Who Is Replacing Maya Jama as Host on ‘Love Island UK’? Here Are the (Alleged!) Frontrunners

Maya Jama just announced that she’s stepping down as the longtime host of Love Island UK, and the show is already busy trying to find her replacement before this summer.According to The Sun, ITV is bringing in “top tier” talent to audition for the hosting gig, including former Love Island star and current TV presenter Olivia Attwood.“Olivia Attwood is someone they see as capable of doing it,” a source reveals. “She’s loud, funny, glamorous and she understands reality TV and Love Island better than most presenters because she came from that world herself. ITV already trust her with major formats and she’s become one of their go-to stars. Olivia’s name keeps coming up because she’s evolved from reality contestant into a proper broadcaster. She can handle live TV, tough interviews and chaos, which is basically the Love Island job description.”Maura Higgins (of Love Island, The Traitors, and—currently—Dancing With the Stars fame) is also in the running, and a fan favorite.Per the insider, “Maura Higgins is another huge contender because fans already associate her with iconic Love Island moments. She’s naturally flirtatious, beautiful, talked about and chaotic in the best way and she has that ability to create memes and headlines without even trying. Producers love personalities like that.”They add, “A lot of people think Maura makes more sense right now because she’s single, she was until recently linked to the Love Island brand internationally and she’s become massive in America too. She’s available, ambitious and viewers still absolutely love her.”ITV bosses are considering Emily Atack (star of Rivals) and AJ Odudu (from Big Brother).Sources say Emily is “seen as a dark horse because she brings warmth and humor,” while AJ “feels polished but still fun, which is quite hard to find. She would also potentially be free to host it as Celebrity Big Brother has been rested and the regular show now airs later in the year, not in the summer.”Some other names floating around? GK Barry from I’m a Celeb (who producers find “chaotic, unfiltered, [and] naturally funny”), DJ Vick Hope (who can “appeal to younger audiences while also feeling classy and premium as a broadcaster”), Love Island alum Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, The Masked Singer presenter Joel Dommett, I’m a Celeb’s Sam Thompson, content creator Anastasia Kingsnorth, TV presenter Sian Welby, and TV personality Pete Wicks.