Maya Jama has quashed reports she’s leaving Love Island confirming she’ll return to host the hit ITV2 dating show next year.
The Daily Mail understands the presenter, 31, has agreed a lucrative new deal after months of negotiations with ITV bosses, keeping her at the helm of the villa for another year.
Since replacing Laura Whitmore in 2023, after the Irish host admitted she found parts of the job ‘very difficult’, Maya has fronted the summer series in Majorca, the All Stars edition in South Africa, Love Island Games in Fiji, and Sunday evening’s Aftersun.
Her signature slow-motion villa entrances and jaw-dropping outfits have become a trademark of the show, earning her thousands of loyal Instagram fans.
Away from the villa, the Bristol-born star, who’s also a judge on The Masked Singer, has been busy expanding her TV empire, signing a contract with Prime Video and landing an acting role in Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen.
Producers were said to be ‘desperate’ to keep her on board, with a show insider telling the Daily Mail: ‘Maya is the heart of Love Island now, the series wouldn’t be the same without her.’
Maya Jama has quashed reports she’s leaving Love Island confirming she’ll return to host the hit ITV2 dating show next year
The Daily Mail understands the presenter has agreed a lucrative new deal after months of negotiations with ITV bosses, keeping her at the helm of the villa for another year
Since replacing Laura Whitmore in 2023, Maya has fronted the summer series in Majorca, the All Stars edition in South Africa, Love Island Games in Fiji, and Sunday evening’s Aftersun
Speaking on TikTok Maya said: ‘Hello darlings, this is for Love Island fans and Love Island fans only.
‘Despite the multiple fake news stories that are flying around left, right and centre, Maya’s not hosting, Maya is quitting…
‘I will be hosting next year, I will be back for All Stars in January, and the summer series June and July, we go again mother lovers.
‘I’m obviously not hosting Love Island Games this year, as much as I love the show, I physically couldn’t do three Love Islands a year, I’ve just got other bits on and work, but Ariana is doing an amazing job, so I hope you’re watching that too.
‘I will see you in January, love you, love you.’
Fans had begun to question Maya’s future on the show after US star Ariana Madix stepped in to host Love Island Games earlier this year, sparking rumours Maya was preparing to walk away.
Maya took over from Laura, who’s married to Love Island narrator Iain Stirling, in 2023 after the Irish host said she found elements of the production ‘very difficult.’
Laura presented the show for two years following the death of host Caroline Flack, who passed away aged 40 in 2020.
Speaking on TikTok Maya said: ‘I will be hosting next year, I will be back for All Stars in January, and the summer series June and July, we go again mother lovers’
Maya is now dating Manchester City defender Rúben Dias, and has been sharing glimpses of their romance on Instagram, from holidays to date nights
She later revealed she found the job ‘hard,’ admitting she disliked being unable to properly support contestants who were often struggling off-camera.
Maya, who in the most recent series called out bad behaviour from the Islanders, has seen her love life dramatically change during her hosting stint.
She rekindled her relationship with rapper Stormzy in 2023 after the pair initially split up in 2019.
But in July last year, the couple announced they had parted ways again, writing in a joint statement on Instagram: ‘We tried, and it didn’t work, and that’s okay.’
Maya is now dating Manchester City defender Rúben Dias, and has been sharing glimpses of their romance on Instagram, from holidays to date nights.
Toni Laites and Cach Mercer won Love Island this summer, scooping the £50,000 prize.
The couple are still in a relationship, as are runners-up Shakira Khan and Harry Cooksley.