After Tommy Fury reportedly pulled out of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2024, it seems ITV has found another huge name to replace him.
Love Island queen Maura Higgins is now thought to be a firm favourite among bosses, who are eyeing her up for a trip Down Under in just a matter of weeks.
Irish reality star Maura rose to fame in 2019 when she made the final of the ITV2 dating show’s fifth series.
Coupled up with Curtis Pritchard, she finished in fourth place and became an overnight sensation, as viewers loved her fiery, no-nonsense attitude.
The 33-year-old has gone on to make many TV appearances since, from serving as an agony aunt on This Morning to a stint on Dancing On Ice, so she’s certainly no stranger to ITV execs.
According to The Sun, Maura could be heading to Australia next month after Tommy – who also appeared on Love Island 2019 – opted for the more lucrative offer of a boxing rematch against KSI over Bushtucker Trials with Ant and Dec.
An insider said: ‘With Tommy Fury pulling out, it gave show bosses the opportunity to look at other Love Island stars, and Maura stood out as the perfect candidate.
‘She’ll bring a bit of glamour to the jungle and make a brilliant campmate because she’s got a great sense of humour and is bound to get on with everyone.’
Bosses are also said to be counting on her spilling the tea about her close friendship with Molly-Mae Hague, who shockingly split from Tommy earlier this year.
‘It’s shaping up to be a strong year for women on I’m A Celebrity this year,’ added the source.
Indeed, some major female names have been linked to the upcoming series in recent weeks.
Coleen Rooney has reportedly signed a mega-money deal to become a campmate, while N-Dubz’s Tulisa and former Strictly star Oti Mabuse have also been rumoured.
Jane Moore, Ally McCoist, and GK Barry are said to be part of the line-up as well.
Alas, anyone hoping to watch Tommy, 25, in action in the Aussie jungle will be disappointed, with bosses also ‘surprised’ that he decided to pull the plug at a late stage.
An insider told The Sun that the gig ‘would have been a great opportunity for him’.
‘Thankfully, the execs already had some great names waiting in the wings, so they’ll now be looking at which ones fit best into the line-up already booked so they can deliver a truly great series,’ they added.
Tommy was reportedly in talks with producers for months, so they’re hoping Maura will take the baton and provide some memorable jungle moments in his place.
The influencer currently hosts the After Sun spin-off from Love Island US and hit the press recently with her rumoured romance with Strictly’s Pete Wicks.
I’m A Celeb returns to ITV1 on November 17 for its 23rd series, with Ant and Dec ready to crown a new jungle king or queen after Sam Thompson’s victory last year.
ITV and reps for Maura Higgins have been contacted for comment.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Starts November 17 on ITV1 and ITVX.
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