The news that Maya Jama is leaving Love Island after three years has shocked fans, and immediately prompted speculation about her potential replacement.
Just weeks after she made it to the finale on The Celebrity Traitors – and was caught out as a Traitor in the 11th hour – Jama announced on Sunday (8 November) that she was stepping down from hosting the dating show.
“I’ve always believed that to truly grow, you have to take a leap every now and then, and now is my time to throw myself into something new,” Jama, 32, wrote on Instagram.
Having hosted ITV2’s Love Island and spin-off show Love Island Games for both its summer and winter series since 2023, Jama leaves big stilettos to fill.
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Having initially been hosted by the late Caroline Flack and then Laura Whitmore, Love Island will need to enlist a new presenter quickly, as the show is scheduled to return for its third All Stars series in January.
These are the frontrunners who have emerged to replace Jama as the host of Love Island…
Olivia Attwood
A finalist on series three of Love Island back in 2017, Olivia Attwood is seen by many as Jama’s natural successor. Not only can she be credited with publicly coining the term “the ick”, but turning a fleeting dating-show run into a full-fledged presenting career. The 35-year-old, who has delighted fans by dating her former podcast co-host Pete Wicks, has made documentaries for ITV2 about everything from extreme cosmetic surgery to GLP-1s, and also hosts her hugely popular podcast Olivia’s House.
Maura Higgins
Another breakout islander, Irish model Maura Higgins has found success on both sides of the pond. In the UK, she’s competed on Dancing on Ice and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, but it’s her career in America that’s particularly impressive. After being drafted in as a social media presenter and then Aftersun host for Love Island USA, Higgins, 35, reached the final on the US version of The Traitors, and is currently competing on Dancing with the Stars. She’s recently been tapped as the new Cilla Black on Disney+’s Blind Date reboot; could this be another step on her path back to the villa?
Vick Hope
Another frontrunner is radio presenter Vick Hope, who was actually tipped to host the show back in 2022. Jama obviously ended up getting the role, but Hope, 37, has only added to her CV at ITV since then. She’s hosted companion shows to some big ITV franchises, from The X Factor to I’m a Celebrity. Having found love herself with DJ Calvin Harris, whom she married in 2023 and shares a son with, Hope feels like a natural successor to Jama.
Sam Thompson
First finding fame on Made in Chelsea as the younger brother of OG cast member Louise Thompson, Sam Thompson has gone on to become a reality star and presenter in his own right. That includes Staying Relevant, his hit podcast with Attwood’s boyfriend Pete Wicks, and Love Island’s sister show Aftersun, which Thompson, 34, quit earlier this year after three years hosting. Could the main show now be in sight for the former winner? Only time will tell.
AJ Odudu
As the face of one of ITV’s major series, Big Brother, AJ Odudu could be willing to make the switch to Love Island. The prolific Blackburn-born presenter, 38, has worked with ITV for years, including as a Loose Women panellist, the winner of Celebrity Karaoke Club, and a rumoured contestant on this year’s I’m a Celebrity. She’s also a self-proclaimed Love Island super-fan, and has appeared as a guest panellist on Aftersun.
Joel Dommett
Another ITV favourite who could take on the role is comedian and The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett. The Taskmaster star, 41, initially rose to fame as a contestant on I’m a Celebrity and went on to present its companion shows, before landing The Masked Singer and the hosting gig at the National Television Awards. And his connection to Love Island runs extra deep – the show’s voiceover provider, Iain Stirling, officiated his wedding to model Hannah Cooper.
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