Maura Higgins and Joe Swash spark unlikely friendship during Dancing on Ice rehearsals
LOVE Island's Maura Higgins has struck up an unlikely friendship with presenter Joe Swash during Dancing on Ice rehearsals.
The Sun Online has learnt that the Irish beauty, 28, and the ex EastEnder, 37, got on like a house on fire when the entire cast of the ITV show met for the first time on Monday.
A source told us: "Maura and Joe hit it off straight away - they had so much banter. It was hilarious to watch.
They added: "Maura tells it how it is, and Joe was like a wasp in a bottle so they were just bouncing off each other. They have become a bit of a double act."
But the pair's other halves - Maura dates fellow Love Island star Curtis Pritchard and Joe is with Loose Women panellist Stacey Solomon - needn't panic.
"It's completely random - she's from the countryside in Ireland while he's an Essex boy, she's new to fame while he's been in the game for a long time, but they just clicked," says our mole. "No-one expected them to, but they share a similar sense of humour and really kept the others entertained."
And while there was plenty of laughing and joking to be had, it seems like Maura's is trained firmly on the prize.
"She really impressed the crew with her skating abilities," our source revealed.
"Diversity's Perri [Kiely] is showing promise too, but Maura is tipped to go all the way.
"She is determined and could be a front runner - she's in it to win it."
Indeed Maura has already shown off her incredible progress on instagram.
With two months to go before the show starts, Maura stunned fans when she posted footage of herself nailing some lifts during her training sessions.
Her boyfriend Curtis - who recently revealed that the secret to their relationship is giving his girlfriend 'space' has also raved about how "incredible" she is doing in her rehearsals.
He has shared several videos of her practising in the rink lately.
And as the pair hugged following her session, Curtis told the camera: "She's doing fantastic, doing incredible. You really are."
Maura has said she is "nervous but excited" to be taking to the ice, and has revealed what she is looking for in a partner.
"I need someone strict I think," she said. "Otherwise I’ll just throw a strop, I’ll lay on the floor."
Along with Maura, Joe and Perri, the other celebrities taking part in this series are presenter Michael Barrymore, Steps singer Ian 'H' Watkins, Corrie actress Lisa George, chat show host Trisha Goddard, model Caprice, footballer Kevin Kilbane, newsreader Lucrezia Millarini, Parlympian Libby Clegg and magician Ben Hanlin.