ITV has revealed that Love Island will be returning on Monday, January 16, for its ninth season. The popular dating program's new host, Maya Jama, is getting ready to leave for South Africa tomorrow for the winter series of 2023.
But there has been plenty of talk surrounding Davina McCall's calls for a middle-aged version of the show, as she believes it would be full of 'interesting people' who have 'lived a life'. Maya Jama has given a mixed response to the idea of creating other versions of the show, after being featured on ITV's This Morning today (January 6).
Dermot Dermot O'Leary presented the idea to the Bristol-born star on the programme, and she was up for it the creation of it, at least.
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"All ages, get them all in, get the nannies and grandpas, ask the producers, maybe next time," says Maya. However, when Dermot suggested she be the one to actually host a middle-aged version, she was less than enthusiastic. "Oh my god, no," she exclaimed.
Also on the episode of This Morning, Maya also revealed she is a 'massive fan' of Love Island and said she has watched every season thus far., with the third series her stand-out favourite. Maya said: "Chris and Kem's series was the best, there were so many moments that had the whole nation hooked and I think that's when Love Island really went to the next level.
"Chris's line of 'shall I rap a little bit and lighten the mood' still gets brought up in the group chats every now and then when there's an awkward situation."
Despite Maya's disinterest in hosting the proposed midlife version of the show, Davina McCall has claimed that she is 'begging' ITV bosses to give her the opportunity to host this rendition.
Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Davina said she has 'no embarrassment or shame about emailing a TV company or the head of a TV company and going 'have you thought about this?' as she revealed she is 'literally begging ITV to let me present midlife Love Island'.
"I could fill a villa in Love Island with middle-aged people with the best back stories you have ever heard in your life," she told host Stephen Bartlett.
"They've lived a life – they're widows, they're people who have been through horrific divorces. They are people who have split up with somebody and decided they want to try going out with somebody the same sex as them.
"They're like interesting people. I'd watch that show.
"I was like 'I need to present it please'. They said 'We're looking at something else that's quite similar, we might consider you for that.'
"Well if I hadn't sent them that email in the first place, they wouldn't have thought about me for the other show maybe. 'You've got to make opportunities happen – they never just come to you. Keep walking.'"
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