Love Island fans believe there could be a major format shake-up in the next series after Laura Whitmore quit hosting the ITV2 dating show.
The Irish presenter took to Instagram on Monday evening to share the news with fans, saying she had decided to step back from the role she initially only intended to do for a year.
She wrote on Instagram : "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.
"I wish it was still possible but know you’ll be in safe hands. I was only planning to fill in for Caroline for a series and it turned into 3 series. I hope I did you proud Caroline."
Love Island fans have since taken to Twitter to guess at who could be the next host, with many saying the show bosses could even decide not to take on a host at all, particularly given that the show is largely structured around text messages from producers.
One fan tweeted: “Does Love Island even need a host? It's mostly just done by text anyway.”
A second echoed: “At this stage is there even a need to replace her right? The host feels a little inconsequential!
“Put more power back in the public vote and leave that be it. She’s right about the format tho it’s run its course.”
A third tweeted: “Would be more entertaining to have no host and the islanders just interviewing each other.”
This comes as ITV gears up for another quickly-approaching season of the show after the broadcaster confirmed we will be treated to a second dose of Love Island this winter, taking place at the start of next year in South Africa.
There has only ever been one series of Winter Love Island, in 2020, and was won by Paige Turley and Finn Tapp, who are still going strong two years later, living together in Manchester.
Due to various pandemic-related reasons, the show was unable to return during 2021 and 2022, leaving us with a mere eight weeks of drama during the summer.
However, Winter Love Island will return in January 2023 with a fresh set of singles heading to a villa in South Africa – but no Laura Whitmore to greet them. So who could be the new show host? Or will ITV opt for no host at all?
