As 2022 is drawing to a close all eyes are turning to what we have to look forward to in 2023, and Love Island fans don’t have that long to wait until their favourite reality show returns. While the exact date has not been announced, the new winter season is set to air early in the new year, with a familiar Bristolian taking on the role of host.
Maya Jama was introduced as the new host of Love Island back in October after previous host Laura Whitmore announced she would not be returning as host for the 2023 season. The 28-year-old from Bristol has been a massive fan of the show for many years and was delighted when she got the job, saying: “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.”
The news was announced on Instagram with a reel showing Maya looking through her phone before picking up her very own Love Island water bottle. The presenter, who is well known for shows like Don’t Hate the Playz and Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star, was a fan favourite to take over the hosting duties with many viewers taking to Twitter to correctly predict the announcement before it became official.
Read more: Jayde Adams says Helen Skelton is 'thriving' amid 'unfair narratives' about women
The first winter Love Island aired almost three years ago in January of 2020, with stars such as Paige Turely, Finley Tapp and another of Bristol’s very own Siânnise Fudge. The villa is located in the South African countryside and is believed to be the most impressive villa out of all of the eight previous series of the UK version, DevonLive reports.
- Feeling curious? Follow Curiously on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
- Ready to explore more? Follow Curiously on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
This series the villa in which Islanders will be living it up has been dubbed the "best villa yet". The South African luxury eco-retreat is situated in a 'protected area' of the Franschhoek wine valley, in the country's 'millionaire row', according to MailOnline.
The villa is said to be the biggest one out of all the Love Island series so far, with the South African mansion boasting a huge swimming pool, surrounded by palm trees. It typically costs around £430 a night to rent a room in the off-the-grid villa, which generates its own electricity, water and food sources, so the Islanders will be very lucky to spend a number of weeks there.
ITV is yet to confirm a date but there has been much speculation that we can expect the first episode of the series to air on January 16. This seems like a good guess, given the first ever winter series in 2020 started on January 12, so it's likely that ITV are planning a mid-month start date for the series.
Up next:
Top Bristol restaurant launches fundraiser to survive 'brutal' times for hospitality industry
Bristol brewery 'incredibly proud' after being crowned best in the UK
Aldi and Lidl's sausage roll Christmas centrepieces compared in our taste test
Dinosaur show from Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist is coming to Thornbury
