LAURA Whitmore has headed home to Ireland for the final time before heading to South Africa to present Love Island.
The 34-year-old presenter will host the first series of Winter Love Island – taking over from Caroline Flack after she was arrested and charged with assault following a bust-up at her home.
ITV announced Laura – who dates Love Island voiceover Iain Stirling – had been picked to take on the coveted job when the show kicks off in South Africa on the 12th of January.
Today, she got into the Love Island spirit as she wore a Christmas jumper with the show’s famous catchphrase that reads: “It is what it is”.
Taking a stroll along Bray Seafront in County Wicklow she wrote on Instagram: “It is what it is…jumper in aid of@savethechildren scroll for Mick giving his best side eye. Just waiting for the day dogs allowed in the villa#doonewinter.”
Caroline Flack ‘feels trapped in the UK’ as she can’t communicate with her boyfriend, Lewis Burton
Meanwhile, The Sun reported that Laura’s predecessor Caroline has flown to Los Angeles to clear her head after appearing in court last Monday charged with common assault against boyfriend Lewis Burton.
Landing in the States yesterday, the former Love Island host plans to see in the New Year with long hikes and a period of reflection before she is due back in court in March.
A source said: Caroline feels trapped in the UK. She cant see or communicate with Lewis but she also doesnt want to return to her flat because her every move is documented by photographers.”
Last week, Laura joked her “pre Love Island diet is going well” as she tucked into chips and curry sauce in Edinburgh today.
She spent the weekend in the Scottish capital and shared a photo of her bag of chips covered in sauce on Instagram.
The Irish star also shared screen grabs from friends who had been congratulating her on taking over Love Island from Caroline Flack.
Paris Hilton contacted the presenter, writing over a photo of them together: “Huge huge huge congrats to the new Love Island host @thewhitmore, v well deserved! Let’s go”
In another snap, Laura trolled a Twitter user called David who had tweeted “if I see another f*****g photo of Laura Whitmore I’ll throw up”.
She replied to the post with a hilarious selfie, showing off her double chin, and wrote: “Someone get Andrew a sick bucket”.
Caroline Flack quit Love Island last week and told fans she’s glad it’s Laura taking over.
Taking to her Instagram Stories, Caroline said: “I’m glad it’s Laura… she loves the show as much as I do…
“Again… thank you for your continuous messages of support… it’s a really rough time…
“But I’m doing all I can to keep my head above water and sort this all out…”
Earlier last week The Sun revealed that Laura had been locked in meetings with ITV and was favourite to take over the job as host from her close friend.
Caroline announced she was standing down as Love Island host after being charged with assault.
Police were called to Caroline’s housein Islington, North London, where she lives with 6ft 4in partnerLewis.
Sources say tennis player and model Lewis, 27, called 999 himself after a row erupted between the pair.
He was not seriously injured, but The Sun can revealCaroline later needed hospital treatment after accidentally cutting herself on broken glass during the incident.
Lewis Burton, outside court, said he never wanted to press charges against Caroline and has said she did not hit him with a lamp
Caroline has been trying to sell her North London pad for more than a year.
It is where the alleged attack on Lewis in the early hours of December 12 took place.
In court, Caroline denied the prosecutions claim she hit Lewis with a lamp.
