Love Island star Maura Higgins has become the latest in a long line of celebs to confess to having a crush on Normal People actor Paul Mescal, AKA Connell Waldron. The Irish chap appears to have gained quite the celebrity following of late, with A-Listers including Killing Eve's Jodie Comer, Sia and even Kourtney Kardashian expressing their love for him. We are all obsessed, ok.
The Irish reality star revealed that she started watching the hit BBC show after one of her best friends from Ireland recommended it to her. She then admitted to MailOnline that she watched the whole series in a day after finding Paul 'so fit' and believing that they’d be the perfect couple.
Maura’s comments come just days after Paul revealed he's currently single (DEEP BREATHS) and excited to get back onto the dating scene as lockdown lifts.
He also detailed a major turn-off, in case you're hoping to be in with a shot.
Paul made it clear that potential dates shouldn't confuse him with his on-screen character, stating 'maybe what’s sexy about Connell is that he’s kind of classic back footed, aloof, smart. I’m definitely not back footed or aloof, and I’m not as smart as he is.' (Oh, we don't believe you for a second.)
Paul also revealed that he’d been using dating apps including Hinge since his move to London, before deciding that he didn’t think much to them.With celebs like Maura and Kourtney K throwing their hats in the ring, we don’t think he’ll have any trouble finding a date once lockdown is over.
On the other hand, Maura’s recently been linked to fellow Love Islander, Chris Taylor, after supposedly spending the weekend together. Adding fuel to the already-very-well-lit fire, the pair posted matching Instagram photos recently.
After Maura shared a photo of her wearing a Minnie Mouse dressing gown, captioned 'Just need to find a Mickey', Chris posted a similar image of him wearing a Mickey Mouse version with the caption 'Just need to find a Minnie'.
The pair seem to enjoy teasing their fans, the majority of whom want them to end up together. Even their co-star, Joanna Chimonides, thinks that they would make 'the most perfect couple'. Sort it out, yeah?
READ MORE: Celebrities Are Just As Obsessed With Normal People As You Are
Celebrities Who Love Normal People
1 of 6Katy Perry
Katy is about to give birth, but she's watching Normal People (we don't know if she's watching it with or without Orlando). She tweeted: 'The show should be renamed: "We Have Much More Sex Than NORMAL PEOPLE".' She does kind of have a point, we guess.
2 of 6James Corden
We might know him as Smithy in Gavin and Stacey, but James is undoubtedly one of the most famous people in America. And he had a glowing review of the series. He could not have been more complimentary if he tried. 'Underplaying the impact of Normal People on @hulu has had on me for just a moment. I honestly think it may have changed my life,' he wrote. '[It's] the best show I've watched in so long. [Daisy Edgar Jones] and [Paul Mescal] are extraordinary. It's ALL extraordinary.' They even appeared on The Late, Late Show with him.
3 of 6Andrew Lloyd Webber
OK, so this one was slightly unexpected. Taking to Twitter, Andrew wrote: '@mescal_paul Hi Paul! I heard that you are part of the Phantom alumni, fancy a singalong? – ALW.' Obviously Andrew has watched the clip of Paul singing in a 2012 stage production of Phantom Of The Opera.
4 of 6Jodie Comer
Villanelle herself is a fan of the series, and even though Paul and Daisy have had praise from reams of rich and famous people, this is the one that mattered the most to Daisy. Speaking on Elizabeth Day's How To Fail podcast, she said, '[The celebrity reaction] is something that's been a bit bonkers. Jodie Comer, she did a post about it and that for me was like 'what?!' because I love [her] and think she's incredible, and it's just amazing.'
5 of 6Kourtney Kardashian
America's first family are also a fan of the show, as Kourtney echoed most of our thoughts when she tweeted, 'Need a season two @normalpeople.'
6 of 6Gemma Collins
Loads and loads of admiring fans have been writing complimentary (or just plain thirsty) comments on Paul's Instagram posts, but the GC left a very wholesome comment. 'Loved you in Normal People!!! Fantastic.' Quite.