Love Island host Laura Whitmore has quit her BBC Radio 5 Live show after four years as the ITV dating programme records its biggest launch audience since 2019. The 37-year-old has hosted a weekly Sunday morning show on the station since 2018 and will not be returning once the current series of the ITV programme ends in August.
It has been reported the Irish presenter is leaving the BBC to take advantage of the popular dating show’s success. Speaking to The Sun, a source said: “Laura has already hinted she has other projects in the pipeline and she can’t find the time to continue with all her roles. Something had to go.
"It’s sad for listeners that this is what’s been jettisoned as she moves onwards and upwards.”
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Whitmore, who is also known for appearing on the now cancelled ITV2 programme Celebrity Juice, has hosted the show since 2020 after taking over from close friend and original presenter Caroline Flack following her tragic death. The Irish presenter is married to Love Island narrator Iain Stirling and also hosts the spin-off interview show Aftersun.
ITV has also announced there will be two series of the show in 2023 – a winter series in South Africa and a summer series in Majorca – with Whitmore likely to host both. BBC Radio 5 Live controller Heidi Dawon, said: “Laura has made the difficult decision to leave her weekend show after a brilliant four years.
"We’d like to thank her for the energy, insight and humour she has brought to this programme and look forward to working with her again in the near future.”
BBC Radio 5 Live will launch a new Sunday morning show combining sport and current affairs discussion, which will lead into the afternoon of live football commentaries.
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