Fans who are missing their daily fix of Love Island don't have long to wait as the brand new series is just around the corner. ITV has confirmed that the winter edition of its popular dating show is set to return to screens in a matter of days with new host Maya Jama preparing for her debut.
The brunette beauty, 28, was announced as the new presenter of the ITV2 show last year after Laura Whitmore revealed she was quitting at the end of the 2022 summer series. Laura, 37, took over the hosting role from Caroline Flack in January 2020 to present Love Island's first ever winter series and continued to host the following series after Caroline's tragic death in February 2020.
The debut series of the winter Love Island, which was filmed in South Africa, saw Finn Tapp and Paige Turley crowned the winners. Plans for a second and third winter series in 2021 and 2022 were scrapped due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, therefore this is the first time the winter edition has aired in three years.
READ MORE:
And viewers won't need to wait around, as the brand new series has been confirmed to start on Monday, January 16.
Announcing the news, both ITV and Love Island's official Instagram shared a post to its 3.6 million followers where users had to pause the screen at the right time to unveil the show's launch date.
ITV wrote: "It’s time to get grafting! Tap and hold to grab love by the horns - and if you’re fast enough there’s a surprise in store #LoveIsland."
In less than two weeks time viewers will see Maya make her debut as the new host.
The TV and radio presenter recently hosted Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star and Simon Cowell’s music competition gameshow Walk The Line, and is known for her relationship with rapper Stormzy.
Promoting a trailer for the new series just days ago, Maya wrote to her 2.4 million followers: "We’re ready, are you? Its time to grab love by the horns @loveisland."
The presenter has now asked her fans for advice ahead of her debut on the first episode of the new series.
Taking to her Instagram stories with a fresh face, Maya asked: "What hair do we think I should have for the first episode of Love Island? because I'm thinking about it now.
"Do we do long curly, do we do a straight, do we do a loose blow, crimpy? Suggestions are welcome. I don't know because it's going to be hot."
In a question box Maya put up, one follower responded: "Long curly! Classic Maya."
Maya also revealed: "What you see on TV and how long it takes to film is very different, so I'm going to be up there for time. So it's got to be something that stays dry."
Last week ITV announced a major change for its Love Island winter contestants after receiving Ofcom complaints.
The Islanders on the winter series will have to disable their social media accounts to protect both themselves and their families.
For the first time in the show's history, contestants will have to make their accounts 'dormant' while they are in the villa in an effort to avoid the 'adverse effects of social media.'
It will mean that nothing can be published on their social media accounts on their behalf. Contestants will also receive 'guidance and training' around 'mutually respectful behaviour in relationships' after the most recent series prompted thousands of complaints to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom.
READ NEXT:
- BBC Breakfast's Sally Nugent says The Apprentice is 'more like Love Island' after Lord Alan Sugar's savage response to claim
- Holly Willoughby dazzles in first look at Dancing On Ice return as winner already 'decided'
- Waterloo Road fans 'p****d off' as huge change is made for reboot as they plead with other viewers
- BBC EastEnders fans certain they know the father of Lily's baby after figuring out previous clue
- Stacey Solomon drops hint on baby's gender as she enters row with Joe Swash over unborn child's face after 'amazing' scan
