Maya Jama 'lands huge ITV job' as she replaces pop star on Masked Singer

Maya Jama is reportedly stepping into a major new role on ITV, and is said to be taking over from a well-known pop star. The current Love Island host is said to have secured a position on the panel of the Masked Singer, replacing Rita Ora who is believed to be leaving the show to pursue a film project.

Additionally, Ora is reportedly expected to join the American version of the popular guessing game show. It would mark Maya's debut on a prime time ITV1 programme, following her successful stint as the Love Island presenter, where she took the reins from Laura Whitmore last year.

The Masked Singer, one of ITV's flagship Saturday night programmes, boasts an audience of up to seven million viewers. "This is a huge deal for Maya, who's now one of telly's fastest rising stars, a source told The Sun.

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"It puts her in front of a huge Saturday night audience every week on a show watched by everyone from kids to pensioners. Up to now she's had a following which is very young due to Love Island, but signing for The Masked Singer would take her career into a whole new league."

Rita has been a fan favourite on the ITV show since its inception in 2020 with Joel Dommett as host, appearing alongside Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, and Mo Gilligan. However, her absence in recent seasons has seen guest stars such as Olly Murs, Lenny Henry, Jennifer Saunders, and Lorraine Kelly filling in.

The pop sensation is rumoured to have a blockbuster project in the pipeline, having already graced the Masked Singer US as a stand-in for Nicole Scherzinger. The UK version of the show is typically recorded from September to October and broadcast the following January, while Maya's Love Island commitments usually span from May to August.

ITV has chosen not to comment on the matter.