Next Love Island Host: Maura Higgins/Olivia Attwood Tipped To Replace Maya Jama
Maya Jama has hosted Love Island for more than three years, but there is a big queue of stars lined up on betting sites to replace her one day.
Speculation has intensified this year that Maya's time on the reality TV show might soon be up, after she signed up to star in Celebrity Traitors, and some viewers questioned her whereabouts amid the current Love Island series.
One fan joked Maya must be on a "zero hours contract" because they hadn't seen much of her in the villa this summer, but she replied on X: "I’ll be back there soon I promise. I have been dying to get back in there tbh."
While Maya is still very much at the helm for now, she has been boosting her profile in 2026, by filming Celebrity Traitors, gearing up to feature in The Gentlemen series two, and she has starred in a Blossoms music video.
Could Maya be readying herself to let someone else have a go at the Love Island presenting gig?
Available Attwood
If so, step forward former Islander Olivia Attwood. Part of the Love Island Class of 2017, the reality TV star-turned-documentary maker is 8/11 favourite on betting apps to be the next Love Island host.
Olivia has previously made no secret of her desire to take on the role. In 2024, she admitted Maya was "crushing it" as Love Island host, but told The Sun: "If she ever didn’t want to do it and asked me, of course I’d do it.
"That show changed my life, how could I say no? I have such an emotional connection to that show and the people that make it.
Next Love Island Host Odds:
Host | Odds | Probability |
Olivia Attwood | 8/11 | 57.8% |
Maura Higgins | 5/6 | 54.5% |
Sian Welby | 1/1 | 50% |
Ekin-Su Culculoglu | 11/10 | 47.6% |
GK Barry | 11/8 | 42.1% |
Emily Atack | 6/4 | 40% |
Pete Wicks | 13/8 | 38.1% |
Iain Stirling | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Chloe Burrows | 2/1 | 33.3% |
AJ Adudo | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Indiyah Polak | 3/1 | 25% |
Joanne McNally | 4/1 | 20% |
Holly Willoughby | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Laura Anderson | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Laura Whitmore | 10/1 | 9.1% |
"Even if I had some reason, I couldn’t turn it down because my heart would feel like: ‘I’m going home! Back to the mother ship!’ So if that day ever comes, consider me available."
Another former Love Island contestant who could be in contention is 11/10 shot Ekin-Su Culculoglu. Ekin-Su's time on the show could come full circle if she landed the job, after she won series eight in 2022.
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More Maura?
Former Love Island star Maura Higgins would surely be one of ITV bosses' top candidates to front the programme if Maya departed.
Like Jama, former Love Island star Maura has been boosting her profile aplenty this year. She is already widely regarded as one of the most successful Love Island stars ever, and she is also well-known Stateside after hosting Love Island USA's spin-off show, After Sun, and she took part in the US version of The Traitors.
If that wasn't enough, Maura has been heavily linked to presenting the Disney+ reboot of iconic ITV show Blind Date.
Maura is just 5/6 to land the Love Island job after Maya, but some think she might have outgrown the dating show.
If Love Island bosses go in a different direction, away from past Islanders, then This Morning presenter Sian Welby (Evens) could be the perfect candidate.
She's proved herself as an able and well-liked presenter on the ITV brunchtime show, and Capital Breakfast - which she co-hosts with Jordan North and Chris Stark - and a Love Island hosting gig could be a great fit for both Sian and ITV.
Former This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby (6/1) might also be in consideration, but it would be a surprise if she wanted the move.
Iain's Promotion
Since Love Island began in 2015, one of the show's constants has been narrator Iain Stirling, who has been the voice of the reality TV show for all 13 seasons, as well as the All Stars editions.
However, Scottish star Iain is no stranger to TV presenting either, with the likes of comedy game show CelebAbility and comedy panel show Roast the Internet among his hosting credits.
He is just 15/8 to be promoted to Love Island host when Jama decides to jack it in.
Stirling's compatriot, Scottish reality TV star and former Islander Laura Anderson is an 8/1 shot to land the job, but could we see someone even closer to Iain reprise the role instead?
Iain's wife, Laura Whitmore, is a 10/1 shot to head back to the show.
Year In Which Love Island Will End/Be Rested:
Year | Odds | Probability |
2026 | 7/4 | 36.4% |
2027 | 2/1 | 33.3% |
2028 | 3/1 | 25% |
2029 | 7/2 | 22.2% |
2030 | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Maya Jama landed the Love Island role after taking over from Laura, but it seems unlikely the Irish host would return to the show. However, it may not be impossible if ITV wanted someone to steady the ship.
However, Maya's upcoming Celebrity Traitors co-star, Irish comedian and presenter Joanne McNally, might be a more likely replacement as Love Island host at 4/1.
But when the day comes that Jama departs the programme, will there even be another Love Island series?
Some fans fear the programme may not have long left after the first two episodes of the 13th season reached an initial 1.8 million and 1.9 million viewers - around 400,000 down on last year.
It's just 7/4 that the show is axed or rested, later this year and it's 2/1 that occurs in 2027.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
