Maya Jama lands huge new primetime ITV job after pop superstar QUITS show to spend more time in the US
LOVE Island host Maya Jama is poised to join the panel of The Masked Singer as Rita Ora quits to make a film.
Singer Rita will now appear on the American version of the hit celeb singing contest.
Her spot on the panel will be filled by Maya, 29, in her first role on a prime time ITV1 show.
The Masked Singer, watched by up to seven million, is one of the top three entertainment shows on ITV along with Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain’s Got Talent.
A TV insider said yesterday: “This is a huge deal for Maya, who’s now one of telly’s fastest rising stars. 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.”
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Rita, 33, who wed New Zealand film director Taika Waititi, 48, two years ago, has been a hit on the show since it launched in 2020 with Joel Dommett as host.
She was constantly ribbed by fellow panelist Jonathan Ross for some of her crazy guesses — much to the delight of viewers and the amusement of the other panelists, Davina McCall and Mo Gilligan.
But with each series she seemed to be spending less time on the show, with guest stars popping in to fill her seat. They included Olly Murs, Lenny Henry, Jennifer Saunders and Lorraine Kelly.
An industry insider said: "Rita's got a huge film commitment this year, and so her team are in talks about schedules at the moment and trying to work it out."
Earlier this year Rita was on the panel of The Masked Singer US, filling in for Nicole Scherzinger who was in the London production of musical Sunset Boulevard.
Husband Taika is a big name in the States, directing Jojo Rabbit and the Thor movies for Marvel.
Meanwhile making The Masked Singer UK works for Maya, who’s dating grime artist Stormzy.
The show is usually filmed from September to October and the first episodes featuring her on the panel would air next January.
That means it doesn’t clash with Maya presenting Love Island which usually takes place from May to August. A spokeswoman for ITV declined to comment.