Moment I’m A Celeb star Maura Higgins reunites with axed star Dean as she arrives back at hotel from camp
IRISH beauty Maura Higgins was booted out of the Australian jungle last night.
After her eviction, the Love Island star headed back to civilisation – and a joyous reunion with her loved ones and former jungle campmates.
Looking fresh-faced, Maura emerged from her car at the Marriott Hotel still wearing her jungle attire.
She was Maura greeted by friends and family, as well as axed campmate Dean McCullough, who was second to be ditched from the jungle.
Maura, 34, was voted out of the jungle last night with fellow Irish campmate Barry McGuigan.
Barry was announced first – finishing in eighth place – with Love Island beauty Maura landing in seventh spot.
After making her way across the bridge to meet with Ant and Dec, Maura revealed she was “wild” that there hadn’t really been any arguments this year in camp.
During her exit interview, Maura also spoke about how she was “really happy” to be out of the jungle, after she entered camp late with Reverend Richard Coles.
She told the hosts: “I’m really happy.
“I said it last night, I said it this morning, I was like ‘It’s my time,’ I had a gut feeling and my gut feeling is never wrong!”
She then lifted the lid on who she wanted to win this year’s series, with her quick to give an answer.
FATHER RICHARD FOR THE WIN
Maura said: “I love every single one of them, I want Father Richard to win! He would not expect it.”
Last night’s two evicted celebs followed Jane Moore, Dean McCullough, Tulisa Contostavlos, and Melvin Odoom out of camp.
Six celebrities remain, with them set to battle it out to be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle over the weekend.
This comes as evicted star Maura eases herself back into her day-to-day life, and likely reconnects with Pete Wicks amid their ongoing romance.
PETE WICKS ROMANCE
Maura spoke about Pete briefly while in the jungle, with her saying “I dunno” when pressed about the exclusivity of their relationship by a fellow campmate.
Chatting to her campmates, including Rev Coles, Maura gushed: “It does (feel different this time), but then is it because we’ve known each other for a long time?”
With a smile, she added: “He’s not an a**hole.”
In another episode, Maura chatted about Pete again, but this time to podcaster GK Barry while they sat down by the creek.
Maura said: “I get it in a sense because I know I was on a dating show, but it was five years ago.”
Remaining tight-lipped about her relationship with Pete, she added: “You know more than me!
Who has won I'm A Celebrity?
I'm A Celebrity first hit our screens in 2002.
Since then, it has aired every year – including twice in 2004.
The show even relocated to Wales during Covid in 2020 and 2021.
Here’s who has been crowned King or Queen of the Jungle – or in some cases, Castle.
2002 – Tony Blackburn
2003 – Phil Tufnell
2004 – Kerry Katona
2004 – Joe Pasquale
2005 – Carol Thatcher
2006 – Matt Willis
2007 – Christopher Biggins
2008 – Joe Swash
2009 – Gino D’Acampo
2010 – Stacey Solomon
2011 – Dougie Poynter
2012 – Charlie Brooks
2013 – Kian Egan
2014 – Carl Fogarty
2015 – Vicky Pattison
2016 – Scarlett Moffatt
2017 – Georgia Toffolo
2018 – Harry Redknapp
2019 – Jacqueline Jossa
2020 – Giovanna Fletcher
2021 – Danny Miller
2022 – Jill Scott
2023 – Sam Thompson
“No, I’m single. People can date and not be in a relationship and take things slow.
“What’s the point in getting them involved too soon, when you just don’t know where it’s gonna go, you know?”
GK, whose real name is Grace, explained she tried to keep her relationship with her footballer girlfriend Ella Rutherford under wraps.
PAPPED WHILE LOCKING LIPS
Then, Maura weighed in with: “Well we’ve already been papped, tongues down each other’s necks and we had no idea,” in reference to her and Pete.
She added: “The funniest part was I had a vape in one hand and a cigarette in the other, living my best life.”
Maura then admitted any man she does bed will get discussed in great detail with her mum.
She explained: “I talk to my mum about… I mean if I slept with a guy, my mum will ask me, ‘Well, what was he like in the bed?’ and she will get every gory detail.”
Maura’s comments follow months of speculation about her relationship with Pete, as first revealed by The Sun.