POPSUGAR UK

14 Potential Candidates Who Could Replace Laura Whitmore on "Love Island"

25/08/2022 - 10:42 AM

Laura Whitmore announced on 22 Aug. that she is stepping back from her role as "Love Island" presenter [1] for the next series due to scheduling clashes and issues with the show's format. Whitmore, who was only initially "planning to fill in" for the late Caroline Flack [2], wrote on Instagram: "I hope I did you proud Caroline ❤️."

While we miss Caroline dearly and think Whitmore did an incredible job for the past three seasons, we're excited to find out who will put their own spin on the iconic position next. Speculation is already rife on social media as to who "Love Island" will couple up with next for the January 2023 winter edition filmed in South Africa. From Maya Jama [3] to Nella Rose [4], read ahead to see the favourites.

Maya Jama

Maya Jama is one of the most popular presenters in the UK, and fans are desperate for the star to be the next "Love Island" host with many tweets offering similar sentiments [5] like, "Don't get me wrong, I'm so sad Laura Whitmore has left BUT the next presenter of Love Island NEEDS to be Maya Jama".

The Bristolian has been presenting since she was a teenager, but really shot to fame in 2017 when she hosted the Pre-Brit Awards Party in 2017. From there, Jama went on to become the youngest person (then 23) to cohost the MOBO Awards alongside Marvin Humes and to gain her own BBC Radio 1 show on Fridays and Saturdays. She went on to host primetime shows like "The Circle," "Don't Hate the Playaz," "Glow Up: Britain's next Make-Up Star," and "Walk The Line".

Jama is known for being utterly hilarious, not to mention beautiful inside and out, so who better to slo-mo strut through the villa? She is currently splitting her time between London and New York, since her NBA-player fiancé Ben Simmons plays for the Brooklyn Nets, so the jury is out on whether Jama would be willing to fly back and forth between London, New York, and South Africa.

Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu

As the reigning Queen of the "Love Island" villa [6], Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu would be an understandable choice for the next host. The actress, model, and TV personality might just be the most loved contestant in the show's history, and Twitter users think she'd be the best choice to fill the new vacancy [7]. She's been through the process so will be able to empathise with the Islanders, and she's not afraid of ruffling a few feather, that's for sure.

But Cülcüloğlu and boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti are busy filming a new show for ITV2 as they meet each other's families in Turkey and Italy. Her calendar is likely to be full this year, but there could be a "Love Island" shaped hole in her life come 2023, so it's a possibility.

AJ Odudu

Social media users reckon AJ Odudu would be the perfect choice [8] for the show, considering she has over a decade of presenting experience under her belt. From "Big Brother's Bit on the Side" and "Married at First Sight: Afters" to this year's "Eurovision Song Contest", Odudu is well versed in the pressures of hosting both live and prerecorded TV.

She's also extremely likable, and we all cried when she was forced to withdraw from "Strictly Come Dancing" the day before the 2021 final due to injury. We'd love to see Odudu delivering the Islanders messages in the midst of all the inevitable drama with her Yorkshire accent.

Maura Higgins

Another much-loved "Love Island" alumni, Maura Higgins is being tipped as a potential candidate. One Twitter user even joked [9] they were starting a petition to get her on the show.

The Irish model, who appeared on the 2019 season, has presented on "This Morning" and hosted the Irish version of "Glow Up Britain's Next Make-Up Star". She coined some special phrases on her series, so she could definitely keep up with the lingo.

Katherine Ryan

Comedian Katherine Ryan is a self-confessed "Love Island" super fan, regularly talking about the show on her hilarious podcast "Katherine Ryan: Telling Everybody Everything". According to some [10], Ryan is the ideal host for the show as she has "the sauce" that fits the format. And we have to say, we agree. She's witty, glamorous, and extremely straight-talking. Plus, ITV2 already tapped her up for dating show "Ready to Mingle" earlier this year, so it's not totally out of the realm of possibility.

Despite being a great fit, Ryan is currently pregnant with her third child and only finishes her tour in the middle of November, so she is one busy woman. Maybe a little break to South Africa is just what she needs . . .

Rylan Clark

Rylan Clark is so iconic that most of us simply know him as Rylan. The presenter started off on reality TV as a contestant on "The X Factor" back in 2012, so it makes sense why fans think he'd be brilliant [11] at guiding the Islanders through the process.

