I'm A Celeb's Dean Gaffney shares awkward encounter with Maura Higgins at ITV bash

Dean Gaffney shares awkward interaction he had with I'm A Celeb's Maura Higgins (Image: ITV)

Soap star Dean Gaffney shared an amusingly harsh encounter with 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!' sensation Maura Higgins at the Pride of Britain Awards.

The EastEnders icon, famed for his portrayal of Robbie Jackson, was featured on I'm A Celeb's companion show Unpacked on Tuesday evening to chew over the riveting season.

Gaffney, an alumnus of the jungle from 2006, recounted their cringeworthy introduction during the glitzy event in the capital.

Chatting with host Joel Dommett following Melvin Odoom's send-off, he recounted: "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!".

In recent developments, Maura found herself perilously close to being evicted after landing in the bottom two alongside Melvin. Nevertheless, she managed to cling onto her jungle existence as viewers decided it was curtains for Melvin, reports the Mirror.

Dean was mistaken by Maura to be Joey Essex's father (Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

Meanwhile, in camp, Maura has been candid about her intimate life, admitting to GK Barry that she discusses every detail of her romantic entanglements with her mother, Sharon.

She revealed further: "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."

On the flip side, Sharon insisted that it's typically Maura who overshared unwelcome particulars, stating: "I would say to her on Facetime, 'is everything okay? Are you happy in all aspects of your relationship?'".

Maura is currently in the Australian jungle (Image: instagram.com/maurahiggins)

"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 overjoyed that her daughter felt at ease sharing details of her life in the jungle.

Sharon added: "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 remains a contender in the jungle as the final approaches. The eliminations have seen Melvin, Tulisa Contostavlos, Dean McCullough, and Jane Moore leave the competition.