Maya Jama 'lands new role' on primetime ITV show as major star quits
Maya Jama has made waves in the presenting industry since taking to the helm of Love Island in 2023, and now, the host has reportedly bagged her first primetime TV gig with a seat on the judging panel of The Masked Singer.
The 29-year-old presenter is said to be taking Rita Ora's slot on the panel - which also usually consists of Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan and Davina McCall - as the singer is said to be focusing on an acting role and is starring on the US version of the show.
“This is a huge deal for Maya, who’s now one of telly’s fastest- rising stars. It puts her in front of a huge Saturday night audience every week on a show watched by everyone from kids to pensioners," a source told The Sun.
RIta Ora on The Masked Singer
They continued: "Up to now she’s had a following which is very young due to Love Island, but signing for The Masked Singer would take her career into a whole new league.”
Rita has been a regular on the show since it began in 2020 and recently appeared on the US version to step in for Nicole Scherzinger while she had commitments to her London theatre show Sunset Boulevard.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Rita would be returning to the US competition for it's upcoming 12th series, according to Entertainment Weekly. While she is also said to have a role in a movie this year, which requires her full attention.
The Masked Singer judges with Joel Dommett
“Rita’s got a huge film commitment this year, so her team are in talks about schedules at the moment and trying to work it out," an insider claimed to The Sun.
The show is usually filmed from September to October, meaning it is unlikely to clash with Maya's other commitments, with Love Island currently filming it's summer series and is not expected to resume for another series until early next year.
OK! has contacted representatives of Maya, Rita and ITV for comment on the reports.
Maya Jama
Maya, who is currently on screen for both Love Island and it's spin-off show Aftersun, has been enjoying a summer of love herself after getting back together with boyfriend Stormzy last year. The pair have a long history – they spent four years together before splitting up in 2019, and reunited last year following a holiday on the Greek island of Hydra.
Stormzy was reportedly encouraged to win Maya back by the other significant lady in his life, his mum Abigail Owuo. He is said to have flown Maya out in a private helicopter to the island and organised a secluded villa with private chef and spectacular views overlooking the sparkling Aegean Sea in what turned out to be a successful attempt to win her back.