Maya Jama steps down as Love Island host
Maya Jama has announced she is stepping down as the host of Love Island after three years presenting the popular reality show. The 32-year-old presenter shared the news in a post on Instagram.
Posting a highlights reel of her moments on the programme, Jama wrote that it was “time to throw myself into something new”. She described her time on Love Island as “unforgettable”.
“I started hosting the show aged 28 and during the nine incredible series met the most wonderful humans along the way. I’ve loved every slow-mo walk, fire pit and live show,” she said.
She added: “I’ve always believed that to truly grow, you have to take a leap every now and then.” Wishing the show and its team well, she said: “While my own Love Island journey has come to an end, I wish the show and the team all the success in the world, I’ll be cheering you lot on from the sidelines forever.”
Jama took over from Laura Whitmore as host when the show returned for its ninth series early in 2023. She had previously been touted as a potential host after Caroline Flack stepped down in 2019, but the role went to Whitmore at the time.
The announcement comes after Jama’s stint on the BBC’s Celebrity Traitors, where she played a traitor and went undetected until the finale. Her popularity led to speculation in the Times that she could “get £1m per deal” thanks to her success.
An ITV spokesperson said: “Maya has been a fantastic and much-loved host on Love Island – we thank her for everything she has brought to the show over the last three years and wish her every continued success.”
Jama moved to London when she was aged 16 to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. She began her broadcasting work co-hosting Trending Live on 4Music and Cannonball on ITV, before moving on to present her BBC Radio 1 show on Fridays and Saturdays.
At 23, she became the youngest person to co-host the Mobo awards on Channel 5 in 2017, alongside the JLS star turned presenter Marvin Humes.
While stepping down as host, Jama thanked her fans and the production team. She has not said what she will do next — but her words make clear that the popular presenter is ready to take on something new.
