I’m a Celeb viewers predict ‘awkward’ reunion between Maura Higgins and fellow campmate
Fans uncovered surprising connection between the ‘Love Island’ star and her new campmate
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.I’m a Celebrity… viewers are expecting something of an awkward encounter between Maura Higgins and her new campmate.
The latest season of the ITV series is well underway with late arrivals Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles entering the jungle on Thursday’s episode (21 November).
The Love Island star, 33, and priest, 62, are joining existing campmates including Coleen Rooney, GK Barry, Tulisa Contostavlos, Alan Halsall, and Oti Mabuse.
For now, Higgins and Coles have been kept mostly separate from the other stars, who are staying in the main camp. The latecomers have been assigned luxury accommodation in the misleadingly named “Jungle Junkyard”.
Viewers, though, are preparing for what could be an awkward encounter between Higgins and one of her fellow campmates after recalling a surprising connection between the two stars.
Higgins was romantically involved with Barry McGuigan’s son, Shane, before she appeared on Love Island in 2019.
Shane, 36, has followed in the footsteps of his dad and works as boxing coach in south west London, where he owns a gym. He has trained a number of up-and-coming boxers including Lee McGregor and Chantelle Cameron.
Higgins and Shane first met in 2018 at a David Haye vs Tony Bellew rematch at which the reality TV star was working as a ring girl and Shane was commentating for a radio show.
It’s not known how long the pair dated, but reports claim that they were a couple for about a year before calling it quits.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
They reportedly found it difficult to continue the relationship long-distance given that Higgins was living in Ireland at the time and Shane was in London.
Whether Higgins ever met Barry during their relationship isn’t known, though the pair are bound to address the situation when they finally meet on I’m a Celebrity…
The producers knowing full well that Maura used to date Barry’s son#imaceleb #imacelebrity pic.twitter.com/aW6c7TtTGf
— 𝚌𝚑𝚕𝚘𝚎 (@chlovictoria_x) November 20, 2024
Shane is now engaged to singer-songwriter Taylor West. The pair share two sons, Finley and Calean, who were born in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
In an earlier episode of I’m a Celeb, McGuigan opened up about the grief he experienced after the death of his daughter.
Asked whether he goes to church, the featherweight boxing legend said: “I used to go to church a lot but after my daughter… you know, not so much.”
“She had leukaemia, when I was making The Boxer with Daniel Day-Lewis, three weeks from the end I had to leave because she’d been diagnosed with leukaemia,” he recalled in tears.
“They thought she wasn’t going to get better but she fought back and she won it. She had two years of chemo.”
McGuigan’s only daughter Danika died in July 2019, aged 33. She recovered from leukaemia after being diagnosed at the age of 11, but she was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2019, and died within a month.
Hours after the moment aired on TV, Shane posted on Instagram to thank the campmates for “supporting” his father. “We appreciate it immensely,” he said.
New episodes of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! air on ITV1 and ITVX every night at 9pm.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments