I'm A Celebrity star Barry McGuigan's son has spilled the beans on his past relationship with Maura Higgins.
Ex-boxer Barry was among the first celebrities to set foot in the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here camp, and not long after, Maura Higgins joined the jungle crew as a latecomer.
Shane McGuigan made an appearance on Good Morning Britain today, discussing his father's candid expression of grief and speculating on whether Barry would become pals with Maura, despite them never having crossed paths before.
Chatting with Good Morning Britain's Richard Arnold about Barry and Maura's inaugural meeting on the show, Shane commented: "Maura as well she's an Irish girl - she's from a small town in Ireland - so they're both from the sticks. They would have been growing up as kids in a small town so there would be similarities there."
Shane expressed immense pride in his father for openly discussing his grief, lauding him for his transparency.
"It was five years ago but it feels like yesterday. It doesn't matter if he's doing it in his living room or on national television. My dad's brother Dermot took his own life, so I think Oti could have someone to lean on there," he shared, reports the Daily Record.
"I rang mum as well and she was emotional that he managed to find that comfort in the jungle. It's a very peculiar situation. It's wonderful that they've all rallied around to support each other."
Shane is currently happily engaged, but he initially met Maura back in 2018, a year prior to her stepping into the Love Island villa.
Maura and Shane first crossed paths when David Haye and Tony Bellow faced off, with Maura serving as a ring girl while Shane provided commentary for a radio show. The duration of their relationship remains unknown.
The couple had to navigate the challenges of a long-distance relationship, with Maura residing in Ireland and Shane living and working in south west London, which seemingly posed difficulties for them.
*Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX from 6am
English (United States) ·