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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Ashleigh Rainbird

Love Island bosses splurge on epic stunt in most expensive series opener ever for Maya Jama

Love Island bosses have splashed out on the most expensive opening episode to launch new host Maya Jama for the winter spinoff of the series.

The producers are keeping her means of arrival secret from everyone - including the presenter herself - with a budget-busting stunt they are certain will get viewers talking.

A source said: "Bosses want to make sure they launch Maya in style, so they have splashed out on an epic stunt that will even stun her.

"It's the most expensive opener for a series ever, and it is certain to get people talking."

Creative Director Mike Spencer: "It's going to be very epic."

Maya Jama (pictured) is the new host of Love Island (ITV)
She's take part in an 'epic stunt' to launch the new series (ITV)

Maya, 28, will arrive in exciting style to welcome the contestants on next Monday night's launch episode, whereas former presenters Caroline Flack and Laura Whitmore rode an open top Jeep to greet Islanders into the villa.

Maya is being kept totally in the dark, and has no idea what to expect.

"I know I've got to do some slow mo, but that's all I know," laughs Maya of the show's famous intro sequences, which will see her walking into the villa in slowed down footage.

The winter edition will be held in South Africa at a new villa (ITV)

The presenter is planning her outfits, but cannot decide on whether to wear a full length dress or a short skirt, with the added pressure of the slow motion sequence.

"I could have to wear a helmet, I really don't know," she adds, nervously.

"I've just got to try not to laugh, and do a serious sexy face."

Meanwhile, though Maya describes landing the job as getting a "golden ticket" there are naturally drawbacks: all her mates are bugging her to get them a spot in the villa.

The islanders will be introduced to viewers on next Monday's launch show (ITV)

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"Loads of my guy friends," she says. "It's like the joke at the moment with people saying, 'Do you think I can go in the villa?' That's an ongoing thing. Some of them probably could do well."

Maya - who is "really single" after splitting from fiance Ben Simmons, amid rumours of a reunion with grime star Stormzy - had to keep her new role secret from her mum because "she'd get too excited and tell people".

Maya has described landing the hosting job as getting a 'golden ticket' (ITV)
She's looking forward to speaking to islanders' family and friends on Aftersun (ITV)

A true Love Island fan, Maya says she will continue to enjoy the show as a viewer as well. "Everyone gets involved, everyone has opinions - from the older people in your family to the younger ones," she says.

"It's just fun, it's fun to see how people play out in different situations and wonder what you would do if you were in the same position.

"Most of us have had a bit of a holiday romance before and it's like watching that on telly."

The new series will launch on ITV2 and ITVX next week (ITV)

She's most to looking forward to grilling the Islanders' families on Aftersun, saying: "They give the most tea because they've got a whole other view and also if their son/daughter/ sister etc's chosen partner would be accepted into the family and how it would work on the outside - you can ask the family members those kinds of questions."

*Love Island launches on Monday night (January 16) at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

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