# Maya Jama Announces Departure as Host of Love Island UK After nine seasons, Maya Jama steps down from her hosting role on the reality series. - **Source:** [Deadline](https://deadline.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-08 - **Topic:** [entertainment](https://brifing.si/c/entertainment) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/ff17fae6-7f4e-418f-a956-ad9470187b70 ## Official Departure Announcement Maya Jama has officially confirmed her exit as the host of Love Island UK via Instagram. After fronting the popular ITV dating series for nine seasons, she stated that it is time to step down. Jama expressed deep gratitude to the fans and the production team for their unwavering support throughout her tenure. ## Hosting Tenure and Legacy Jama joined the franchise in 2023, succeeding former host Laura Whitmore. During her time as the face of the show, she presided over the main series, the companion show Love Island Aftersun, and spinoffs like Love Island Games and All Stars. She began this role at age 28, marking a significant era. ## Addressing Exit Rumors Prior to this announcement, rumors regarding her departure circulated frequently in the UK press. Jama previously addressed these claims in an interview, noting that she typically evaluates her future with the show only after each series concludes. She clarified that she never makes definitive decisions about returning until the current season ends. ## Career Growth and Ambition Explaining her decision to leave, Jama emphasized the necessity of taking professional leaps to foster personal growth. She stated that she is now ready to pursue new challenges beyond the reality dating format. Her departure marks the end of a chapter she described as an unforgettable and incredibly fun experience. ## Recent Television Appearances Beyond her hosting duties, Jama has expanded her presence in the entertainment industry. She recently starred in the second season of BBC One’s The Celebrity Traitors, where she reached the finale as a Traitor. Additionally, she made her acting debut in the second season of the Netflix series, The Gentlemen, directed by Guy Ritchie. ## Professional Background Before becoming a prominent television presenter, Jama established her career in broadcasting as one of the youngest DJs ever to work for BBC Radio One. This early experience in radio provided the foundation for her transition into high-profile hosting roles, eventually leading her to become a sought-after talent in British media. ## Impact on the Franchise Throughout her nine-season run, Jama became synonymous with the show's signature elements, including the slow-motion walks and dramatic fire pit segments. She acknowledged the hard work of the production team, noting that they labor for months each year to bring the iconic reality series to life for its dedicated audience. ## Future Outlook While her journey with Love Island has concluded, Jama expressed her intention to continue supporting the show from the sidelines. The production team and the series will now face the challenge of finding a successor to maintain the momentum established during her tenure. Her next professional project remains currently undisclosed to the public. ## Sources covering this story - [Variety – TV — Maya Jama Departs Love Island U.K. After Nine Seasons](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/maya-jama-exits-love-island-uk-as-host-1236942610/) - [Deadline — Maya Jama Departs as Host of Love Island UK](https://deadline.com/2026/11/maya-jama-exits-love-island-uk-host-itv-1237216848/) - [BBC News – Top Stories — Maya Jama Departs as Host of Reality Show Love Island](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwzrd5jj47ndo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._