Maura Higgins breaks silence on Pete Wicks relationship ahead of I'm A Celeb debut

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Former Love Island sensation Maura Higgins has shed some light on the swirling rumours about her and Pete Wicks as she gears up for her jungle adventure.

The Irish beauty, who will will make her grand entrance to the camp later this week, is reportedly romantically involved with the Strictly heartthrob Pete Wicks, following sightings of the duo sharing a smooch at the Pride of Britain Awards last month. Querying if she has been out on a date with Pete, she answered with a tease: "I mean, I've been on a date with many people."

Yet, she's quick to downplay the buzz around her love life. "I'm not [dating]. Where have you heard that? I date but I'm very much single," she insists.

Maura expressed that she finds the fascination with her romantic escapades quite dull. "Honestly, I just think the interest in my dating life is so boring. People go on dates. Like everyone goes on dates, but then it suddenly becomes that I am in a relationship with this person, or that person."

Before boarding her flight to Australia, Maura indulged in a lavish send-off in Las Vegas, and it seems she's still recovering from the festivities. "Honestly, I'm not good....I feel like I'm in The Hangover, I've even got the shakes," she chuckles, reports the Mirror.

Disoriented by jet lag, she admits, "I have no clue what time it is, I don't know where I am. In fact, I've done the opposite of preparing myself [for the jungle]. I've tried not to think about it, because when I think about it, I get so much anxiety."

Maura's unconventional pre-Jungle preparation can be excused. She will be only the second Love Islander, following Olivia Attwood, to feature on the ITV show tomorrow and is committed to representing past contestants of the show.

"I just don't want to let people down, because everyone's been DMing me, saying 'Oh my God, I hope you're doing the show.'" she elaborates. "I don't want to back out of the trials and be the biggest wimp in the camp."

Maura is looking forward to the show's more natural approach, contrasting with Love Island's glammed-up style. "I've not even got my brows done...I've not done anything," she reveals.

"I cannot wait to just not have to get up and put makeup on and care about it, because it's not that type of show. Like, you're not really in there to look good, are you? ".

She's also keen on the idea of a digital detox. "I never care about my phone really. Like, even on Love Island, a lot of the Islanders were complaining about missing their phone. I was like, 'I'm loving not having my phone.'"

ITV chiefs are likely eager to see how her arrival shakes things up in the camp, potentially sparking drama. But Maura feels optimistic about integrating well and is particularly excited to chat with Coleen Rooney about the Wagatha Christie saga.

"I want to talk to her about that....I'm bit nosy like that," she confesses. "I would do the exact same and put up something on my story and just have certain people view it to catch that person out. That is the way my brain would work".

I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! airs from 9pm ITV1 and ITVX

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