Inside the battle to replace Love Island’s Laura Whitmore – with Maya Jama and Vick Hope leading the race

MAYA Jama and Vick Hope are the front-runners to host Love Island after Laura ­Whitmore quit the role.

The presenters are said to be vying for the plum job on the ITV2 dating show, with producers keen on both.

Bristolian Maya, 28, and Geordie Vick, 32, both have backgrounds in radio but are seen as rising stars in the world of TV.

A telly insider said: “They’re viewed as two glamorous, fun figures who would also bring a slightly cooler edge to the format.

“Over the past three years they’ve both seen their careers go from strength to strength, and have the high profile to match that of the hit ITV show. It’s going to be a close call who ITV bosses will pick in the end.”

On Monday, Laura, 37, announced she was moving on from Love Island after three years.

She took over from Caroline Flack, 40, who died in 2020.

The Irish-born presenter said there were “certain elements of the show I’ve found very difficult”.

Mother-of-one Laura — married to the reality show’s narrator Iain Stirling — is also quitting as a ­presenter on BBC Radio 5, while panel show Celebrity Juice, on which she is a captain, has been axed.

She is due to appear in West End play 2:22: A Ghost Story.

Maya, who used to date Brit- winning rapper Stormzy, 29, rose to fame on Radio 1 and got a TV break as co-host of BBC1’s Peter Crouch: Save Our Summer.

Last year, she was picked to front Simon Cowell’s new ITV talent show, Walk the Line.

Meanwhile, rival Vick, who’s about to marry DJ Calvin Harris, 38, has also been a presenter for spin-off shows for The X Factor, The Voice UK and I’m A Celebrity.