So the line-up for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here 2024 has officially been confirmed and it seems that the rumours were pretty spot with GK Barry, Oti Mabuse and Danny Jones among the stellar list of names set to enter the iconic jungle. One surprising absence from the list? Love Island’s Maura Higgins.
Rumours had been swirling that the reality star was entering the jungle with fans excited that she would be bringing her hilarious and sassy personality to camp. Alas, it appears our hopes have been dashed... or have they?
Is Maura Higgins going on I'm A Celeb?
According to reports, Maura could still be heading into the I’m A Celeb jungle this year after all, as one of two surprise arrivals to camp alongside Reverend Richard Coles.
A source has said of the 33 year old, ‘With Tommy Fury pulling out it gave show bosses the opportunity to look at other Love Island stars and Maura stood out as the perfect candidate.
‘She'll bringing a bit of glamour to the jungle and make a brilliant campmate because she's got a great sense of humour and is bound to get on with everyone.’
Should the rumours be true, upon entering camp, Maura Higgins will be reunited with boxing legend Barry McGuigan who is the father of her ex-boyfriend, Shane McGuigan.
Maura entered the Love Island villa in 2019 (after her relationship with Shane ended) for the fifth series of the show, eventually leaving with boyfriend Curtis Pritchard who she went on to date for eight months. The pair split in 2020 amid cheating rumours on Curtis’ part (which he strongly denies) around the time that Maura was on Dancing on Ice for series 12.
More recently, Maura – who is now the host of Love Island USA’s Aftersun - has been linked to Strictly Come Dancing’s Pete Wicks after the pair were spotted kissing at a restaurant in London back in August. Their relationship was eventually confirmed last month and last night Maura and Pete enjoyed a final date night ahead of Maura’s I’m A Celeb stint – seeing pianist Ludovico Einaudi at the London Palladium.
With a reported net worth of £3.2million, Maura’s current negotiated fee for I’m A Celeb is unknown but it’s expected to be significantly less than Coleen Rooney’s reported £1.5million – the highest fee in I’m A Celeb history. Fellow _Love Island_er Olivia Attwood allegedly received £125,000 for her incredibly brief stint in the jungle last year so Maura’s fee is expected to be more in that ballpark.
Daisy Hall is a News and Entertainment writer on Grazia, specialising in TV and film meaning that you can count on Daisy for the latest (and best) recommendations.