How Curtis Pritchard's romance with Maura Higgins came to a sour end as it's revealed his ex and his new love interest Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu live in the same building - suong

Before he made his sensational return to the Love Island villa, Curtis Pritchard was no stranger to ITV viewers, having formed an unlikely romance with Maura Higgins.

The pair stunned viewers when they shared their mutual attraction on the show back in 2019, and went onto date for eight months before splitting in March 2020.

While Maura has since moved on with a string of other relationships, Curtis has brought their romantic history firmly to the front of viewers' minds during his appearance on Love Island: All Stars.

The dancer has taken a string of swipes at his ex, and admitted on the show that she 'totally blanked him' when they crossed paths.

In the villa, Curtis has also been pursuing bombshell Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, and she was quick to reveal that she and Maura live in the same building.

So as it seems that Curtis can't escape the presence of Maura, five years after their relationship ended, MailOnline takes a look at their romance...

Surprise attraction

+20

View gallery

Maura initially confessed to the other girls that she had a crush on Curtis, but it took a string of setbacks before the pair were finally able to be in a couple together

+20

View gallery

While at times Maura struggling to pin down Curtis on his feelings, they eventually made it to the final, finishing in fourth place

When Maura entered the Love Island villa as a bombshell, Curtis expressed no initial interest in her, instead focusing his attention on 'half-girlfriend' Amy Hart.

However, when their romance crumbled due to his behaviour in Casa Amor, Maura suddenly confessed that she was starting to fall for Curtis' charms.

She told Lucie Donlan: 'I'd always look at him and think he's obviously gorgeous, his smile is like f****** hell, he's very manly and he's funny, he's almost the whole package for me.'

While at times Maura struggling to pin down Curtis on his feelings, they eventually made it to the final, finishing in fourth place.

Upon returning to the UK, Curtis shared that he quickly travelled to Ireland to meet Maura's family, writing on Instagram: 'Still can't believe we are out of the villa! Loving this journey with @maurahiggins and being in Ireland to meet her family and friends!'

Shock split

+20

View gallery

 

Curtis and Maura's relationship came to a shock end in March 2020, after just eight months together (pictured in September 2019)

+20

View gallery

It was feared their relationship could be in trouble at the point of the National Television Awards when it was reported that the ex-couple had a heated argument behind-the-scenes

Curtis and Maura's relationship came to a shock end in March 2020, after just eight months together.

The split came as a surprise to some fans, thought it was later reported that the pair had a series of rows over her 'closeness' with her professional skating partner Alexander Demetriou while competing on Dancing On Ice.

A source told The Sun: 'Maura spent hours and hours with Alex in rehearsals for weeks and they have got really close.

'They have grown very friendly and it's not gone unnoticed with the rest of the cast and crew — or Carlotta.

'She is furious about their increasingly cosy relationship which has continued despite Maura being knocked out of the competition.' 

It was also reported that Maura felt pressured to stay in her relationship with Curties in a bid to boost their profile - claims that he strongly denied.

It was feared their relationship could be in trouble at the point of the National Television Awards when it was reported that the ex-couple had a heated argument behind-the-scenes.

Insiders said the dancer claimed him and Maura only secured the red carpet presenting gig at the ceremony because of his fame, despite the pair both rising to prominence on last year's Love Island.

The Irish star is said to have told friends she felt 'used' and 'like a d*** for trusting him,' before leaving the party in tears.

Awkward reunion

+20

View gallery

Curtis and his ex-girlfriend Maura were forced to endure an awkward reunion as they crossed paths for the first time since their split in 2020

+20

View gallery

The former Love Island stars came face to face again when Curtis appeared on Love Island Games, which Maura co-hosted alongside Maya Jama

While Maura and Curtis certainly cut ties after their romance ended, the pair were forced to come face-to-face in 2023.

Curtis was a contestant on Love Island Games, which Maura, 34, co-hosted alongside Maya Jama.

Maura was tasked with grilling axed Islanders about their time in the villa and among them was none other than Curtis.

Before the cameras rolled, the former couple exchanged a brief and polite hello, asking about each other's families in a noticeably tense moment. 

'Long time no see, Curtis,' Maura said before Curtis crumbled into a sheepish laugh. 

After the brief pleasantries, Maura wasted no time diving into the details of her ex's time on Love Island Games. 

'It's a bit weird to be out,' Curtis told her, before revealing he's 'gutted' to have left so early in the contest.

She then challenged him on his flirtatious behaviour with the other women in the villa, despite being matched with Lisa Celander. 

Brutal swipes

+20

View gallery

In a recent interview, Maura described Curtis as a 'why not' man, explaining she only dated him due to there being limited options in the villa

+20

View gallery

During his debut on Love Island: All Stars on Monday, Curtis revealed that Maura blanked him when they crossed paths

Since their toe-curling reunion, Maura hasn't shied away from sharing her true thoughts on their romance.

During a recent appearance on Paul Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast, Maura described Curtis as a 'why not' man, explaining she only dated him due to there being limited options in the villa.

She said: 'When you're locked in a house, I say locked but you're in a house and you're in there for X amount of time. You're going to start liking people that you wouldn't normally like.

'Not to be mean but you are, you're in there. I'm pretty sure it would probably be the same on Big Brother. You're locked in a house; you're not seeing any other men. You're going to be like ''why not''.'

During his debut on Love Island: All Stars on Monday, Curtis revealed that Maura blanked him when they crossed paths.

Sharing his experience, Curtis said: 'We saw each other a couple of times, I said 'hello' and she just completely blanked me.'

'So I would say perhaps not best friends... Or friends, at all,' the dancer added with a cheeky grin.

Last month it was revealed that Maura is said to be 'worried' that her ex Curtis might spill secrets about their past relationship when he appears on the upcoming series of Love Island: All-Stars.

A source told The Sun: 'Curtis signing for All Stars is more than awkward for Maura just as she's fallen for Pete and they've finally gone public with their love.

'Her break-up with Curtis wasn't the best and Maura always worried he'd be the ex that could blab. It's also less than ideal when she's hoping to build on her I'm A Celebrity profile and advance her career.

'Love Island bosses are in the process of confirming the Islanders who will launch January's show and Curtis might not make that line-up — but he is in the cast of bombshells to land later in the series.'

Surprise link

+20

View gallery

Since entering the villa, Curtis has been centre stage after being chosen by bombshell Ekin-Su to couple up with her

+20

View gallery

During a candid chat in Tuesday's show, Ekin-Su then confessed that she lived in the same building as Curtis' ex Maura, leaving him squirming

+20

View gallery

However, it seems that this close link won't stop Curtis from pursuing Ekin-Su, as a preview for Wednesday's episode showed the pair sharing a passionate kiss

Ahead of his arrival in the villa, Curtis said he was looking to settle down and was hoping to find the love of his life in South Africa.

'I feel like I'm in a different stage in my life. The idea of settling down is a serious idea in my life right now.

'I haven't found my true love… that sounds so cheesy doesn't it. So, I thought, let's give it another go. It was great fun last time; a lot of emotions. 

'I feel excited to go back. I'm going to have a great fun time and hopefully leave with someone. It's exciting.'

Since entering the villa, Curtis has been centre stage after being chosen by bombshell Ekin-Su to couple up with her.

During a candid chat in Tuesday's show, Ekin-Su then confessed that she lived in the same building as Curtis' ex Maura, leaving him squirming.

However, it seems that this close link won't stop Curtis from pursuing Ekin-Su, as a preview for Wednesday's episode showed the pair sharing a passionate kiss.