Maura Higgins has responded to rumours she’s set to take over from Laura Whitmore as the host of Love Island.
The Longford native, who shot to fame after appearing on the popular dating show back in 2019, made her presenting debut on RTÉ’s Glow Up Ireland last year.
According to reports, ITV bosses were looking at revamping Love Island this summer, and Maura was linked to the presenting gig.
In a new interview with The Sun, Maura said: “These [Love Island] rumours have been going on for years.”
“There are always so many people on Twitter saying: ‘Oh, I’d love Maura to be the presenter,’ but people don’t understand that they loved me on Love Island because I was so outrageous – the stuff that I would come out with was so vile. If I’m presenting, I can’t do that. I would have a script.”
“I’m not going in there as ‘Outrageous Maura’ and to start ranting and raving. I’d be going in there to be a professional presenter and it would be completely different. I do think people are a bit shocked when they meet me because I do actually have a soft side.”
When asked if there has ever been a conversation about her potentially getting the Love Island presenting job, Maura replied: “No.”
The 31-year-old also admitted she wasn’t sure if she would accept the job if it was offered to her, explaining: “I see Laura getting s**t online. I don’t agree with people saying: ‘It’s not Caroline [Flack].’ She’s a different person and she’s very good at her job.”
“I don’t feel it’s fair to come online and say all that s**t. She’s a lovely person and nobody deserves that.”
Laura began hosting Love Island in 2020, during the winter edition of the show.
She returned as host for the 2021 series of the show, but visited the villa less frequently due to strict COVID restrictions.
Her husband Iain Stirling also works on the show as the narrator.
