Maya Jama sets the record straight on Love Island 'fix' rumours

Love Island host Maya Jama has hit back at claims producers are 'too involved' in what happens in the show. The ITV2 star, who is the face of the popular dating programme, claimed that the show is "real" but producers do step in to "encourage" the islanders to have specific talks with each other.

During her appearance on The Chunkz Show, she insisted she gets results about who gets dumped from the villa at the same time as all the other contestants. Maya admitted: "I've never said the wrong name, but there are cameras constantly around and they like the dramatic pauses.

READ MORE: Disney+ mega £1.99 monthly deal ends in days - here's how to get it

"There is a lot of me saying something and then it waits. It's funny with the new Islanders, where they're not used to me saying something and then pausing for ages and they're all looking around like 'is she frozen?'.

"I feel so awkward for them because they're just standing there in their little outfits." She went on to tell host Chunkz that the producers don't get involve but 'encourage' the stars to talk to each other.

"I don't know if it's illegal or what but they can't tell them what to do," Maya said. "The ’most they can do is encourage them to have a little chat, but it has to be real because it's reality.

"I do this technique where I don't let them tell me who's going until I'm stood in front of them in my ear because I don't want to stare at the person or give away."

She added: "Literally as I say it, I find out one second before anyone else." Meanwhile, fans recently had another complaint when it came to a fan-favourite challenge of the show.

After the recoupling came the Heart Rate Challenge but fans were left fuming when they realised an iconic part of the show had been changed. Instead of sitting around the firepit, the Islanders were sat in a row on chairs.

The Islanders were over the moon when Shakira read out a text that said: "Islanders, it’s time to get each others’ pulses racing in tonight’s Boys vs Girls challenge. #HeartthrobMode #BootyandBeats".

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, fans complained about the change. One said: "this might be the worst heart rate challenge in history… why are they sitting on wooden chairs."

Another responded: "Why the f**k are they in these chairs and not around the fire pit this show is losing it’s traditions."

"I just know trying to dance on them on those plastic chairs is so uncomfortable and awkward," as a fourth wrote: "I think I’m gonna die of cringe somehow them being on chairs makes this worse."

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Threads.

READ MORE: Pet owners rush to claim free flea treatment as UK heatwave sees pests rise