Plus, what Maura said about her romance with Pete in the jungle
I’M A Celebrity… Unpacked co-host Sam Thompson has made a confession about Maura Higgins’ romance with his best pal.
2023 King of the Jungle Sam, is best friends with Pete Wicks – the former TOWIE star that Maura is rumoured to be dating.
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Sam Thompson interviewed Barry McGuigan and Maura Higgins on Unpacked last nightCredit: ITV
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Sam Thompson is best pals with Pete WicksCredit: instagram/@samthompsonuk
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Maura and Pete were spotted on a date earlier this yearCredit: Splash
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And now Sam has made a confession about Maura and Pete’s romance, with him seemingly overjoyed that the pair will likely take their relationship to the next level now she is out of the jungle.
Maura, 34, was voted out of the jungle last night with fellow Irish campmate Barry McGuigan, with the duo appearing on Unpacked after their exit.
“Maura, who did you miss the most in there?” Sam Thompson pressed in the final few minutes of the show.
Maura then responded with: “I missed so many,” before she was cut off.
“Just say Pete,” Sam exclaimed, leaving Maura with her mouth wide open.
“I missed my mammy,” Maura exclaimed, with Sam laughing and Barry also cracking up.
Maura then smirked and said: “Who are you on about?” in a coy way.
Sam then said: “I have been batting Joel off for days, being like ‘I don’t know who you’re talking about’.”
‘I CAN’T WAIT TO WELCOME YOU INTO THE FAMILY’
Maura downed her glass of champagne as a way to exit the conversation, leaving Sam taken aback and confessing: “Maura, do you know what? I love ya.
“And I can’t wait to welcome you into the family.”
Maura’s eyes went wide as she exclaimed: “Oh wow! Oh my God!”
“You have been absolutely brilliant,” Sam then concluded as Maura covered her face with her hat.
Maura spoke about Pete, who she is romantically linked to, briefly while in the jungle,
She said “I dunno” when pressed about the exclusivity of their relationship by a fellow campmate.
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
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?”
‘HE’S NOT AN A**HOLE’
She added: “He’s not an a**hole.”
In another episode, Maura chatted about Pete again, but this time to podcaster GK Barry.
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!
“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?”
Later, 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’s comments follow months of speculation about her relationship with Pete Wicks, as first revealed by The Sun.
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Maura left the jungle on Thursday nightCredit: Rex
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The brunette beauty shot to fame on Love IslandCredit: Rex
