Maura Higgins 'helpless' and in 'total denial' about romance with Strictly's Pete Wicks

I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! star Maura Higgins opened up about her love life on Sunday night's episode of the ITV show, admitting she was 'seeing someone' before the jungle

A body language expert has revealed what I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! star Maura Higgins' mannerisms tell us about her high-profile relationship with Pete Wicks.

On Sunday night's instalment of I'm A Celebrity, former Love Island star Maura, 34, set the record straight on the ongoing rumours that she's in a relationship with TOWIE legend and Strictly Come Dancing star Pete, 36.

For several months now, the pair have sent the rumour-mill into overdrive after they were spotted out on a number of dates together, and were even pictured kissing during the summer.

However, both Pete and Maura have denied that they are anything more than friends. During the most recent episode of the ITV show, Dean McCullough, Maura, and a few other campmates descended into a discussion about past and current relationships.

While the rumours have been swirling for months that Maura had been dating Pete, she insisted that she's single. Around the campfire, Dean shared his current relationship status, as he said: “I’ve been seeing someone since July, but we’re not boyfriends, we’re just dating. The first thing I messaged him before I came in here was ‘I adore you.’ ”

He continued: "He fills me with so much joy because he’s just a vibe." Oti then asked Maura whether she's single, to which the reality star answered: "I am but I was seeing someone before I came in but I’m not in a relationship." Reverend Richard then asked whether it was 'exclusive' before apologising for putting her on the spot.

Maura paused, and looked pensive, before she said: “I dunno.” Dean asked her: “Is it someone we would know?” with Maura looking sly before saying: "Yeah..." Dean also questioned whether she missed him while in the jungle, to which she admitted she did.

Now, body language expert Judi James has shared her expertise on Maura's demeanour. Speaking to Paddy Power Games, she said: “It’s unusual to see a reality star get coy when discussing their romantic life but that’s exactly where Maura Higgins’ body language state went to when she was grilled about her relationship status last night.

"Her close friend Richard Coles was in no subtle confessional mode either, sitting back in his hammock with his hands behind his head in a pit-bare ritual that suggested he was going for the reveal in a version of Twenty Questions.

“Maura adopted a body pose that was pure self-diminishing, sitting hunched forward with her arms pulled into her torso to suggest a sense of vulnerability - and even self-protection - that would give a clue that any decisions about the status of her relationship do not lie with her, currently. Her tone hinted at helplessness, as though she really is having to wait to find out."

Judi went on to suggest that Maura was holding back from opening up and sharing more of her feelings because she was scared to get vulnerable with her campmates.

The body language expert went on: “Her verbal responses seemed confusing and contradictory as a result: ‘I was seeing someone before I came in here... but I’m not in a relationship.’ Her voice was lowered and less assure for the first part of this statement, but the ‘Not in a relationship’ involved a stronger vocal tone and a micro shoulder-shrug to suggest this is the official PR comment.

“It came with a suppressed, collusive smile though, to suggest she is in denial mode. When Richard asked if it is exclusive, her long pause said everything in terms of what she would like the answer to be, and her smile widened and she looked away.

"His ‘What are the rules?’ comment prompted a shocked, mirthless laugh and she looked around at the others to help her out, letting Richard know he’d gone too far at this point. But the question about a ‘changing relationship?’ hit the exact right note for her. Her ‘Yes’ sounded confident and she nodded with a relaxed smile.

“Dean stepped in with the obvious ‘Is it somebody we’d know?’ and Maura’s serious eye contact here plus her cackling laugh implied everyone should have known who it is, which would point the finger directly at Pete Wicks in case anyone was still in doubt."

The body language expert suggested that Maura feels rather 'helpless' being in the jungle knowing that Pete is out in the real world, growing closer to his Strictly partner Jowita Przystał as speculation continues to swirl that he is also involved romantically with the professional dancer.

“If Pete and Maura both happened to win their shows at the same time and then walk off into the sunset as a love match it will be any celebrity agent’s version of a lottery win. They will be the golden couple of reality TV and the press and fans will go wild.

"Pete can be confident in the knowledge that Maura is in the jungle with absolutely no possibility of any love rivals, but she knows he is on a show that is known for its ‘curse’, and she is not a girl to lose face if he has been doing any flirting. This narrative would be a body language ‘fit’ in terms of her responses then unless she has another celebrity date she’s been keeping up her sleeve.”

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