Maya Jama
TV presenter; Love Island host from 2023, Celebrity Traitors finalist, The Gentlemen actor
- Entries
- 9
- On the record
- 1
- Stories
- 2
- Latest entry
- Nov 9, 2026
The record
Maya Jama announced on November 8, 2026 that she was stepping down as host of Love Island, the ITV dating show she had presented since 2023. In an Instagram post quoted by the Press Association, she said she had started hosting the show at 28, had presented nine series, and that "now is my time to throw myself into something new." She thanked the fans and the production team and said she would be cheering the show on from the sidelines. An ITV spokesperson said she had been a fantastic and much loved host and thanked her for everything she had brought to the show over the last three years.
ITV announced her as host on October 12, 2022, succeeding Laura Whitmore, who had presented the show since 2020 after taking over from Caroline Flack. ITV said she would start with the ninth series in early 2023, the first of two that year, in South Africa, with a summer series in Mallorca to follow. She also presented the spin-offs Love Island: Games and Love Island: All Stars. Her exit came weeks after she reached the final of the BBC's Celebrity Traitors in October 2026. Companies House lists her as an active director, since October 2, 2017, of MIJ & Co Entertainment Limited, a media representation company.
Questions people ask
Why is Maya Jama leaving Love Island?
In her Instagram announcement she said that to truly grow you have to take a leap every now and then, and that it was her time to throw herself into something new. source
Who did Maya Jama replace on Love Island?
Laura Whitmore. ITV announced on October 12, 2022 that Jama would take over when the show returned for its ninth series in early 2023. source
Did Maya Jama win Celebrity Traitors?
No. She was a traitor from the first episode and survived to the final, where she was banished by fellow traitor King Kenny's deciding vote; Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian Croft won the prize pot for their charities. source
Roles and honours on the record
Every entry, newest first
- Reported
The Daily Mail, citing Companies House, says her firm MIJ & Co Entertainment Ltd was worth over ยฃ4million after debts. Maya Jama quits Love Island; alleged sponsor email named her
- Admitted
Jama announced on Instagram that she is stepping down as Love Island host, as published by Variety. Maya Jama quits Love Island; Mail cites sponsor email naming her
- Reported
Jama said on Instagram she is stepping down as Love Island host, as quoted by the Mirror. Maya Jama quits Love Island; alleged sponsor email named her
- Reported
ITV announced Jama as the new Love Island host, taking over from Laura Whitmore, ITV News reports. Maya Jama quits Love Island; Mail cites sponsor email naming her
Stories in this file
Reality TV ยท ๐บ Maya Jama quits Love Island; Mail cites sponsor email naming her
Jama's Instagram exit is the third host change since 2019. ITV thanked her; no host pay figure appears in the documents read.
REPORTEDPhoto: Obregonia D. Toretto ยท Pexels License๐บ Maya Jama quits Love Island; alleged sponsor email named her
The Daily Mail says ITV pitched sponsors on her return. ITV's quoted statement thanks her and doesn't mention the email. ๐ฃ๏ธ
The record, entry by entry
- 2017-10-02 Official She was appointed a director of MIJ & Co Entertainment Limited, a media representation services company registered with Companies House; she was listed as an active director as of November 2026. Companies House officers register, company 10581608
- 2022-10-12 Official ITV announced that she would succeed Laura Whitmore as host of Love Island from its ninth series in early 2023, the first of two series that year, in South Africa and then Mallorca. The Guardian report on ITV's announcement
- 2026-10 Reported She appeared on the BBC's Celebrity Traitors, was selected as a traitor in the first episode and lasted until the final, when a fellow traitor's deciding vote banished her. She gave an undisclosed sum to her charity, Action for Children. Press Association report on AOL
- 2026-11-08 Reported She announced on Instagram that she was stepping down as host of Love Island after nine series, thanking the fans and the production team. Press Association report in The Irish News
- 2026-11-09 Reported An ITV spokesperson said she had been a fantastic and much loved host, thanked her for the last three years and wished her continued success. Press Association report on AOL
Documents
Sources behind this file
- Daily Mail report on the sponsor email
- The Sun report on ITV's replacement talks
- Daily Mail report on replacement odds and ITV's statement
- AOL report carrying ITV's statement
- Variety report with Jama's Instagram statement
- BBC News report on Jama stepping down
- The Mirror report carrying Jama's Instagram statement
- Radio Times report on Jama's exit
- Evening Standard report on Love Island Games
- ITV News announcement of Jama as host
- inews report on Whitmore stepping down
- BBC News report on Whitmore stepping down