By Jamie Brassington
Maya Jama has firmly dismissed claims that Love Island is excessively directed by producers. The presenter of the hit ITV dating programme maintained that while participants might be “encouraged” to converse, the choices and drama are genuine. On The Chunkz Show, the 29 year old host remarked: “It has to be real because it’s reality.” Maya, who stepped in as the face of the ITV2 romance series in 2023, spoke out against the rising suspicions among fans that producers are manipulating events from the shadows. READ MORE: New faces added to West Midlands’ most wanted list as detectives say ‘call 999 straightaway’ Get our local newsletters like Black Country News, MySolihull and MySuttonColdfield straight to your inbox Her remarks are set against a backdrop of persistent social media critique and allegations from some past contestants who argue that producer interference undermines the show’s genuineness. She elaborated on her role in announcing villa exits, noting she only discovers who gets the boot moments before sharing it live, stating: “Literally as I say it, I find out one second before anyone else.” While chatting on The Chunkz Show, Maya delved into the details of the production process and how she handles eliminations. She recounted: “I’ve never said the wrong name, but there are cameras constantly around and they like the dramatic pauses. “There is a lot of me saying something and then it waits. It’s funny with the new Islanders, where they’re not used to me saying something and then pausing for ages and they’re all looking around like ‘is she frozen?'”. Furthermore, she touched on the level of the production crew’s influence over the islanders’ interactions. Maya stated: “I don’t know if it’s illegal or what but they can’t tell them what to do,”. “The most they can do is encourage them to have a little chat.” Maya revealed she steers clear of knowing who gets the boot beforehand to keep things impartial, explaining: “I do this technique where I don’t let them tell me who’s going until I’m stood in front of them in my ear because I don’t want to stare at the person or give it away.” On another note, Love Island enthusiasts are up in arms over alterations to one of the series’ most awaited events – the Heart Rate Challenge. Ditching the classic firepit gathering, contestants found themselves perched on chairs for the task, sparking an outcry across social platforms. When Shakira, aged 24, got a message stating: “Islanders, it’s time to get each other’s pulses racing in tonight’s Boys vs Girls challenge. #HeartthrobMode #BootyandBeats,” the audience was less than thrilled with the new arrangement. A viewer vented on X, questioning: “This might be the worst Heart Rate Challenge in history… why are they sitting on wooden chairs?”. Another chimed in with dismay: “Why the f*** are they in these chairs and not around the fire pit? This show is losing its traditions.” One fan commented: “I just know trying to dance on them on those plastic chairs is so uncomfortable and awkward,” while someone else remarked: “I think I’m gonna die of cringe – somehow them being on chairs makes this worse.” As of now, ITV2 has remained silent amidst the backlash.