Maya Jama has announced that she is leaving her role as presenter of Love Island after three years in the job, the BBC reported on Sunday.
In a post on Instagram, shared alongside a montage of clips from her time on the programme, the 32-year-old said the moment had come to "throw myself into something new." She added that although her own journey with the show had ended, she would keep supporting it and its team from a distance.
Why it matters
Jama took over the ITV2 dating show in 2023, succeeding Laura Whitmore, and it became the biggest presenting job of her career. Her departure leaves a high-profile vacancy at the centre of one of Britain's most-watched reality formats, and it comes at a moment when her wider television profile appears to be expanding.
ITV responded with a warm tribute. A spokesperson described Jama as a hugely popular host and thanked her for her contribution over the past three years, while wishing her well in whatever she does next, according to the BBC.
Nine series and a farewell to the villa
Reflecting on her tenure, Jama said she had hosted the show from the age of 28 and had worked on nine series in total. She recalled the people she had met during that period and said she had enjoyed every element of the job, from the slow-motion walks to the fire pit and the live broadcasts.
She framed the decision as a deliberate one, saying she had long held the view that real growth requires taking a leap from time to time. In her message she also thanked both the audience and the production team, describing her time on the programme as unforgettable.
Love Island's format pairs contestants into couples who then take on a series of challenges while occasionally swapping partners, with the hope of finding a lasting relationship.
From radio to prime-time television
Before Love Island, Jama built her career through music radio, including a stint at Rinse FM, before joining BBC Radio 1 as a presenter in 2018. She later fronted a range of television shows, among them Channel 4's Stand Up To Cancer and ITV2's Don't Hate the Playaz, and in 2021 she became host of BBC Three's Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star.
Her announcement follows a well-received run as a contestant on Celebrity Traitors, where she appeared as a traitor alongside actor Richard E Grant, YouTuber King Kenny and comedian James Acaster. The BBC noted that the Times had reported speculation she could command seven-figure fees per deal on the back of that exposure. One commentator quoted at the time said that although she did not win the show, she had come out of it as a winner of sorts, having shown herself to be a versatile television star rather than simply the face of Love Island.
Jama's exit is the latest change at the top of a long-running franchise. What happens next is who ITV names as her replacement, and how quickly Jama's post-Traitors momentum turns into her next major project.
