Love Island’s Iain Stirling throws support behind new host Maya Jama and her slow-mo walks

Love Island narrator Iain Stirling has joined the cacophony of voices heaping praise on the show’s new host Maya Jama.

Maya, 28, made her presenting debut on the ITV2 dating show when the winter edition in South Africa launched on Monday night with 10 singletons entering the villa.

She replaces Iain’s wife Laura Whitmore at the helm after she announced her departure in August following three seasons in the driver’s seat.

Joining Susanna Reid and Ed Balls on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday, Iain threw his support behind Maya as he celebrated her arrival.

‘Maya is absolutely fantastic,’ he enthused, before referring to the moment she strutted into the villa in that *black* dress. ‘Maya has done such a good job. Her slow-mo walks are something else. Great looks.

Iain’s praise comes as new reports have claimed impressed Love Island bosses are eager to sign Maya for several series.

A source told The Sun: ‘One thing’s for sure — there will be a lot of urgent conversations around renewing her contract already underway.’

Following the premiere, Maya shared a post on Instagram thanking fans for the immense support they’ve shown her.

Uploading several pictures of herself in her already-iconic black cut-out number, she wrote in the caption: ‘Overwhelmed from last night, thank you so much for your kind words.’

Iain’s wife Laura, who began presenting Love Island following the death of Caroline Flack, shared a statement addressing her exit from the show last year.

‘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,’ she said at the time.

Laura added: ‘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 three series. I hope I did you proud Caroline.’

Referencing some of the ‘certain elements’ she found difficult, Laura branded her former hosting gig as ‘exhausting,’ due to the public scrutiny.

‘It’s still something I’m working through myself privately,’ she said during a July 2022 chat on the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip.

‘I had to also think about it for my own mental health side, because I love the show, but it comes with a lot of s**t.’

‘The host only comes on three or four times, it’s always been the way, but it gets the most attention. It’s a bit exhausting and it’s tough,’ she added.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.

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