Maya Jama Quits Love Island After Three Years and Nine Series

Presenter Maya Jama has announced she is stepping down as host of the reality series Love Island after three years and nine series, according to the BBC and The Guardian. The 32-year-old shared the news on Instagram alongside a highlights reel of her time on the show.

Jama said it was "time to throw myself into something new." An ITV spokesperson thanked her for what she had brought to the programme and called her a fantastic and much loved host.

What Jama said about leaving

In her message, Jama said her own Love Island journey had ended and that she wished the show and its team every success. She said she would be "cheering you lot on from the sidelines forever."

She thanked fans and the production team, describing an unforgettable time on the programme. She said she started hosting at 28 and met many people over the nine series. She also said she had loved the slow-motion walks, the fire pit and the live shows. She added that she has always believed that growth requires taking a leap now and then.

How she got the job

Jama took over from Laura Whitmore in 2023, when the show returned for its ninth series, The Guardian reported. The BBC described it as her biggest presenting role to date. The Guardian noted that she had been floated as a possible host in 2019, after it was confirmed Caroline Flack would step down, but the job went to Whitmore.

The format pairs contestants into couples who complete tasks and keep swapping partners in the hope of finding lasting love, the BBC said.

A career that was already widening

The announcement follows Jama's appearance on the BBC's Celebrity Traitors. According to The Guardian, she was a traitor who went undetected until the finale. The BBC said she did not win but was watched by millions in the final, where she played alongside actor Richard E Grant, YouTuber King Kenny and comedian James Acaster.

Her performance drew praise, and the Times speculated that she could earn £1 million per deal as a result. One commentator quoted by the BBC said she came across as a versatile television star rather than simply the presenter of Love Island. She had also made her acting debut in the second series of Guy Ritchie's Netflix drama The Gentlemen, with Theo James and Kaya Scodelario.

Her path to those roles started young. According to the BBC, she moved to London at 16 and began presenting a weekly music video countdown for JumpOff TV. She joined MTV as a presenter in 2014 and landed a BBC Radio 1 role in 2018. In 2021 she took over as host of BBC Three's Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star. In 2017 she became the youngest person to host the MOBO Awards, alongside Marvin Humes.

Why it matters for Love Island viewers

For viewers, the change means the face that has fronted the show since 2023 will be leaving. The BBC called Love Island one of the most popular reality shows in the UK, so the choice of presenter is closely watched. Neither outlet reported who will take over, and ITV's statement did not name a successor.

The show has also drawn controversy. The BBC reported that it has polarised viewers, with some calling it misogynistic and others raising concerns about contestant welfare. Ofcom, the UK media regulator, has previously received tens of thousands of complaints, including over alleged misogynistic and bullying behavior by some contestants. The regulator has described the programme as "emotionally charged" with confrontational scenes that can upset some viewers. Jama's statement did not refer to any of these issues.

For Jama, the departure comes as her profile is growing across acting, entertainment and presenting. She has not said what her next project will be.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by BBC News, The Guardian