Entertainment
Laura Whitmore couldn’t look happier after quitting Love Island as former contestant is tipped to replace her-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro
The presenter stepped down after three years.
The presenter announced she was stepping down yesterday (Picture: Jonathan Hordle/REX/Shutterstock)
Laura Whitmore was spotted looking as happy as ever, one day after she announced stepping down from her Love Island presenting role.
The 37-year-old was seen for the first time since making her announcement yesterday, in which she said that there were elements of the reality dating show that she ‘found very difficult.’
Since her departure, several names have been thrown into the mix of who could present Love Island next with the likes of 2019 contestant Maura Higgins a fan-favourite.
In a statement shared to Instagram, Laura – whose husband Iain Stirling narrates the programme – explained: ‘Some news! I won’t be hosting the next series of Love island.
‘There are certain elements of the show I’ve found very difficult that cannot be changed some due to the format, including the flying back and forth to South Africa along with my new conflicting projects.’
She added: ‘I wish it was still possible but know you’ll be in safe hands. I was only planning to fill in for Caroline for a series and it turned into 3 series.
‘I hope I did you proud Caroline.’
She looked as happy as ever as she attended rehearsals (Picture: SplashNews.com)
She’s preparing for a role in stage thriller 2:22 (Picture: SplashNews.com)
Today, Laura was spotted with a huge grin as she arrived for rehearsals for her debut West End performance.
She will be treading the boards as Jenny in stage thriller 2:22 – A Ghost Story alongside the likes of Matt Willis, Felix Scott and Tamsin Carroll in the hit production’s newest cast from September 6 to January 8.
Making the announcement earlier this month, Laura wrote: ‘Come see me on stage making my West End debut in this critically-acclaimed psychological thriller.’
She added in a statement: ‘Theatre has always been my first love and I can’t wait to get back on stage.
‘I am a huge fan of the previous productions and delighted to be getting stuck in with rehearsals and working alongside such a hugely talented cast and team.’
Laura previously branded the presenting gig as ‘exhausting’ (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)
She hosted Love Island for three years, taking over from the late Caroline Flack (Picture: Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Since announcing her departure, ex-Islander Maura has been tipped as a favourite to take-over.
She knows what it’s like to be an islander, how to build a huge career after the camaras stop rolling and she’s proven herself to be a natural TV presenter on Ireland’s Glow Up.
Elsewhere, Maya Jama and Emily Atack are also favourites to take the hosting spot – with Maya at the top of our poll at the time of writing – while fans are also desperate for this year’s winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu to return to the villa as presenter.
No one has a better CV for the Love Island job than Maura Higgins (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Maya Jama is a current favourite (Picture: Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images )
Who could be the next Love Island presenter?
According to Ladbrokes, Maya is an early favourite to be the next presenter with odds at 3/1.
The Inbetweeners star Emily is at 4/1 while Maura is at 5/1.
Other names include:
Rylan Clark at 8/1
Emma Willis at 12/1
Mo Gilligan at 14/1
Joanne McNally at 20/1
Brian Dowling at 25/1
and Vicky Pattinson at 25/1
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: ‘There will be plenty of competition lining up to replace Laura Whitmore on Love Island, but since betting opened Maya Jama is the name punters are most interested in.’
Laura quit Love Island after branding the hosting gig as ‘exhausting’ due to public scrutiny.
It’s still something I’m working through myself privately,’ she said during the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip.
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‘I had to also think about it for my own mental health side, because I love the show, but it comes with a lot of s**t.’
‘The host only comes on three or four times, it’s always been the way, but it gets the most attention. It’s a bit exhausting and it’s tough,’ she added.
Love Island is available to watch on ITV Hub.
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