Love Island fans call for Maura Higgins or Ekin-Su to host after Laura Whitmore quits

Fans know exactly who they want to replace Laura Whitmore as the host of Love Island, after the presenter announced she would be stepping away from the job on Monday (22 August).

Laura, 37, took to social media to reveal that due to certain elements of the show, she would not be able to host the next series of Love Island.

"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," wrote Laura.

"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."

With Laura no longer host, many fans are turning their attention to who will be recruited to take the reins of the show instead. And they've got a pretty good idea of who they want, with many suggesting either Maura Higgins - Season 5 alumni - or even Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, who just won this year's series.

One person wrote: "WE WANT EKIN SU TO HOST!!"

And another said: "Omg wait having ekin su be the new host of #loveisland would be so iconic."

Meanwhile a third wrote: "This is my petition for Maura Higgins to take over as the new love island host."

And a fourth said: "Manifesting a Maura Higgins is the new #LoveIsland host announcement."

One person suggested a totally different format altogether, adding: "My petition for either Ekin-Su or Maura to host Love Island. BUT… but they also live in the Villa, they listen in and watch all the drama, they press with the hard questions, they give beach hut interviews."

The next season of Love Island will be the winter version of the show, set to begin in January and filmed in South Africa.

Speaking about Laura's departure from the show, ITV said it would continue to work with the presenter on other projects, and that it was 'grateful' for her input to the dating show, which she has presented since January 2020.

The channel said 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."