Nobody does drama like Enjoy Island — and in the show’s most recent iteration, Like Island Game titles, re-coupling is not the only thing islanders have to worry about. This time all-around, a starting solid of 12 admirer-preferred contestants from previous seasons aren’t just signing up to sunbathe and flirt they are taking part in intense challenges to establish their standing in the house (and ideally acquire $100,000)… though also sunbathing and flirting. Maya Jama, host of Appreciate Island U.K., is yet another common encounter on the new series, guiding the islanders via the treacherous globe of really like and online games. “You don’t get the money just for the reason that you locate appreciate right here,” Jama tells Elite Every day. “You really have to be tactical.”

According to Jama, longtime lovers are in for some really serious surprises with the new exhibit. The principal variance? On Really like Island Online games, “game player” is not a filthy term. “The challenge factor is taken very severely,” the 29-12 months-aged Bristol indigenous states. “There’s a lot of sneaky actions from islanders. A whole lot of tactical, nonloyal maneuvers.”

Jama can not reveal every single detail — like whether the Games will deliver back Adore Island’s initial prize structure, wherever a single person in the successful couple decides irrespective of whether to preserve the prize for by themselves or break up it evenly concerning them in the top test of like compared to greed — but she teases, “People absolutely toss every single other beneath the bus.”

Forward of the show’s Nov. 1 premiere on Peacock, Jama talks about internet hosting Enjoy Island Video games, the challenge of protecting her “poker face” amid the drama, and how she responds when contestants try to flip their flirty banter on her.

Elite Everyday: Snog, Marry, Pie: Like Island U.K., Adore Island Usa, Love Island Australia?

Maya Jama: Undertaking leading, 2nd, and 3rd put… I’d have to say Adore Island U.K. initially just for the reason that it was the first. I have been looking at it because the very first sequence. Nos. 2 and 3, it is complicated since I really like U.S. and Australia. Equally have had truly vital times. I’d just snog them both of those and no person dies or receives pied.

ED: For supporters of the original present, what do you assume will be the most shocking element of Like Island Game titles?

MJ: As a fan myself, the most astonishing component is how challenging the challenges and online games basically are. Heading into it, I was assuming that they’d be Love Island-esque online games: not also tricky, lighthearted, a large amount of kissing. But there are some seriously tough kinds where by you have to use your total power. I couldn’t do a lot of them. I would be wiped out straight away. Considering the islanders are not gladiators or athletes, they did extraordinary.

ED: Will there still be a Hideaway suite and Casa Amor?

MJ: I’m not guaranteed I can reveal that, but I will say it is the very same villa in Fiji wherever the U.S. exhibit is filmed, so a good deal of these capabilities [carry over]. But every single time, Like Island arrives again bigger, far better, and much more intense. So the Online games have some additional pizzazz.

ED: From what followers see, you maintain a straight face in even the most dramatic moments, like the very first re-coupling just after Casa Amor. Are there any moments you’ve pretty much damaged character as host?

MJ: I usually say it is a very good matter the demonstrate is not dwell for the reason that I get so invested in the islanders. So, when the drama transpires or I see them heartbroken, it is definitely difficult to conceal my pure reaction — tears or laughter. One particular hundred percent, there have been a couple of moments during the sequence wherever I’ve felt their thoughts and had to hold it in. I’ll just switch away from the digicam to come to feel my feels, and then I’m back again to poker confront to deliver the drama.

If I could, I would be adding a good deal more responses like “Leave that man. Get with that woman. Really don’t do this. Really don’t do that.”

ED: In these intensive moments, do you ever desire you could convey to the islanders how you definitely feel?

MJ: You check out your most effective to keep it as professional as feasible, but I’m only human, and I’m a similar age to most of them, so I’m usually wishing I could chat to them. On the U.K. model, we do a stay exhibit every Sunday, so I get to satisfy them suitable just after they depart the villa, and we have a chat about everything that occurred.

In the villa, you do not get significantly one particular-on-a single time with any of the islanders, so I have to keep it down. If I could, I would be incorporating a ton more responses like “Leave that man. Get with that lady. Never do this. Never do that.” But we have bought to allow them have their have working experience.

ED: Is it challenging to continue to be neutral for the humorous moments as nicely? In Episode 1 of Adore Island Video games, I was cracking up at the to start with challenge the place one contestant is meant to operate by a wall, but bounces off of it in its place.

MJ: I was dying at that. That was the initially working day, and even then I was pondering, “Hang on a moment.” These worries glance really exciting, but you can imagine working with a wig on, bouncing as a result of partitions, and attempting to trench through seaweed. It is tricky but hilarious.

ED: Which contestants ended up you most energized to see arrive again to Really like Island?

MJ: For the reason that I have viewed each individual single collection of U.K., seeing Jack Fowler [from Season 4] arrive back again was remarkable. He was on this sort of a prolonged time in the past, and he’s developed up given that then. Curtis Pritchard [from Season 5], much too. We ended up in a position to see their journeys outdoors the villa, and now they’ve bought a next probability at appreciate. It is good to see what they’ve uncovered and how they’ve matured or not.

ED: I know supporters had been amazed to see Scott van-der-Sluis coming again to Enjoy Island again so before long right after becoming on the U.K. and U.S. demonstrates. Have been you?

ED: I was shocked. He was on my series only a minute ago [on Season 10], so you ignore that he’s been just about everywhere else. But if provided the chance, most people would do it all over again. He was just creating the most of it. It’s a reflection of genuine lifestyle, way too, is not it? Often enjoy does not function the to start with or next time, so probably it will the 3rd.

ED: What relationship advice would you give to the contestants going on Adore Island Game titles?

MJ: Consider smart and maintain your playing cards close to your upper body.

ED: Is that diverse than what you’d convey to men and women going on the initial present?

MJ: Yes, on Appreciate Island OG, I would say to just go for it. Appreciate Island is where by you obtain appreciate. It’s a rare problem, so throw everything at it and hope for the ideal. But for the Game titles, I assume you require to be extra tactical.

ED: If you were at any time to go on Enjoy Island Video games, would you have a “tactical” technique?

MJ: I would team up with somebody who seems to be like they’re very good at the difficulties and hope that we’d develop a fantastic rapport. I would not really be concentrated on romance due to the fact feelings can get in the way of your focus. So I’d go in there with a video game plan and hope that my heart doesn’t get pulled to items.

ED: I enjoy how cutthroat that is.

MJ: I know, heartless. But I truly feel like this form of situation only comes close to on a Like Island activity display, so you may well as perfectly go for it.

ED: My buddies and I are always stating that you’re virtually too very hot to host the exhibit. You’re mainly certain to change the guys’ heads. Has that at any time took place to you, the place a contestant designed a shift for the duration of the demonstrate?

MJ: They really do not fully go for it. It takes place the most on Day A person due to the fact they have not coupled up nevertheless. The boys will make some jokes and have tiny a single-liners. But most of it is really lighthearted things. I do not experience like they’d at any time seriously go for it, but there are absolutely minimal opinions driving the scenes.

ED: What’s your response when that happens?

MJ: I would say, “I’m not offered. Very best get back again to concentrating.” I have to go into headmistress method, fundamentally.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.