Laura Whitmore confirmed she was stepping down as Love Island host in August
(Picture: PA)Former Love Island host Laura Whitmore has congratulated Maya Jama after it was announced the 28-year-old would front the ITV2 dating series.
Whitmore, 37, confirmed she was stepping down as Love Island host in August, admitting that she found the show format "very difficult".
Now, almost two months after her announcement, ITV have confirmed that former BBC Radio 1 DJ Jama would be taking over the show’s reins.
Alongside a video on Love Island’s official social media, a caption said: "Okay, the rumours are true Say hey to your brand-new #LoveIsland host @mayajama.”
Many were quick to react to the news, including Whitmore, who said: "Yes girl!! So delighted for you! You’re gonna be fab", followed by a red heart emoji.
Jama responded: "Thankyou chick.”
Jama went on to express her excitement about her new role by saying: "SO B****Y EXCITED GET ME ON THAT ISLAND".
“I’ve always been such a massive Love Island fan and I’m so excited to be hosting one of the nation’s favourite shows,” she added in a press release. “I can’t wait to get into the villa to meet all of the islanders.”
The Bristol-born presenter will make her Love Island debut when it returns for its ninth series in early 2023.
She will help a new influx of islanders looking for love in the winter edition of the show, which will be filmed in South Africa.
“Finding a new host to follow the wonderful Laura Whitmore was never going to be easy,” Paul Mortimer, Director of Reality Programming and Acquisitions at ITV, said. “Finding a new host to follow the wonderful Laura Whitmore was never going to be easy.
“In Maya Jama, though, we have another high-profile fan of the show who’ll be a great addition to the Love Island family.
“Cool, charming and charismatic, I speak for us all when I say Maya will also bring a unique presenting style to the show, as did Laura and, of course, the very much missed Caroline Flack. We’re very pleased to have her on board.”
