You have to give it to ITV, this year's I'm A Celeb line-up TRULY slapped. It was giving versatility, it was giving budget, it was giving icons only, and naturally, the series as a whole just slapped because of it. Never in our wildest showbiz dreams did we ever think I'm A Celeb bosses would manage to get Coleen Rooney, Tulisa Contostavlos, Oti Mabuse and Maura Higgins all in the jungle together. Be still our hunny hearts.
Love Island 2019's Maura especially is someone we internally call a 'Closer queen', so whenher late inclusion was finally confirmed by ITV we let out a collective embarrassing squeal.
And then our first thought was, 'Ooo, maybe she'll finally confirm those Pete Wicks dating rumours round the campfire?'
ICYMI, Pete has been burning – well, lukewarming – up the dance floor on Strictly for the last few weeks, while obsessives like us have been speculating over whether he's dating his Strictly pro Jowita Przystał OR Love Island's Maura, as he's clearly grown close to both icons over the last few months. But, after Pete officially shot down those Jowita rumours, the Maura rumours are now looking slightly more likely.
After all, on top of Pete and Maura actually being spotted snogging over the summer, Maura appeared to confirm some sort of romance with Pete recently by admitting that she missed him and 'couldn't wait to see him'.
While speaking to Alison Hammond about her I'm A Celeb stint on This Morning last week, Alison quizzed Maura about Pete (cause icon), to which Maura responded, 'It didn't take it long to ask you that question did it?
"Do you know what, you forget about the cameras, I do like to keep things private.'
'I said I miss him, I do miss him...'
She then added (with a giggle), 'Like I miss all my friends and family.'
Speaking of Pete's relationships with both Jowita and Maura, a source recently told Closer, ‘For the first time in Pete’s life, he’s happy – but ironically he’s found the perfect woman in two places. Maura has really got him going – she’s fierce, sassy, puts him in his place and ticks all of his boxes.'
Now Maura is on her way back home to the UK and Pete's Strictly journey has come to an end, the couple are thought to be heading on holiday together to unwind. Another source recently told heat, 'They’ve decided that when things calm down, they will go away on holiday, so they can spend some quality time together. It will either be over Christmas, which would be really special, or in early January to kick off 2025.'
WATCH: Ever wondered how much the Strictly judges, pros and hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman get paid?
Ben Pulsford is a digital writer for Bauer Media, writing for both Closer online and heatworld. When he's not getting paid to gossip about Big Brother, Love Island and The Real Housewives of Cheshire, he's storming the London LGBTQ+ scene as drag queen, Beary Poppins. Both Ben and Beary are awaiting an invite to join The Real Housewives of Cheshire for series 18. The budget's not there, but the drama is 💅.