Laura Whitmore has announced she has quit Love Island.
The TV presenter joined the ITV2 dating show in 2020 to replace the late Caroline Flack.
However, she has confirmed she will not be returning for a fourth stint at hosting the show or its sister series Love Island Aftersun.
In a statement shared on her 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.’
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ITV has also confirmed the news, with a spokesperson saying in a statement: ‘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.’
It comes just weeks after Laura wrapped up the most recent series of Love Island, which aired for eight weeks and was won by Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Sanclimenti, scooping the £50,000 prize.
The TV personality was chosen to replace Love Island’s longtime host Flack in 2019 when the presenter faced legal issues, and fronted the first winter series of Love Island in January 2020.
Flack died by suicide at the age of 40 in February that year.
Announcing her new gig, Laura said at the time: ‘To say I’m excited to be heading to Cape Town to host Love Island, the biggest show on television, is an understatement.
‘I want to thank ITV for trusting me at the helm of this huge show. I wish it was in better circumstances; Caroline is a brilliant host and also a friend. We’ve spoken a lot in the last few days since she stepped down. She has been very kind to me and strongly pushed me for this role.
‘I’ve watched her host every series and know I have big boots to fill. I will try and do it justice.’
She continued: ‘Above all, I am a massive fan of this show. I’ve never been to a Love Island villa, and I can’t wait to get in there to meet all the new Islanders looking for love. The Love Island team are the best in the business… including the voice and heart of the show, Iain. He thought he was getting a holiday away from me… not a chance!’
Laura welcomed her first child with husband Iain in spring 2021, and was open about the challenges of juggling being a new mum with returning to work on the summer series.
‘I remember getting mastitis. The day we were doing the first show of the coupling up I had mastitis, so I had a fever,’ she recalled earlier this year.
‘I had great big hard boobs, one bigger than the other. In one way though, it kind of took away the pressure, there was other things I was worrying about rather than the telly side.
‘But yeah, it was hard. It was work and it was full on because you’re balancing everything.’
Laura’s time on Love Island wasn’t always smooth sailing; she received criticism during the 2021 summer series after failing to interview Kaz Kamwi and Tyler Cruickshank on the sofa at the reunion like other couples.
This year, the TV star was subject of Ofcom complaints due to her comments about Ekin-Su on Aftersun.
However, she was defended by ITV who said in a statement: ‘Laura is the presenter of the show, and part of that role is to pose questions to the panel and discuss events in the villa.
‘We do not condone trolling against either our host or our Islanders and any subsequent elevation of these comments.’
This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
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