Laura Whitmore didn’t hold back when it came to discussing why she decided to quit hosting Love Island.
The Irish presenter, 37, shocked fans when she announced in August that she was leaving the hit ITV2 dating show after three series.
At the time, she cited issues with the show’s format and admitted travelling back and forth between the UK and South Africa, where the upcoming winter series is due to be filmed, would cause conflicts logistically with her other commitments.
Now, in the new issue of Psychologies magazine, Whitmore has claimed that the impartiality that came along with fronting Love Island was something she was uncomfortable with.
“There was only so much I can do as a host,” she said. “I couldn’t support [the contestants] or not support them. I couldn’t say anything.”
Adding: “If I could [have done] things the way I wanted to, I’d probably still be doing it.”
Whitmore took over as the host of Love Island for the show’s first winter season in 2020, after her predecessor Caroline Flack stood down amid personal legal issues at the time.
Maya Jama, 28, has since been confirmed to replace Whitmore and recently made her first appearance in a teaser trailer for the new series which begins in January.
Speaking about joining Love Island, Jama said: “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! I can’t wait to get into the Villa to meet all of the Islanders.”