14 June 2023 , 08:03
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Maya Jama has defended this year’s “elite” season of Love Island after complaints claiming “nobody is watching”.
The 28-year-old made her debut as host of the ITV2 dating show when series 10 launched late last month, and has been a huge hit with viewers and Islanders.
Love Island has been plagued by rumours of dwindling audiences in recent years, but it was reported that the recent launch show attracted more than three million fans across all devices - including ITV ’s streaming service ITVX - which was the biggest 16-24 audience on any channel since the World Cup in 2022.
Maya took to social media to blast the haters, and shared an article from the Bristol Post which detailed the incredible viewing figures.
Maya fired back at claims over the show's audience figures (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)“The papers were so quick to say viewers are low but the honeys are watching online on @ITVX this season is ELITE thankyou very much,” she tweeted.
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Her supportive fans took to the comments to share their delight at the huge success of her Love Island debut.
“This season honestly has kicked off Amazingly! Great cast with loveable people and villains, great twists and so far great bombshells! Can’t wait to see what else happens!” one wrote.
The first episode of the series also attracted the biggest digital audience of 2023 so far, as many fans are tuning into the channel’s streaming service to watch Love Island on their smartphones and other devices, rather than on TV.
According to figures released earlier this month by ITV, Love Island has been streamed almost 200 million times this year so far.
Back in 2019, the first episode of Love Island attracted more than 3.3 million viewers, but the show has not been able to reach that peak since.
Sadly, the show has been been hit by a number of tragedies after the deaths of former Islanders Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis in 2018 and 2019. Host Caroline Flack was found dead in her flat in 2020 at the age of 40.
ITV bosses enlisted Love Island: Aftersun host Laura Whitmore to host the main dating show in 2021, but she faced a barrage of criticism and stepped down from presenting duties last year.