Entertainment

Maya Jama Announces Departure from Love Island After Three Years

By Today News Hours Editorial Desk

Maya Jama, 32, has announced that she will step down as the host of the ITV reality series Love Island. In an Instagram post that included a highlights reel from her time on the show, she said it was "time to throw myself into something new". "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," the TV and radio presenter added. Jama’s decision follows her recent appearance as a contestant on Celebrity Traitors, where she received praise and speculation about potential earnings. She thanked fans and the production team, describing 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. But I’ve always believed that to truly grow, you have to take a leap every now and then," she said. Jama took over the hosting role in 2023, succeeding Laura Whitmore. ITV 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." Love Island remains one of the UK’s most popular reality programmes, though it has attracted criticism for alleged misogyny and concerns about contestant welfare. The show has received tens of thousands of complaints to Ofcom, which has described it as "emotionally charged" with "confrontational scenes" that can upset viewers. Jama’s career began in radio, with roles on Rinse FM and BBC Radio 1, before moving into television. She has presented shows such as Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer, ITV2’s Don’t Hate the Playaz, and BBC Three’s Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make‑Up Star. She also appeared in the Celebrity Traitors final and made her acting debut in the second series of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix drama The Gentlemen. She previously auditioned for the Channel 4 series Skins and has worked in music television, including hosting the MOBO Awards in 2017.