Maya Jama has announced that she is stepping away from Love Island after nine seasons at the helm.
On Sunday evening, the Celebrity Traitors star shared the news on her Instagram page, explaining that after an “incredible era” and an “unforgettable time” at the helm of Love Island, she’s handing over the reins to someone else so she can “throw [herself] into something new”.
“It’s been far too much fun to put into words or a video… but as all good things must come to an end, it’s my time to step down as the host of my beloved Love Island,” Maya explained.
She wrote: “Firstly, I want to thank all of the people who rooted so hard for me to host the show in the first place. I wouldn’t change a thing.
“To the fans of the show, thank you for every supportive message and every single time you’ve tuned in during my time as host, I’m forever grateful to you all. The show really does belong to the people who watch it and embrace it year after year.
“Biggest thanks to the incredible production team, I’ve seen firsthand how you work your asses off for months every year to bring this iconic show to life.”
Maya continued: “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. I’ll forever be grateful for the experience. But I’ve always believed that to truly grow, you have to take a leap every now and then, and now is my 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,” she concluded. “I’ll be cheering you lot on from the sidelines forever.”
Maya is the third person to present Love Island in its current incarnation, following the late Caroline Flack and Laura Whitmore.
In the hours since her announcement, talk has already turned to who will present the show when it returns to our screens in January, with The Sun naming GK Barry and former Islanders Olivia Attwood, Indiyah Polack and Chloe Burrows as early contenders.
