Maya Jama is said to have landed another huge job on ITV as she replaces a pop star.
The Love Island host has reportedly landed a spot on the panel of the Masked Singer. She will take over from Rita Ora, who is said to have quit the show to make a film. The Singer will also move over to the American version of the hit guessing game show, according to reports.
It will be Maya's first role on a prime time ITV1 show, following her huge success as Love Island presenter after taking over from Laura Whittmore last year. The Masked Singer is one of ITV's top Saturday night shows and attracts up to seven million viewers. “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. “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 had been a hit on the ITV show since it launched back in 2020 with Joel Dommett has host. She starred alongside Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall and Mo Gilligan. However, guest stars filled her spot in recent seasons as the likes of Olly Murs, Lenny Henry, Jennifer Saunders and Lorraine Kelly stepped in.
The pop star reportedly has a huge film in the works. She has already made an appearance on the Masked Singer US as she filled in for Nicole Scherzinger. The UK show is typically filmed from September to October and airs the following January. Maya's Love Island filming usually takes place from May to August.
Rita tied the know with director Taika Waititi in 2022. Recently chatting on the 'Table Manners' podcast, she confessed to hosts Jessie and Lennie Ware that her pals are green with envy over her relationship. She said: "A lot of people have called me saying that they are very jealous of me about my husband. I think it's because it's what you see, What he's like is what he's like.
"[We laugh] all the time. It's just really nice to be able to be with someone who makes you feel like it's not a job and it's sort of like an existence...not that my past relationships felt like jobs, but it felt like I was responsible to do things in the relationship. It was like 'Do you want to go have dinner?' It was making the effort, and I feel like relationships you shouldn't have to think really about them. They just happen, and this one's just really happened. It's nice, it's natural. It's great."
ITV declined to comment. The Mirror has contacted Rita and Maya's representatives for comment.
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