantern on the Celebrity Traitors.