After three years of waiting, Winter Love Island 2023 is almost here. Fans of the ITV reality dating show will be happy to hear they only have two weeks to go until they can get their daily drama dosage again.
ITV2 and ITVX have confirmed that they will be airing Winter Love Island 2023 from Monday, January 16 at 9 pm.
While the cast list is still under wraps, we do already know that there’s been a changing of the guard where presenting duties on Love Island are concerned.
Laura Whitmore officially steps down as dating show host
Following a successful third season of Love Island host this summer, Laura Whitmore announced she’d be resigning in late 2022.
Whitmore originally stepped into the presenting role following the death of former presenter and friend, Caroline Flack. However, Whitmore told Psychologies that during her time on the show she, “couldn’t say anything.”
“There was only so much I can do as a host. I couldn’t support [the contestants] or not support them,” she continued.
“So you kind of have to go quiet and that was hard for me because I like to be able to have those conversations, Whitmore said. “If I could [have done] things the way I wanted to, I’d probably still be doing it.”
Who is the Winter Love Island 2023 host?
So as Whitmore steps down, powerhouse presenter and Radio DJ Maya Jama steps up to the plate in her place.
As per a press release, ITV say that Jama is their “official love motivator. Maya will be encouraging both this year’s Islanders as well as the fans at home to go and grab love by the horns”.
Elsewhere, Paul Mortimer, the director of Reality Programming & Acquisitions and Controller, ITV2, ITVBe & CITV said, “Finding a new host to follow the wonderful Laura Whitmore was never going to be easy.”
“In Maya Jama though, we have another high-profile fan of the show who’ll be a great addition to the Love Island family.”
Jama, the new Winter Love Island 2023 presenter, will appear on the forthcoming first episode on Monday, January, 16.
Featured image credit: ITV