Love Island 2023: Indiyah Polack and MiC’s Sam Thompson to host podcast and join Maya Jama on Aftersun

Love Island fans have shared their excitement after it was revealed that former finalist Indiyah Polack and Made in Chelsea’s Sam Thompson will host the winter Love Island podcast and become regular Aftersun panelists.

Indiyah, 24, and Sam, 30, both from London, are set to weigh in on all the gossip and drama surrounding the new set of islanders entering the South African villa on ITV’s Love Island: The Morning After podcast.

The reality TV stars will also be joining new Love Island host Maya Jama as regular Aftersun panellists throughout the winter series.

Fans have shared their excitement across social media as they also eagerly anticipate the reveal of the cast line up.

Indiyah, who made it to the finals of the summer 2022 series alongside Dami Hope, has been busy working with Boots and PrettyLittleThing since leaving the villa.

She took to Instagram to announce to her over 1 million followers that she will be working alongside Sam on the winter series podcast with a video showing them doing a quiz together.

Captioning the video, Indiyah wrote: “WHAT A WAY TO START THE YEAR✨!!! Super excited to announce that I’m the newest Love Island Podcast host with the amazing @samthompsonuk not only that but an Aftersun panellist alongside @mayajama and Sam 💗 honestly such a pinch me moment to be back on your screens again!!! Ready for the ride and all the drama 🎭 🌴💕”

The post received over 65,000 likes and a flood of comments, while Sam, who describes himself as a “super fan” of the show, also shared the clip with his own followers and thanked the Love Island team for giving him the opportunity to take part.

Maya Jama showed her support for the duo, commenting: “Let’s gooo 🔥😍”

One fan wrote: “Congratulations Indiyah 🎉 you are so perfect for this. You guys are a great team! Love yous! ❤️💋”

Another said: “OMG!!! I’m soo proud. Indi you have really broken barriers 😭👏🏾”

A third added: “Yessssss 🔥🔥🔥🔥 finally hosts that make you wanna watch”

Indiyah and Sam introduced themselves as the podcast hosts in a teaser clip announcing that the reality TV series will debut on Monday 16th January.

The hit broadcast has previously been hosted by 2017 Love Island winner Kem Cetinay and DJ Arielle Free.

Indiyah admitted to Sam, who is dating former Islander Zara McDermott, that she doesn’t regularly watch Made in Chelsea but recognised him from a viral clip.

“I decided to Google you,” Indiyah said.

“This will let people know that you aren’t just a random guy because when I found this out I was like “it’s him” and he is the “you can, you can, you can do it”.

“I didn’t realise that you were on Made in Chelsea with Zara and you guys had that little bus up on the bench and it was very, very iconic. When I saw that I was like wow.”

Sam responded: “That’s so funny. It’s going to sound bad because I also did research on you. I wish I had gone more savage now.

“All I’ve got is you went on five trips in two months. Basically you live a great life. Oh no, wow. Sam cries on a park bench while Indiyah goes to Iceland.”

The duo encouraged listeners to subscribe to the podcast as they teased that they will be playing games and welcoming guests.

Speaking about the new hosts, Mike Spencer who is Creative Director at Lifted Entertainment, said: “I can’t wait to hear what Indiyah and Sam will bring to both the podcast this year and Aftersun, alongside our fantastic new host Maya Jama.

“Sam and Indiyah have passion for the show, natural chemistry and all the chat so you can guarantee to be entertained every day!”