Maura Higgins' stunning bounce back after Danny Jones kiss scandal
Maura Higgins had a rocky start to 2025, splitting from Pete Wicks then facing a backlash over 'that' kiss with married McFly star Danny Jones at the Brits afterparty. But not only has she weathered the storm, she's set to celebrate her biggest year yet, as OK! reports.
According to PR expert Dermot McNamara, Maura's played a blinder by refusing to get caught up in the drama and, thanks to her hosting gig on Love Island USA: Aftersun, her career is just getting stronger. 'This had all the makings of a PR disaster, but Maura turned it into a non-event,' he said. 'The scandal could have derailed her, but she's back on screen, bigger than ever.'
READ MORE: 'Unique and luminous' pink climbing clematis has a 25% saving in this summer sale
The reality star, 34, oozed confidence as she returned to the spin-off series last week. And while she may have hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons recently, a source told new the negative publicity has failed to dent her reputation.
'She needed a clean slate and working in America has done that,' they said. 'In the UK, Maura was – unfairly – branded a homewrecker. It's not a good look and she didn't want it to impact her career.' Maura met Danny while appearing on I'm A Celebrity last December, while she was dating Pete.
Danny, meanwhile, has been married to model Georgia Horsley – who he shares seven-year-old son Cooper with – since 2014. Maura and Danny stunned onlookers when they were caught kissing at the Brits afterparty, prompting Danny to issue a grovelling apology.
But as Danny battled to save his marriage, Maura maintained a dignified silence. 'It's the golden rule of reputation management: don't add fuel to the fire,' said Dermot. 'She didn't dignify the rumours with a response, and by doing so she denied them oxygen.'
The source agreed that Maura was canny in how she dealt with the furore. 'She still hasn't spoken about the kiss – she acts as if it didn't happen,' they said. 'McFly aren't as well-known in the US, so it's a weight off her shoulders when she's there.' Maura began hosting Love Island USA: Aftersun last year, but took time away to film for the US version of The Traitors.
Then, last week, she made an epic return for the finale. 'Maura is hot property in America,' the source said. And she has no plans to slow down, with the source claiming that Maura is working hard to ensure the scandal with Danny becomes a distant memory. Dermot said it's incredible how the former ring girl has been juggling two huge TV shows.
'These are high-profile roles that prove networks and brands still want her front and centre. Maura is a magnetic TV host with a rising-star quality.'
Alongside the likes of Molly-Mae Hague and Olivia Attwood, Maura is one of Love Island's biggest success stories. It's because she knows how to play the fame game, the source said, adding, 'She's come out of this debacle unscathed, while Danny still seems to be picking up the pieces.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Love Island fans work out real reason Harry is ‘picking fight' with Helena as pair clash at Grafties
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOVE Island fans have predicted that Harry is causing beef with Helena - for his own benefit. According to viewers, footballer Harry picked a fight with Helena on purpose and used the information received during The Grafties as a way out. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 The footballer was seen getting the hump after hearing news about Helena Credit: Eroteme 4 Viewers have claimed that Harry's wild moves are a plot to win his ex back Credit: Eroteme Fans watched last night as an angry Harry accused Helena of playing games and not being 'all about him' when she returned to the villa after the Sleepover. A bemused Helena argued it was 'weeks ago' and was not the same as him flirting outrageously with a number of girls, most recently Angel. Harry was seen becoming riled by Helena's previous behaviour - although they weren't even together at the time. Viewers have now clocked Harry's escape plan - so he can go back to ex Shakira - who he was previously coupled up. Harry barked during their heated chat at The Grafties: "I thought you were all for me when you came back?" Toni noted: "He's just trying to pick a fight with her." Conor agreed: "That's crazy behaviour." The official Love Island Instagram account asked fans: "Is Harry picking fights or bringing up fair points?" Users commented: "Picking fights as an excuse to crawl back to Shakira and blame Helena." A second predicted: "When you wish to end a relationship, you find every little thing about the other person irritating, and that is what Harry is trying to do." Watch moment Harry admits he still has feelings for Shakira after star threatened to quit villa A third agreed: "Harry has some cheek after all he has said and done - that was pure excuse to slip off from Helena on to Shakira." "Welcome to Harry's Gas Lighting class, please take your seats," mocked another. "He's trying to start something just to start something," mused a fan. "Harry's trying to start something with Helena, so that he can leave her for Shakira and