By Samantha Jones-
Television presenter Maya Jama has announced she is stepping down as host of ITV’s hugely popular dating reality show Love Island, bringing an end to a successful three-year chapter that saw her become one of the programme’s most recognisable faces.
The 32-year-old broadcaster confirmed her departure in an emotional statement shared on social media on Monday, 9 November 2026, reflecting on what she described as an unforgettable experience and thanking the viewers, colleagues and production team who had supported her throughout her time on the show.
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Jama, who took over the presenting role from Laura Whitmore in 2023, hosted nine series of the hit dating programme, becoming a central figure in the franchise and fronting some of its most memorable moments. Her departure marks the end of an era for the ITV reality series, which has maintained a significant place in British popular culture since its return to television in 2015.
In her announcement, Jama expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, describing her time on the programme as an incredible period in her career.
“What an incredible era and what an unforgettable time I’ve had, it’s been far too much fun to put into words or a video… but as all good things must come to an end, it’s my time to step down as the host of my beloved Love Island,” she wrote.
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She went on to thank the fans who had supported her appointment and continued to follow the programme during her tenure, acknowledging the important role audiences play in the show’s success. She also paid tribute to the production team, praising the work that goes into bringing the programme to screens each year.
Reflecting on her journey, Jama revealed that she began hosting the show at the age of 28 and had enjoyed meeting the people involved in its production and contestants across the nine series. She also highlighted some of the defining features of the programme, including its famous slow-motion entrances, dramatic fire-pit confrontations and live television broadcasts, all of which had become part of her experience as presenter.
Explaining her decision to move on, Jama suggested that she was ready to embrace fresh opportunities and challenges, saying she had always believed that personal and professional growth sometimes required taking a leap into the unknown.
“But 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,” she added. She concluded by wishing the programme and its team continued success, making clear that although her own presenting journey had come to an end, she would continue supporting the show.
An ITV spokesperson also paid tribute to the presenter, describing her as a “fantastic and much loved host” and thanking her for everything she had brought to the programme over the past three years.
A successful career beyond the villa
Jama’s departure from Love Island comes after an impressive broadcasting career that has seen her establish herself as one of Britain’s prominent television and radio personalities.
Born in Bristol, she moved to London at the age of 16 to pursue opportunities in the entertainment industry. She began building her profile through presenting work on JumpOff TV before securing roles with MTV, where she hosted programmes including The Wrap Up.
Her career continued to gather momentum as she moved between television, radio and major entertainment events. In 2017, aged just 23, she became the youngest person to co-host the MOBO Awards, presenting the ceremony alongside Marvin Humes. The achievement represented a significant milestone for the young broadcaster and helped cement her reputation as a rising talent in British entertainment.
She later expanded her broadcasting credentials through a number of high-profile projects, including co-presenting Channel 4’s social experiment series The Circle alongside Alice Levine. She also hosted BBC Three’s Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star, taking over from Stacey Dooley in 2021.
Her radio career has also been an important part of her professional journey. Jama presented programmes on BBC Radio 1, having previously hosted a weekday drive-time show on London station Rinse FM. Her ability to move comfortably between radio and television has helped establish her as a versatile presenter with appeal across different audiences.
In 2024, she added another major entertainment credit to her portfolio when she co-hosted the BRIT Awards alongside Roman Kemp and Clara Amfo.
More recently, her appearance on the BBC’s The Celebrity Traitors further demonstrated her ability to connect with audiences beyond traditional presenting roles. Her participation in the reality competition introduced viewers to another side of her personality and generated renewed attention around her television career.
Her work has also extended into fashion and beauty, with commercial partnerships and entrepreneurial ventures adding to her growing profile outside broadcasting.
A British reality television phenomenon
Jama’s exit is particularly significant given the popularity and cultural influence of Love Island, which has become one of ITV’s best-known entertainment franchises.
Originally launched in the 2000s, the programme was successfully revived in 2015, introducing a new generation of viewers to its distinctive combination of romance, competition, entertainment and reality television drama.
The format follows a group of single contestants, known as Islanders, who live together in a villa away from the outside world while attempting to form romantic connections. Contestants must couple up to remain in the competition, with new arrivals, public votes, relationship challenges and dramatic recouplings regularly changing the dynamics within the villa.
The series has become particularly well known for its memorable catchphrases, dramatic confrontations, romantic storylines and unpredictable eliminations. It has also developed a substantial online following, with discussions about contestants and relationships regularly extending beyond the television broadcast and generating conversations across social media.
Over the years, the programme has helped launch the public profiles of numerous contestants, with some going on to pursue careers in television, fashion, business and social media. Jama became the third main presenter of the revived series, following the late Caroline Flack and Laura Whitmore. Both previous presenters played important roles in shaping the programme’s identity, with Jama subsequently bringing her own personality, style and presenting approach to the position.
Her appointment in 2022 was welcomed as a significant addition to the franchise, particularly given her existing popularity among younger television audiences. Since taking over in 2023, she has also fronted spin-off editions, including Love Island: All Stars and Love Island Games, further strengthening her association with the wider franchise.
A new chapter for Maya Jama
Although Jama has not detailed every aspect of her future plans, her announcement suggests that she is keen to explore new professional opportunities and broaden her career beyond the dating show.
Her departure follows a period of heightened public attention after her appearance on The Celebrity Traitors, where she was selected as a Traitor and remained in the competition until the final stages. The experience further showcased her personality and versatility, attracting attention from audiences who may previously have known her primarily as the face of Love Island.
Her exi for Itv presents an important moment for a programme that has relied on familiar presenters to maintain continuity while evolving its format over the years.
Finding a successor capable of bringing the same combination of confidence, charisma and audience appeal will be an important consideration as the show prepares for its next chapter. The decision appears to represent an opportunity to embrace change after three years at the centre of one of British television’s biggest reality franchises.
Her time on Love Island may have come to an end, but with an established broadcasting career, major entertainment credits and growing opportunities across television and other industries, her departure from the villa could mark the beginning of an equally significant new chapter.
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