Dean Gaffney makes claim about brutal interaction with I'm A Celeb's Maura Higgins at awards show

EastEnders actor Dean Gaffney, who took part in I'm A Celeb in 2006, opened up about his awkward interaction with Maura Higgins

Soap star Dean Gaffney revealed he had a brutal interaction with I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star Maura Higgins at the Pride of Britain Awards.

The EastEnders star, best known for his role as Robbie Jackson, appeared on I'm A Celeb's spin-off series Unpacked on Tuesday night to discuss the gripping series. Dean, who took part in the show in 2006, opened up about their awkward first meeting at the fancy awards show in London.

Speaking to host Joel Dommett after Melvin Odoom's elimination, he explained: "There was a funny story where I was at the Pride of Britain awards. I was sat with Joey Essex and Maura came over and she said to Joey, 'oh, is that your dad?' I know I've got grey hair but come on!"

It comes as Maura was voted in the bottom two with Melvin. However, she lived to see another day in the jungle as Melvin was voted out. Maura has opened up about her love life while in the jungle, with the star telling GK Barry that she tells her mum, Sharon, everything about her relationships.

She added: “And 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.” Sharon claimed it was the other way around and that Maura always told her too much information against her wishes. She explained: “I would say to her on Facetime, ‘is everything okay? Are you happy in all aspects of your relationship?’

"And she would always try and embarrass me by saying this, that and the other and I would say: ‘too much information. I don’t need to know, I don’t need to know.’ She likes to make me embarrassed.” Sharon was delighted that her daughter felt able to open up about her life in the jungle.

Sharon continued: "I think Maura is always going to be Maura. She’s obviously comfortable in her surroundings, with the people she’s with, and she feels free to be able to chat about anything.”

Maura is among the remaining stars in the jungle ahead of the final. So far, Melvin, Tulisa Contostavlos, Dean McCullough and Jane Moore were voted out.

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues tonight at 9pm on ITV and ITVX*

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