Maya Jama will be the new host of Love Island, according to reports.
The TV presenter, 28, has been hotly tipped to replace former host Laura Whitmore as the host of popular reality dating program ITV2.
Maya is said to be in the final stages of arranging her contract but has accepted the role which will start next year in South Africa, according to The Sun.
New start: Maya Jama, 28, is said to be in the final stages of organizing her contract but has accepted the role of host of Love Island, from next year
A source from ITV said: “Maya was ITV’s dream option”. She is fun, beautiful and a brilliant presenter.
An ITV spokesman said ‘we will announce in due course’ when contacted by MailOnline.
MailOnline has contacted a Maya representative for comment.
Farewell: The TV presenter has been strongly tipped to replace former host Laura Whitmore (pictured) as host of popular reality dating program ITV2
Laura announced in August this year that she was leaving Love Island and would not return to host the next series of the ITV2 dating show.
The Irish presenter, 37, joined the show in 2020 and hosted the hugely popular reality show and its spin-off Aftersun for three series.
Laura – who is mother to a 16-month-old daughter with Love Island voice-over star Iain Sterling – took to her Instagram at the time to confirm she would be leaving, saying she had found the round trips from the villa “very difficult”.
Favorite: An ITV source said: ‘Maya was ITV’s dream option. She’s 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 move to the ITV2 dating show received mixed reviews this season; some viewers praised her handling of sensitive subject matter, while others criticized her for “encouraging bitch-shaming” in a segment that prompted 427 complaints to Ofcom.
Laura replaced Caroline Flack as presenter of Love Island when she stepped down in December 2019. Caroline tragically took her own life aged 40 in February 2020.
In her statement, Laura said she only planned to replace Caroline for one series, saying emotionally that she hoped she would make her late friend “proud”.
Exit: Laura announced in August this year that she was leaving 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 she would be leaving the show, saying she found the return flights from the villa “very difficult”
Taking to Instagram, Laura said: ‘Some news! I will not be hosting the next series of Love Island.
“There are some elements of the show that I found very challenging and cannot be changed due to the format, including going back and forth to South Africa with my conflicting new projects.
“I wish it was still possible, but know that you will be in good hands. I was only planning on replacing Caroline for one streak and it turned into 3 streaks. I hope I made you proud Caroline.
Host: The Irish presenter, 37, joined Love Island in 2020 and hosted the hugely popular reality show for three series
Speaking about Laura’s exit, an ITV spokesperson said: ‘Laura has been a fantastic host over the last three series of the show.
“We are very grateful for everything she has brought to the program, but understand and respect her decision, and look forward to working with her on future ITV projects.”
TV and radio star Vick Hope, 32, was also reportedly being considered for the host show as ITV hoped to bring a ‘cooler side’ to the show.
Speaking about both Maya and Vick previously, a TV source told The Sun: “They are seen as both glamorous and fun characters who would also bring a slightly cooler edge to the format.”
“Over the past three years they have both seen their careers go from strength to strength and have the high profile to match that of the hit ITV show.
“It will be a close call that will pick ITV bosses in the end.”
Maya has experience presenting shows such as Walk the Line and Soccer Aid, while Vick has presented spin-off shows for The X Factor, The Voice and I’m A Celebrity.
Career change: Maya was one of the first to return to presenting Laura’s Love Island with TV and radio presenter Vick Hope (pictured)
Laura’s exit from the show came after speaking out about the “exhausting” and “difficult” 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, it doesn’t take a huge amount of time compared to my other jobs. It’s over eight weeks.
“The host only comes three or four times, always has, but that’s what gets the most attention. It’s a bit exhausting and it’s hard.
Goodbye: Irish TV star Laura (pictured) has revealed her shock decision to quit her job after three years this summer – blaming, in part, the show’s format for her career choice
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