Keith Lemon breaks silence as Maya Jama replaces Laura Whitmore as Love Island host

EXCLUSIVE: Celebrity Juice star Keith Lemon broke his silence on his co-star Laura Whitmore's Love Island exit - and what he thought of Maya Jama replacing her as host

Sam Huntley Senior Showbiz & TV Reporter

13:05, 28 Oct 2022

Love Island officially confirms Maya Jama as new host

Keith Lemon has revealed what he thinks of Maya Jama replacing Laura Whitmore as Love Island host.

Maya was confirmed as the next host of the ITV2 dating show earlier this month after being hotly tipped to take over from the Irish star.

ITV confirmed Maya will jet off to South Africa to shoot the ninth series in January 2023, the next winter edition of the show.

Keith, real name Leigh, is close with both Laura and Maya, having worked with them on ITV's Celebrity Juice, which aired its last series earlier this year.

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Keith said Maya was the "right" person to take Laura's place(Image: Daily Mirror)

It might have left some fans wondering what he really thinks of Maya replacing Laura, and whether she's the right person for the job.

Keith spoke exclusively to Daily Star at the Pride of Britain Awards, which took place at London's Grosvenor House on Monday night (October 24).

Asked how he thought Maya was going to get on as the new host, Keith was full of praise for his pal.

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Maya Jama is going to be "amazing" as the next host, said Keith(Image: Jonathan Hordle/REX)

He said: "I think shes going to be amazing. Shes the right person. After Whitmore shes the right person, isnt she?"

"Whitmores put her Love Island crown and yeah," before adding: "I love Maya to death."

Leigh presented the Teenager of Courage award to Lucy Montgomery, who rescued her family friend, Mathieu, and her father Graham, who cannot swim, when the pair were dragged out whilst paddle-boarding in France.

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Laura left the show in August(Image: Jonathan Hordle/REX/Shutterstock)

Maya herself said of hosting the show: "Ive always been such a massive Love Island fan and Im so excited to be hosting one of the nations favourite shows! I cant wait to get into the Villa to meet all of the Islanders."

Laura announced she was leaving Love Island in August, telling fans that she found parts of the job "very difficult", such as having to fly back and forth to South Africa to film the show.

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