Maya Jama steps down as Love Island host, Digi Mart USA News (United Kingdom): Presenter Maya Jama has announced she is stepping down as host of the reality TV show Love Island after three years. The 32-year-old shared the news on Instagram alongside a highlights reel of her time on the programme, writing that it was “time to throw myself into something new.”
“While my own Love Island journey has come to an end, I wish the show and the team all the success in the world, I’ll be cheering you lot on from the sidelines forever,” the TV and radio presenter said. Jama thanked fans and the production team, saying she had an “unforgettable time” on the programme.
“I started hosting the show aged 28 and during the nine incredible series met the most wonderful humans along the way. I’ve loved every slow-mo walk, fire pit and live show.” She added: “I’ve always believed that to truly grow, you have to take a leap every now and then.”
Jama announced her departure shortly after appearing as a contestant on Celebrity Traitors, where her performance drew praise and speculation in the Times that she could “get £1m per deal” thanks to her success.
Jama landed her biggest presenting role to date in 2023, taking over the hosting job from Laura Whitmore. The programme pairs contestants who complete a range of tasks and keep swapping partners in the hope of finding the love of their life.
An ITV spokesperson said: “Maya has been a fantastic and much loved host on Love Island – we thank her for everything she has brought to the show over the last three years and wish her every continued success.”
Love Island is one of the most popular reality TV shows in the UK, but it has polarized viewers. Some have argued the show is misogynistic and raised concerns about the welfare of contestants.
Ofcom has previously received tens of thousands of complaints about the programme, including about alleged misogynistic and bullying behavior by some contestants, and has described the show as “emotionally charged” with “confrontational scenes” that can upset some viewers.
Jama first built her profile through radio, including a role on Rinse FM, before landing a presenting role on BBC Radio 1 in 2018. She went on to present a string of television programmes, including Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer and ITV2’s Don’t Hate the Playaz, before taking over as host of BBC Three’s Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star in 2021.
Her Celebrity Traitors final was watched by millions, and she competed as a traitor alongside actor Richard E Grant, YouTuber King Kenny and comedian James Acaster. One commentator said that, despite not winning, she had emerged as a winner of sorts by portraying herself as “less like the presenter of Love Island and more like a genuinely versatile television star.”
Her Celebrity Traitors appearance followed her acting debut in the second series of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix drama The Gentlemen, alongside Theo James and Kaya Scodelario. Jama had auditioned for the cult Channel 4 series Skins, set in her hometown of Bristol, at age 15, reaching the final stage for a role in the show that launched the careers of Daniel Kaluuya and Dev Patel.
She moved to London at age 16 to pursue a career in entertainment, began presenting a weekly music video countdown for production company JumpOff TV, and joined MTV in 2014 as a presenter on The Wrap Up. Jama became the youngest person to host the MOBO Awards, alongside Marvin Humes, in 2017.
