Maya Jama has spoken up about what it was like to be announced as the next Love Island host.
Maya was revealed as the next presenter of the ITV reality dating show in October, succeeding Laura Whitmore, who announced her retirement in August.
Speaking on This Morning to Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, ahead of the winter series of Love Island airing in just weeks, Maya revealed: ‘A little while ago I found out, and it was a no-brainer obviously because I am a massive fan of the show.’
The 28-year-old continued: ‘I was like, “okay when does it start?” And then they were doing the winter one again, and I was like, “right so I’m coming back soon then.”
‘And it’s all a bit of a blur to be honest, but found out, said yes absolutely, and now I’m off to South Africa.’
Speaking about how she’s preparing for her new hosting gig, Maya continued: ‘I’m a massive fan, I’ve watched pretty much all of the series. I’ve tried not to do too much research because you want to still be yourself, don’t you.
‘You want to ask all the questions you want to know, but as a fan of the show, I feel like I’m going to approach it how I’ve screamed at the telly for years.’
She added: ‘I’m just going to be like, “Why did you kiss her and what happened then?!” But we’ll see.’
Maya previously said that her favourite season was one in which Chris Hughes and Kem Cetinay were in the villa, with Kem eventually winning the competition with then-girlfriend Amber Davies.
‘There were so many moments that had the whole nation hooked, and I felt like that’s when Love Island really went to the next level,’ Maya added.
Alison asked if she ever stops and thinks how well she’s actually done, Maya replied: ‘Yeah, [there’s] definitely pinch-me moments a lot, because I mean, everyone has their dreams, like one day I want to be on telly and I want to be doing this, but you’re like is that actually going to happen?
‘You just work loads and one day you wake up and you’re like, I’m actually doing the things that I said I wanted to do and that’s amazing, but you never really take it in properly.
‘I think this year definitely I’ve had many pinches and many thank you gods.’
The former Glow Up: Britain’s Next Makeup Star presenter also admitted she’d be interested in an a Love Island of ‘all ages’ with ‘the nans and grandads’, after Davina McCall said she’d been ‘begging’ ITV bosses to host a middle-aged spin-off.
‘I’ve always been such a massive Love Island fan and I’m so excited to be hosting one of the nation’s favourite shows!’ Maya enthused in October, when she was announced to be the new host.
‘I can’t wait to get into the villa to meet all of the islanders.’
In a first look teaser for the new winter series, Maya’s promised there will be plenty in store.
In the trailer, Maya is seen on a velvet bejewelled bucking bronco as she tells viewers: ‘It’s time to grab love by the horns. I am ready, are you?’
Sharing the trailer on Twitter, ITV wrote that ‘it’s about to get hotter up in 2023’.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV and Love Island returns on Monday, January 16 on ITV.
