Who has Maura Higgins dated? Her romantic past before ‘kiss with Danny Jones’

I’m A Celebrity co-stars Maura Higgins and Danny Jones set tongues wagging with a ‘kiss’ at the Brits Universal afterparty.

The pair partied until the early hours and were captured appearing to share a moment at around 3am, with the pictures soon going viral.

McFly star Danny has addressed the scandal, sharing a statement on Instagram saying sorry to his wife Georgia Horsley and family for ‘putting them in this situation’.

It has since been claimed the couple – who wed in 2014 and share son Cooper, five – are ‘not together’ at the moment as Georgia is staying at a friend’s house while they work through their marriage.

Maura has yet to address the scandal, but sources informed Metro that the ordeal has hit her hard.

The Love Island star is single at the moment after some high-profile relationships…

Who has Maura Higgins most recently dated?

Maura has most recently dated former The Only Way is Essex star Pete Wicks.

They first became linked after claims that they shared a smooch at the Pride of Britain Awards afterparty in November. The pair were then snapped on a date the following week, cuddling and kissing out in public.

In an interview, she spoke of how she ‘instantly clicked’ with Pete, telling Married At First Sight expert Paul C Brunson on his We Need To Talk podcast that they get on ‘very well’.

‘He’s an amazing person,’ she said, without actually confirming a relationship.

‘We’re friends,’ she insisted. ‘We met very soon after me coming off the show [Love Island], and we just instantly clicked.’

While in the jungle at the end of last year, she also spoke about their bond – although she was careful to never mention him by name.

The TV personality explained to her campmates how she had been romantically involved with someone before entering the jungle – but didn’t yet know the ‘rules’ of their relationship.

Reverend Richard Coles and Dean McCullough quizzed the star over her mystery man, with the radio presenter asking: ‘Does it feel different this time?’

‘It does, but then is it because we’ve known each other for a long time,’ Love Island star Maura replied.

However, on Valentine’s Day, Maura confirmed things had cooled down by sharing a bunch of red roses with a card that read ‘To me, Love me.’

‘There have been a few clashes, and it was eventually agreed they were better off as friends,’ a source told MailOnline.

‘Those closest to them know it’s been a very on-and-off relationship, which is why they were so resistant to go public in the first place. They remain close and share a deep connection.’

Pete has since been pictured enjoying a night out with reality TV star Becca Edwards after sources claimed he was ‘relieved’ to have broken up with Maura amid her recent scandal.

‘This sort of attention is exactly what Pete doesn’t want,’ a source told OK! Magazine.

‘He’s seen this sort of media circus happen when he was on Towie and it’s not the sort of relationship he wants.’

They added: ‘It’s a shame because it will probably bring his guard back up and he just wants to find someone he can genuinely love.’

Maura Higgins’s past relationships

Before finding fame on Love Island, Maura was engaged to childhood sweetheart James Finnegan, who she met in school as a teenager.

Their relationship ended in 2017, after nine years of dating. Two years later, Maura joined the cast of the ITV dating show.

It was here that she met and dated Curtis Pritchard, during the show’s fifth season. The pair remained together for eight months after leaving the villa, before announcing their separation in March 2020.

Maura wrote on Instagram: ‘Curtis and I have made the decision to separate. We enjoyed a great experience from our time in the villa and want to thank everyone for supporting our relationship.

‘There is no easy way to get through a break-up and no bad feeling on either side. We tried to make it work but it wasn’t to be and I wish Curtis nothing but the best for the future.’

In November 2020, she began dating Love Island co-star Chris Taylor, announcing their new relationship with a photo on Instagram.

After splitting from Chris in 2021, Maura became linked with Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice. The pair confirmed the rumours that they were dating in July, sharing a series of pictures at the beach together.

‘I’m yours,’ Maura declared on Instagram, sharing a love heart emoji in the caption.

After a four-month romance, Maura and Giovanni split – and she removed all pictures of the Strictly star from her Instagram page.

In 2022, she sparked rumours of a relationship with another Towie star – Joey Essex – after they were pictured sharing a steamy kiss at that year’s Pride of Britain Awards.

When asked what had happened between them, Joey later told Heat Magazine: ‘I don’t know – I can’t even remember.’

By February the next year, Maura was enjoying a cheeky holiday romance in Mexico – sharing a series of selfies with American businessman Yisroel Solomon at a cosy beach bar.

In May 2023, she became linked with Hollywood stuntman Bobby Holland Hanton, who has doubled for Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Craig in a number of explosive action films.

Maura confirmed their relationship during an appearance on the RTE Late Late Show that year, telling host Patrick Kielty: ‘I am no more single. Very happy relationship.’

Not for long though – and the pair broke up in March 2024, after reportedly realising that their relationship had no future.

A version of this article was originally published on December 2, 2024.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE: I’m A Celebrity star awkwardly put on spot after Danny Jones’ wife ‘moves out’

MORE: Ex-England footballer John Fashanu arrested on suspicion of ‘serious crimes’ in Nigeria

MORE: Coleen Rooney ‘offers support’ to Danny Jones’ wife after Wayne Rooney scandals