put the blame on to Helena," assumed another. "Harry's 100% using this as an excuse to try to get back with Shakira," wrote another user. "Harry is picking a fight so Helena can end it without him looking bad... He thinks he can go back to Shakira even though she didn't tell him she doesn't want him," penned another sofa detective. The lingering love triangle has erupted since Shakira dumped Conor and Harry was her shoulder to cry on. Semi pro footballer Harry ditched Shakira after Helena pursued him for weeks. The couple have just made their relationship 'exclusive' but Harry has been unable to shake his previous connection with Shakira after she confessed she wasn't over him. It led to a huge showdown between the footballer and his girl, Helena. Helena and Harry are now 'done' after an explosive row over Shakira - not yet seen on screen. Earlier in the week, former flames Harry and Shakira were seen having an intense chat about her emotions. Indecisive Harry shocked viewers as he asked Shakira if they could 'hang out' when they leave the villa. 4 Fans are accusing Harry of picking a fight with Helena so he can move back to Shakira Credit: Eroteme
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Mystery as pundit reveals Harry Redknapp's wife Sandra ‘is in hospital & forced to watch horse racing by ex footie boss'
A RACING commentator says football legend Harry Redknapp's wife has been taken into hospital - where she is watching the racing with her hubby. Matt Chapman wished Sandra well during last night's horseracing coverage on ITV4. 5 5 5 It is not yet known why she was taken to hospital or how serious it is. The news came when Matt was speaking from Great Yarmouth Racecourse about the horse King of Bears, owned by Harry Redknapp, who is 78. He said: 'So, King of Bears, just to say Harry Redknapp will be watching this horse from his hospital bed, but not his bed, his missus Sandra is just being treated in hospital at the moment. 'Sandra, if you're listening in - I think she wanted to watch Emmerdale, but Harry's making her watch this race - I really hope King of Bears runs well. 'He's a character. He could win it, he could finish last, but he gives Jack Doughty a big chance for [trainer] George Scott.' However in the end, the King of Bears didn't win the race. Instead the 7/1 shot placed sixth. Sandra has been married to the former football manager for 57 years now. The pair were just 17 when they got together, and just three weeks ago on their anniversary he said: 'Where does the time go? I would be lost without you Sandra.' Harry and Sandra, both 78, literally wrote the book on marriage, publishing: "When Harry Met Sandra: Our Story' in 2022. With a date in the Two Puddings pub in East London in 1963, they soon married and had two children, Mark and Jamie, and grandchildren. Their relationship hit the public eye when Harry's adoration for his wife was seen shortly before he won I'm A Celebrity. On This Morning, revealing the secrets to a happy marriage, Harry said in 2022: 'You meet somebody, and you fall in love, and we just never fell out of love. "We just have a great time together and we love each other's company.' It comes after Redknapp was left stunned after a 50ft trimaran slammed into the garden of his brand new Sandbanks mansion. The £250,000 triple hulled racing boat was swept into the north shore of Millionaire's Row in strong winds. The four crew members were able to safely step off but the boat - Three Cheers - got wedged under the pontoon. Poole lifeboat and coastguard were called out to assist but the crew ended up calling a local recovery company to remove the boat. Harry and Sandra Redknapp 's new Italianate villa has been built on the Sandbanks waterfront. The couple paid £7m for a 60-year-old house that stood on the plot before demolishing it and building the dream home in its place. Luxury properties on the edges of the peninsula have gardens running down to the water and private jetties with direct access to Poole Harbour. Last week, it was reported that Redknapp is on the brink of signing for I'm A Celebrity All Stars. The popular former Spurs boss, 78, is set for another monster pay day after reportedly earning £500,000 on 2018's main series. Gemma Collins is also on the verge of landing a mega-deal — reputed to be over £150,000 — to appear in the South Africa-based series, despite quitting 2014's main show after just three days. All Stars will be filmed this autumn and go out in the New Year. A source said: 'It's going to be a real coup. " Harry is TV gold and was first on the list of wannabe celebrity contestants.' Harry's fee will have to go some to match Coleen Rooney (2024) and Nigel Farage (2023), who were said to have each earned £1.5million by appearing on the main series. In 2016, Redknapp confessed he smashed his wife's ankle by running over her in his Range Rover. Witnesses to the mishap that landed Sandra in hospital said her foot got trapped in a door as he drove off. But as the ex-footie boss fetched her home following surgery, he revealed that he had misjudged how far she had crossed a road after dropping her at shops. Embarrassed Redknapp said: 'I thought she'd crossed. 