Laura Whitmore quits hosting ‘Love Island’ as she found aspects of show ‘very difficult’

The host added in her announcement she would not front the next series, and said she hoped she did the ITV2 dating show’s late former presenter Caroline Flack “proud”.

It comes after Laura announced she is launching a new TV project, ‘Laura Whitmore Investigates’, and that she would be stepping into the West End theatre role of Jenny first played by Lily Allen in the hit ghost story ‘2:22’.

She said “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.

“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.”

Caroline presented ‘Love Island’ from 2015 to 2019 before taking her life in 2020 aged 40 two months after she had been charged with assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton at her then home in North London.

An ITV spokesperson said about Laura’s ‘Love Island’ exit: “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.”

Laura, who shares daughter Stevie Ré with ‘Love Island’ narrator husband Iain Stirling, 34, has come under attack during the latest series of the show for not appearing on air enough.

She was also mocked at the weekend for joking about this year’s contestant Tasha Ghouri’s lack of knowledge when it came to wine.

After speaking about her love of rosé on BBC One’s ‘Saturday Kitchen’, Laura said: “Also, Tasha on Love Island this year, she thought rosé wine was red white and white wine mixed together.”

She sarcastically added: “Which is apparently not how you make it.”

Wine expert Helen McGinn replied: “Well, I have to say Tasha’s not completely wrong,” prompting Laura to reply: “Oh! Go on… .”

Helen explained when it comes to Champagne “you are allowed to mix red and white wine to make rose, but only in Champagne in France”.

Again casting aspersions on Tasha’s wine knowledge, Laura asked: “Do you think Tasha thought that?”

Helen replied: “I love Tasha! I think Tasha knew all along.”

Viewers hit out that Laura’ joke had “backfired” and left her “eating humble pie”.

Last month, the presenter also departed her BBC Radio 5 Live show after four years.