Clark has regular presenting stints on "This Morning", as well as "The One Show and "Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two" as well as his BBC Radio 2 show. Could he be "Love Island"'s type on paper?

Gemma Collins

Gemma Collins, also known as "the GC", has undeniable star quality, and the general consensus on Twitter [12] is that she would shine as the host of "Love Island".

The TV personality and businesswoman might not be a seasoned presenter, but we know she has it in her. Despite her clumsy performance when she fell through the stage at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards in 2017, "The Only Way is Essex" alumni is no stranger to the limelight. She fronted her own Channel 4 Documentary earlier this year titled "Gemma Collins: Self Harm & Me" and totally stole the show when she appeared on the second series of "RuPaul's Drag Race UK" to judge the Snatch Game. We don't know how free the 41-year-old will be at the time of filming, but she'd bring the glam factor, that's for sure.

Vick Hope

Vick Hope is the name being banded around as another potential [13] to host the show. The radio presenter cohosts BBC Radio 1's drive time slot alongside Jordan North, and has had her own Breakfast Show on ITV. Her list of presenting achievements are endless, and she's fast becoming a style icon [14], so "Love Island" would be in safe hands with Hope. And perhaps the big performance next season could be her rumoured fiancé, Calvin Harris?

Mo Gilligan

Mo Gilligan started his career as a stand-up comedian, cracking up social media users with his observational comedy videos before he found global success as a presenter in 2019. Since then, Gilligan has hosted the 2022 BRIT Awards, "The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan", and he currently cohosts "The Big Narstie Show" on Channel 4.

Viewers loved the 34-year-old's jokes and contagious smile on "The Masked Singer [15] UK", and he's got a lot of support online to take on Whitmore's role [16] for the next season. Gilligan would smash the role out of the park if he's free, but the busy stand-up has already had to take a break from the next season of "The Masked Dancer UK" due to work clashes, so it's unlikely he'll be our guy.

Nella Rose

Nella Rose is one of the most popular British YouTubers, and she has taken the presenting world by storm recently on "Catfish UK" and on the red carpet at the 2022 Brit Awards.

Fans think the 25-year-old would be a great fit for "Love Island" [17] thanks to her infectious laugh, no-holds-barred attitude, and empathetic personality. Could Rose be next in line? We'll have to wait and see.

Emily Atack

Emily Atack stole the nation's hearts while appearing on "I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here!" in 2018. Already known as an actress and comedian, the nation got to know and love Atack for her sense of humour and authenticity.

Atack, who stars on "Celebrity Juice" alongside Whitmore, is one of the most popular suggestions for the new "Love Island" presenter [18], especially as she is already a friend of Whitmore. The star went viral in 2018 for her hilarious impressions of that summer's cohort of Islanders, so it's clear she's a big fan. We think she's a great shout for the position.

Alison Hammond

Alison Hammond is a national treasure, so it's not surprising that lots of people have put her name forward as a potential replacement for Whitmore [19].

Hammond notoriously has a great sense of humour and doesn't take herself too seriously, and she understands reality TV more than most after becoming famous for her appearance on "Big Brother [20]" in 2002. However, Hammond is committed to presenting "This Morning" alongside Dermot O'Leary every Friday, so it's unlikely that she'd be able to fit "Love Island" into her schedule.

Clara Amfo

Clara Amfo is another presenter's name being added to the mix in discussions online. [21] Amfo's friendly and confident vibe is magnetic, so it's not hard to picture her walking into the villa with news of recouplings or Islanders being booted out.

Amfo has a plethora of radio and podcast experience, and she has presented backstage at the BRIT Awards on numerous occasions. The star even has an astrology-themed dating show, called "Written in the Stars", due out later this year. Could her destiny be the "Love Island" villa? Only time will tell.

Amber Gill

She won "Love Island" 2019 and became a firm favourite with fans thanks to her no-nonsense chat, and now Amber Gill is being touted as the next presenter. Thanks to her "not being afraid to ask tough questions", she'd certainly call out the Islanders on their behaviour. [22]

She's also still a genuine fan of the show, regularly posting about it online to her legions of fans. Gill is set to appear on "Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins" this September, but she hasn't revealed any other plans for the rest of the year, so who knows?


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