I’m a Celebrity‘s new campmate is Love Island’s Maura Higgins but she isn’t looking for romance in the jungle.
Reality worlds have collided as people suspect she is dating Pete Wicks and they were last seen together on a night out at the London Palladium to see pianist Ludovico Einaudi — the week before she headed to the I’m a Celebrity jungle. They maintain that they are “great friends”.
She has said she is going into the jungle as a single woman and she makes her entrance on Thursday. In between spending time with Wicks and the jungle, Higgins was in Las Vegas.
Read more: I’m A Celebrity 2024 line-up in full as two late arrivals join show
From Las Vegas Casinos to Dingo Dollars, the 33-year-old has been living the life of luxury in her final days before jungle life.
She says: “I have probably been doing the worst thing by loading up on all my favourite foods, drinking as much red wine as I can and eating as much pasta. I probably should have weaned myself off of things, but that’s not how my brain works!”
She heads into camp alongside Reverend Richard Cole’s who has a big jungle fear. For Higgins, she’s feeling scared of going into the jungle late.
“It is quite scary going in later,” she says. “They have all met and got to know each other. It’s never easy being the newbie, but I am not a shy person, so I feel like I will be fine. It will be nice to bring some energy to the camp.”
Higgins is rumoured to be dating close friend Pete Wicks, who is starring on Strictly. They have been seen kissing but both parties insist they are good friends.
Falling in love in the jungle — like Katie Price and Peter Andre in 2004 — is not part of the plan.
She says: “I am single at the moment, but honestly no-one is going to fancy me in the jungle. Trust me!”
“The only reality show I have done is Love Island, which is based around finding love and talking about relationships,” she adds. “This is my chance to show my vulnerable side and talk about work, rather than boys.”
Higgins made her name on the 2019 Love Island series; the same year that starred Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury who split in August after meeting on the ITV show.
Higgins dated Cuisine Pritchard on the series after he dumped Amy Hart but it didn’t work out. After the show, the Irish star had a romance with Love Island star Chris Taylor.
I’m a Celebrity is the reality show that has always had her heart.
“This is the only TV show I have ever wanted to do and it’s a real pinch me moment,” says the reality TV star.
“I am ready to step outside my comfort zone. I hope I do make myself proud and I am both excited but also very nervous, because I am scared of absolutely everything. But I have watched this show for years and it will be nice to get to know Ant & Dec, who I have met on the red carpet before.”
After finding fame on the franchise, she has now dabbled as a social host for the US series and the global spin off Love Island Games.
I’m a Celebrity is worlds away from the fake tan and full face of makeup we see on Love Island, the show that made her famous.
Prepare to see Higgins as we’ve never been see before and she can’t wait to strip back her ultra glamorous looks.
She says: “It will be nice to strip back. I love my fake tan but I am excited to be without it. My skin is going to be flawless. It really is a detox and I am excited to have a phone detox too.”
