Joey Essex and Maura Higgins ‘excitedly planning first date’ after snogging at Pride of Britain Awards
IT is a match made in reality TV heaven.
Towie’s Joey Essex and Love Island star Maura Higgins are said to be excitedly planning their first date after coupling up on Monday night.
The pair were pictured snogging after a booze-fuelled awards do.
They then spent what was described as a chaste night together, chatting into the early hours of the morning.
Maura, known as a man-eater in the Mallorcan villa, made the first move on the 32-year-old TV star.
Last night, a friend said: “They’ve met before on the celebrity party circuit but Monday was the first time things have turned flirty.
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“They were flirting like crazy and all over each other. Eventually, Maura just grabbed Joey’s tie and pulled him in for a kiss, right in front of everyone. He loved it.”
The pair have swapped numbers, and have spent the past 12 hours planning their first official date.
Joey, who has dated a string of models, hopes to charm Maura, 31, over dinner.
The insider added: “They did leave together in a taxi but Joey’s a gentleman so there was no funny business that night.
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“He had to be at Dancing On Ice training at 7.30am the next day anyway, so all they did was kiss and chat.
“There is a connection there — a real meeting of minds.
“They both fancy the pants off each other — it could be the start of something pretty special.
"Maura’s really keen for a date with Joey and they’ve been messaging nonstop since.”
Her exes
IRELAND-born Maura coupled up with dancer Curtis Pritchard, 26, on Love Island in 2019.
She dated Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice, 32, but has been single since splitting in the summer from MK Dons ace Connor Wickham, 29.
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His exes
JOEY’s exes include Towie co-star Sam Faiers, 31, and Brazilian model Brenda Santos, 23.
He was also linked to Rita Ora.
But two weeks ago he said he was ready to settle down, adding: “I’m done with flings.”