'As I went to drive off, I drove over her ankle, basically. She fell head first into the road. It has made a mess of her ankle.' 5 5 Born Sandra Harris, she first met her future husband at the age of 17 at a local pub, when Harry Redknapp was also just 17. The couple tied the knot on June 30, 1968 at Barking Abbey church and since then she has been by Harry's side supporting him with his successful football career both on and off the pitch. After they met at the pub, the couple tied the knot four years later in 1967. Harry Redknapp has stated during his time in the jungle that he has never ironed his own shirt, cooked or cleaned for himself through their marriage. The former football manager revealed that he has never had a row with his better half - but has accidentally ran over her foot in the past.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The shock casting method show bosses use to select Love Island contestants has been revealed
The shock casting method used by Love Island bosses to select contestants for the show has been revealed. It's been reported that ITV execs have admitted to using artificial intelligence as part of the casting process for the reality TV show. After the cast of the 2025 series was revealed earlier this year, fans were quick to mock the newbies as 'clones' of the previous stars, with the likes of Megan Forte Clarke being compared to 2019 islander Maura Higgins. And now The Sun reports that automated technology has been used to whittle down the thousands of applicants for the show. Speaking as ITV announced its half-year results, ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall shared: 'We will use AI in any way we can to make what we do more efficient. 'And a great example of that for me from (ITV) Studios is they're using a tool where it's a smart editing assistance and it's about speed and quality. And they used it for Love Island and casting this year.' She added that the team 'rated it eight out of ten'. Meanwhile, an ITV spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline that AI was not directly used to make casting decisions, but rather to edit hundreds of hours of footage into highlight reels for the team to watch. They shared: 'It simply assists with the editing of audition tapes during the casting period. 'We get thousands and thousands of applications every year and we hold face to face auditions. 'When we get to the stage of narrowing it down to hundreds of prospective Islanders and we want to share audition highlights on a reel with the ITV commissioning team, to support the casting decision, we use the software (Quickture along with an Adobe editing programme) to edit the hundreds of hours of footage into highlight reels.' They added that the process means the casting team can 'spend more time researching' and looking for more prospective Islanders. It comes as Love Island fans have hit out at show bosses during Thursday's episode after they were left unimpressed by how Shakira Khan was given the 'villain edit'. Prior to the episode airing, It was reported that the 22-year-old threatened to quit the ITV2 dating show over the situation with Harry. A source told The Sun: 'She went to the beach hut and asked to leave the villa. 'The duty of care team were able to help her through her emotions and she decided to stay.' In the latest episode of the ITV show, the infamous Grafties returned - where contestants are shown clips on a big screen that either revive past drama or highlight hilarious moments that most of the villa hadn't seen before. The nominees for the Best Double Act award were Dejon and Helena, Toni and Shakira, and Helena and Meg. During the clips, Toni and Shakira were seen talking negatively about Meg, following movie night. After watching the gossip on the big screen, Meg said she felt that Shakira and Toni were 'fake to her face,' prompting Toni to fire back: 'So are you. You act like you never say a bad thing about anyone.' Next came Helena and Meg's clip, which, in contrast, highlighted their blossoming friendship in the villa. Toni and Shakira went on to win the award, with Shakira saying: 'We said what we said, it was after Movie Night. 'I don't know why it's so surprising, we had a scrap that night.' It comes after Love Island fans have hit out at show bosses during Thursday's episode after they were left unimpressed by how Shakira Khan was given the 'villain edit' during the Grafties Fans are now calling out show bosses for giving Shakira the 'villain edit' during the game Fans are now calling out show bosses for giving Shakira the 'villain edit' during the game. They raged on X: 'If they hurt Shakira anymore I'm literally going to stay for the credits, note down each producers name and HUNT THEM DOWN,' 'The producers convincing Shakira to stay in the villa so she could get attacked at the grafties is just evil #LoveIsland,' 'The fact we've seen Shakira be so sad, open & vulnerable recently. And now the producers are gonna paint her out to be bad with the Grafties, and make her feel even worse :(( i don't wanna watch,' 'Look at the clip they used for Meg and Helena vs the one they used for Shakira and Toni, and tell me again with a straight face that there isn't a clear agenda,' 'Why are the producers giving Shakira and Toni this bad edit!'
