Laura Whitmore's shock news that she won't be hosting the next series of Love Island has come as a blow to fans of the dating show. The TV presenter made the announcement on her social media account.
Writing on Instagram, the Love Island host explained she was "only filling in for Caroline for a series and it turned into three", referring to her predecessor Caroline Flack whose death was widely reported in February 2020, she was aged just 40. Laura went on to pay tribute to the star, saying: "I hope I did you proud Caroline".
Fans of the show and its spin-off Aftersun, are now considering who could take Laura's place on the ITV2 show after the 37-year-old told fans she was stepping down due to 'certain elements of the show' she had found 'very difficult'. Love Island will be back for a second winter edition set in Cape Town, South Africa, following the success of its summer series in Mallorca.
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Laura, who is also known for her team captain position on Celebrity Juice, wrote: "Some news! I won’t be hosting the next series of Love island. There are certain elements of the show I’ve found very difficult that cannot be changed some due to the format, including the flying back and forth to South Africa along with my new conflicting projects."
The mother-of-one, who Manchester Evening News noted welcomed a daughter last year with her Love Island narrator husband Iain Stirling, assured fans 'know you’ll be in safe hands'. Twitter users have been having their say with names put forward including former Radio One presenter Maya Jama, The Big Breakfast presenter and Strictly 2021 finalist AJ Odudu as well as 2019 Islander Maura Higgins and this year's winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu.
One fan of the show tweeted: "@AJOdudu is the right person to host love island #LoveIsland with someone new and unknown for aftersun!!." Another added: "Can we all agree that @AJOdudu would be a perfect host for the show!!" And a third agreed: "Only one women for the job - AJ Odudu to replace Laura Whitmore."
Others suggested Maya Jama with one person writing: "With Laura Whitmore leaving her role as #loveisland host, I smell Maya Jama as the perfect replacement." And another said: "My money's on @MayaJama for new #loveisland host."
Other suggestions included a Love Island winner. "I would like either Ekin Su, Maura, Gemma Collins or Nella Rose to become the next love island host", said one social media user. Another added: "Ekin-Su and Maura are like the epitome of love island for me. We need their vibes to host!"
The comments continued: "Petition for Maura Higgins to host Love Island UK next year" and "Make Maura Higgins the new host !!!!!!!!!!" With another adding: "Ekin-Su or Maura need to host the next series of #LoveIsland or why bother."
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