Maya Jama has admitted she was completely blindsided by something that happened on LOve Island this year, dispelling the myth that she always knows what's coming when she goes into the villa to film.
A replacement for Laura Whitmore, who quit the coveted TV role weeks after the summer series ended last year, Maya hit the ground running as Love Island presenter, being heralded by ITV2 viewers as son as she set foot in the villa for the launch episode in South Africa back in January.
The former host of short-lived ITV talent show Walk The Line, Maya had a big job to do on Monday night, crowning Kai and Sanam as the latest Love Island champions, with the popular couple beating runners up Ron and Lana and fellow finalists Tom and Samie and Shaq and Tanya to the £50,000 prize.
READ MORE: Love Island 2023 voting figures 'leaked' as one couple set unwanted record
Shaq and Tanya got just 2% of the final vote, the lowest amount in Love Island history and Maya has now spoken out on a moment involving those two was the most shocking for her so far.
Midway through the new series and in keeping with Love Island tradition, the Islanders were separated for the annual CAsa Amort twist, whi ch saw the girls move into the show's infamous second villa. And, while Shaq stayed faithful to Tanya, she returned from Casa with new arrival Martin, describing it as a "bump in the road," as Maya and her co-stars looked on in a state of shock and disbelief.
Revisiting that moment in the aftermath of Monday's final and revealing she had no idea that would happen, Maya explained: "As a presenter my favourite moment of the series was Casa Amor and the re-coupling following it - it was one where I really couldn’t hide my emotions, the recoupling at Casa actually shocked me!
"I wasn’t expecting the outcome especially when Tanya walked in with Martin."
In recent years, MOvie Night has also been a highly anticipated episode for Love Island fans and, confessing she had some popcorn ready to watch this year's explosive instalment, Maya added: "As a viewer my favourite moment was Movie Night - it was just wild, shocking, and completely filled with drama.
*Sign up to get the latest TV and showbiz news straight to your inbox with the Chronicle TV and celebs newsletter. If you can't see the form below, click HERE
READ NEXT:
*Love Island's Kai and Sanam and Ron and Lana get 'revenge' in final as old clips surface
*Dancing on Ice result sees Nile Wilson win after three way tie on final leaderboard
*BBC's Call the Midwife 'replacement' confirmed and it's an old favourite