Love Island is set to return to screens very soon with a new All Stars series. But when the show was launched, there was one very notable absence, host Maya Jama.
The Masked Singer judge didn’t attend the glitzy launch event due to illness, though she did confirm she’d still be going to South Africa and hosting the series.
Sharing a picture of herself on a plane getting ready for take off, Jama wrote on Instagram: “Used to spend this flight on the reds chatting away to the flight crew, but entering this year wholesome.
“Lol truthfully the flu came in last minute to kick my ass for the last 24hrs. Vitamin c’d up and praying the sun deletes it all, next stop,” she added alongside an emoji of the South African flag.
The launch event was hosted by Elizabeth Day, with Jama’s absence confirmed by a representative who said: “Maya is unfortunately unwell and wasn’t able to attend this morning’s launch event. She looks forward to the Love Island All Stars premiere on January 12th.”
ITV
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Love Island All Stars is returning very soon, with fan favourites from the last 10 years of the show coming back for another shot at finding love in the villa.
Among the contestants is Millie Court, who previously won the show with Liam Reardon.
“I feel the older I’ve got, I know myself a lot better,” she said about her return. “I’m a lot more comfortable in my own skin. When I was 24, I wasn’t so much. I am more confident this time. I feel like I know what I want. When it comes to coupling up, I’m going to be a bit more strict and make sure I pick properly.”
ITV
Series 10 winner Jess Harding is also making her return, saying: “Even though I ended up winning the series with Sammy, I felt like I had a bit of a rocky ride the first time and I feel like I’ve matured a lot more since.
“I was 22, now I’m 25. I feel like every situation I’ve been in since then has been a lesson in knowing what I want and don’t want. I really want to meet someone and settle down.”
Love Island All Stars will return for series 3 on Monday 12 January at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
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Catherine is an Evening News Editor at Digital Spy, and was the site’s News Editor between 2018 and 2024. Prior to that, she worked at OK! Online, and has interviewed a slew of celebrities across her career in entertainment news, including Tom Hanks, Cheryl and Noel Fielding. Catherine also has specialist knowledge in all things drag, interviewing a huge portion of RuPaul’s Drag Race stars, and getting her own drag makeover for Channel 4’s show Drag SOS.  LinkedIn
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