Entertainment
Love Island: Why did presenter Laura Whitmore quit the ITV dating show?-Stella Akinwumi-Entertainment – Metro
Laura confirmed the news on Monday.
Laura confirmed her departure from the show on Monday (Picture: ITV)
Laura Whitmore announced she was stepping down from her role as Love Island presenter after two years.
The Irish host, 37, joined the ITV2 dating show in 2020 replacing Caroline Flack and going on to present three series.
After confirming her exit on Instagram, an ITV spokesperson said: ‘Laura has been a fantastic host across the last three series of the show.
‘We are so grateful for everything she has brought to the programme but understand and respect her decision, and we look forward to working with her on upcoming ITV projects.’
Why did Laura Whitmore quit Love Island?
Laura made Love Island debut in 2020 (Picture: ITV)
In a statement shared in an Instagram post, 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.’
Referencing ‘certain elements’ she found difficult, Laura recently branded her former hosting gig as ‘exhausting,’ due to the public scrutiny.
It’s still something I’m working through myself privately,’ she said during the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip.
Laura recently hailed the presenting role as ‘tough’ (Picture: ITV)
Caroline Flack died two months after Laura was announced as her replacement on Love Island (Picture: WireImage)
‘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.
Laura began fronting Love Island in 2020 following the death of former presenter Caroline Flack.
Remembering the adored late star, she said: ‘I saw when Caroline worked on the show what she got every year and I never knew how she handled it. I always thought, “Jesus, she’s so strong.”
‘And people aren’t as strong as you think they are.’
Fellow celebrities rushed to congratulate the presenter’s run on the show.
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Singer Olly Murs wrote: ‘You was unreal Laura 👏🏻👌🏻❤️.’
2019 bombshell and finalist Maura Higgins shared: ‘You will be missed.’
ITV are yet to confirm who could replace the star, however superfans are already eyeing up the likes of Maya Jama, AJ Odudu and 2022 winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu.
Love Island returns to ITV2 in 2023.
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