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Love Island star reveals cast thought Maya Jama had been sacked

Love Island's Ellie Chadwick has shared that those in the villa wondered if host Maya Jama had been "sacked" after she wasn't seen on the show for a long time

[Maya Jama on Love Island Aftersun]

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Maya Jama on Love Island Aftersun(Image: Jonathan Hordle/ITV/Shutterstock)

Love Island star Ellie Chadwick has said that the 2026 cast thought Maya Jama had been sacked from the show as they were baffled by her appearances in the villa this year.

Fans watching the series had also picked up on her sporadic visits, with some asking whether she was taking a break. The backlash was a topic discussed with contestant Ellie on Joe Baggs' Not My Bagg podcast.

The podcast's presenter pointed out that it felt like the Islanders didn't see Maya for a full month. Ellie then said: "I know, she was not in the building. I was like, you alright? Somebody said at one point, has she been sacked?. I was like no.

[Finley and Ellie on the Not My Bagg podcast]

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Finley and Ellie on the Not My Bagg podcast(Image: Not My Bagg/Youtube)

Joe then joked that he thought she had "actually just walked" away and that there was "no host of the show anymore". He added: "She's just went, 'enough's going on, you guys have fun'."

Former Love Island star Olivia Attwood had also commented on Maya's absences, after she spoke about her filming schedule for Bad Boyfriends.

The ITV star said on her podcast Olivia's House: "So we actually wrapped on location at like 9:00pm, which for that show and that kind of format its very early. Because unlike Love Island, Im on camera every single day and Im with the cast every single day on location."

[Maya wasn't seen much on Love Island]

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Maya wasn't seen much on Love Island(Image: Rachel Joseph/ITV/Shutterstock)

Maya herself poked fun at her absences when she returned to the show ahead of Casa Amor. She shared pictures of her in a bikini to Instagram and added: I heard you missed me Back on your tv tonight at 9pm.

In the comments, she also said that she didn't control whether or not she was on Love Island. "Also jokes aside its not up to me how often I enter the villa," she wrote. I wasnt even on a break, I love it over there.

[Maya responded to the backlash before she returned for Casa Amor]

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Maya responded to the backlash before she returned for Casa Amor(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)

As well as being the host of Love Island, Maya presents the spin-off show Aftersun, which takes place every Sunday immediately after the main show. Maya has held these positions since 2023, taking over from Laura Whitmore.

Away from Love Island, the host took part in the second series of Celebrity Traitors, which is thought to be coming to screens in the autumn. Filming took place back in May.

Seen arriving at Inverness Airport, Maya sported a white T-Shirt, sunglasses and white jeans. She was said to have been more than willing to take a huge pay cut to appear on the smash-hit show, which is a lot less than her reputed fee of 800,000 for hosting Love Island. Maya is said to have accepted a flat fee of 40,000 for Celebrity Traitors after getting hooked on the series last year.

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