WITH Love Island over for another year, we hear host Laura Whitmore’s future fronting the show is hanging in the balance.
Telly chiefs eyeing a revamp for the show’s return in 2022 have new faces in mind for hosting duties, including Maya Jama and 2019 contestant Maura Higgins.
Laura’s reception from fans has been lukewarm since she took over last year from late pal Caroline Flack, who threw herself into the hit series.
Maya was a winner with viewers on Crouchy’s Year-Late Euros and Maura shone as the host of Glow Up Ireland.
A TV source said: “Producers are keen to keep the show fresh and are keeping their options open.
“They have been impressed with both Maya and Maura, and think either could bring the necessary pizzazz and sexiness to the role.
“They want some-one who is fun and can connect with people. Maura has obviously taken part in the show herself and knows it inside out so could easily relate to contestants and what they are going through.
“It’s one of the best gigs in showbiz, with a plum six-figure salary and frequent trips to sunny Majorca, so there are plenty of people hungry for the role.
“Contracts for the job are annual and are renegotiated each series.”
Up-and-coming Radio 1 host Arielle Free could be in the mix for helping out with weekly spin-off show Aftersun, after flexing her skills for several years hosting the official Love Island podcast with 2017 winner Kem Cetinay.
A spokesman for ITV said: “Laura has done a fantastic job at the helm of the show this year and no discussions have yet taken place with regard to the next series.”
Laura, whose hubby Iain Stirling provides the comic voiceover commentary for the show, reunites with the finalists on Sunday to film Love Island’s reunion special, marking the end of this year’s run of the series.
Alesha’s bright fuchsia
ALESHA Dixon looked pretty in pink as she attended the British LGBT Awards in London.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge, sporting an eye-catching fuchsia blazer and skirt, revealed that she can’t wait to start filming next year, after the show was forced to take a break from filming due to Covid regulations.
She said: “January can’t come soon enough, it’s going to be so much fun – it’s going to be bigger and better than ever.”
It comes as we can reveal BGT boss Simon Cowell is upping the ante by letting the winner perform at his upcoming Las Vegas stage show.
A source said: “Simon wants to make the competition more exciting so this added prize is a real bonus.”
We can’t wait for our review tickets.
TOWIE Georgia’s got it figured
TOWIE star Georgia Kousoulou has hit back at critics who piled pressure on her to “bounce back” into shape after giving birth to her son.
Georgia and co-star boyfriend Tommy Mallet welcomed little Brody in May and have filmed new ITV2 show Baby Steps, which begins on Friday.
And she told how she is determined to spread the word that new mums should not beat themselves up for not instantly regaining a toned midriff.
She told us: “When I was pregnant, all I kept hearing was, ‘You’re going to bounce back’. And then when it doesn’t happen, it’s really damaging.
“I looked in the mirror and thought, ‘That’s not my body’. It’s the weirdest feeling. It took me a while to get my head around it.
“But why would you bounce back after delivering a human being? I didn’t have a flat belly before I got pregnant, and it’s taken me nine months to grow this human.
“Why do I expect to have an operation and have a flat belly? That’s not normal.
“I don’t know why society still puts that pressure on mothers.”
Hats off to Georgia for telling it like it is.
