I’m A Celeb winner shares common link with Maura Higgins that could see her chances of winning boosted

3 days ago 4

A former I’m A Celeb winner shares a common link with soon-to-be campmate Maura Higgins that could see her chances of winning boosted.

Higgins will join the camp late this evening alongside Reverend Richard Coles, in the annual tradition whereby I’m A Celeb holds back some of its entrants to create a splash later in the show.

This is something Higgins will be accustomed to, with her first exposure to reality TV being her late appearance on Love Island as a bombshell.

When looking at how former late comers have done in the last ten years however, there is one thing that links the most successful celeb to join late.

Maura Higgins is appearing for the first time tonight (ITV)

Of all the late comers to I’m A Celeb in the past decade, six have come in the to final three, with only one having won.

Last year’s Tony Bellew was a late comer to the show and came second, and is joined by Simon Gregson and Andrew Whyment in joining late and coming second.

Meanwhile, former MP Matt Hancock lost the whip for entering the jungle but got third place for his troubles, and is joined by Iain Lee and Ferne McCann for entering the jungle late and coming third.

Coming late isn’t some secret trick however, with Frankie Dettori, Noel Edmonds, Danny Baker, and Annabel Giles all joining the jungle late and being the first to be voted out in their respective years.

Matt Hancock appeared late on I'm A Celeb (ITV)

The sole late-coming-winner in the last ten years however, who is one of only two to ever win after joining late, is Vicky Pattison.

Pattison shares a link with Maura Higgins in that both joined the jungle late and come from a reality TV show background.

While Higgins appeared on Love Island, Pattison is most well-known for appearing on Geordie Shore. She followed this up with a stint on Ex on the Beach.

In addition to this link to Higgins, Pattison is also best friends with Pete Wicks.

Vicky Pattison and Pete Wicks (Jeff Spicer/BAFTA via Getty Images)

Wicks, best known for his time on The Only Way is Essex, is heavily rumoured to be dating Higgins, with the two being pictured sharing a kiss earlier this year.

This led Pattison to weigh in on his dating life, with her telling The Sun she doesn’t know much about his romantic entanglements, saying it’s ‘probably for the best’.

She said: "I'm such a nosy cow, so I know nothing about what's going. Maura's absolutely gorgeous and like, if they were together, they would absolutely have my seal of approval, he knows that for sure."

Higgins will be hoping that seal of approval will come along with whatever secrets led Pattison to win in 2015.

Here's how former late comers have done on I'm A Celeb:

How late comers have done on I'm A Celeb in the last 10 years (LADbible via Flourish)