Maya Jama is our new Love Island host (Picture: Getty/ITV)
Maya Jama appears to have shut down Ekin-Su Culculoglu’s claim that she was ‘offered’ the chance to host Love Island.
It was announced last week that Maya, 28, will be replacing Laura Whitmore as host of the popular ITV2 dating show after speculation she was bosses’ favourite pick.
However, Ekin-Su, 28, later revealed that she had been approached by producers to take on the coveted role, but turned it down as she didn’t feel ready having only just left the Love Island villa herself after winning the latest series with boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti.
Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star presenter Maya has only fuelled the confusion by liking a tweet featuring a report that she was always the producers’ top pick to front the show.
A show source has also told Metro.co.uk: ‘This is untrue. Maya was the first choice for host.’
It comes after Ekin-Su, who will be starring in the next series of ITV’s Dancing On Ice in January, said: ‘I did get offered.’
Ekin-Su Culculoglu said she had been ‘offered’ the job but turned it down as she didn’t feel ready (Picture: Rex Features)
Maya Jama was ‘first choice’ to replace Laura Whitmore according to a show source (Picture: EMPICS Entertainment)
She added to PopSugar: ‘I would’ve loved to do it, but I can’t at the minute because of how busy I am. And I said I’m not ready for it… I want proper training. I’ve done presenting before, but not to the level of Laura.’
Ekin-Su hasn’t addressed the news that Maya was first choice but she did cryptically tweet on Wednesday morning: ‘These rumours make me laugh!’
Ekin-Su appeared to brush off the confusion with a cryptic tweet (Picture: @ekinsuofficial, Twitter)
However, she previously spoke highly of Maya replacing Laura and said in her interview: ‘She’s funny, intelligent, smart, beautiful. ITV have made a good choice with picking her, I think.’
The Turkish actress has been busy on the ice training for her stint on DOI which kicks off early 2023.
Maya will be heading to South Africa for the winter series of Love Island before hosting the summer series.
Announcing the exciting news, she said in a statement at the time: ‘I’ve always been such a massive Love Island fan and I’m so excited to be hosting one of the nation’s favourite shows! I can’t wait to get into the Villa to meet all of the Islanders.’
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Ekin-Su claimed she turned down an offer to replace Laura Whitmore.