MAURA HIGGINS’ split from Pete Wicks has put added pressure on her strained relationship with rival Love Island star Olivia Attwood.
Pete has launched a new radio show with long-time pal Olivia — who is believed to have taken a veiled dig at Maura in the past.
Last week The Sun on Sunday revealed newly single Maura had said Pete was “probably cheating” when she was asked where he was as she left a restaurant on Valentine’s night.
Sources say Maura, 34, grew suspicious of messages from women on Pete’s mobile when they were together.
Although Olivia, 33, is happily married to footballer Bradley Dack, she has been pictured enjoying nights out with Pete, 37.
A source close to Maura said: “Maura doesn’t know Olivia that well, but does really respect her.
“As far as Maura’s concerned she doesn’t have any issues with Olivia and will always make an effort to say hello if they ever are at the same parties or red carpet events.”
“Any time there’s been a suggestion of a feud or competitiveness it has always baffled Maura.
“They are on their own journeys and not involved in each other's careers, but she of course hopes the respect she feels for Olivia is mutual.”
Pete and Olivia have been close since first meeting on The Only Way Is Essex in 2017.
‘Bad boy persona’
They recently released a series of messages between them — labelled “Top Secret” — to promote the release of their new Kiss FM radio show The Sunday Roast.
In the jokey WhatsApp exchanges, Pete dubbed Olivia his “work wife”.
Last November furious Olivia appeared to take a swipe at Maura, who was on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here! at the time, accusing her fellow ex-Love Island star of copying her.
Olivia wrote on Instagram: “One day I’m going to write a book and some of the stuff I have managed to keep (zipped mouth emoji) on over the years. It will blow your f**ing mind.
"You can try to hire all the same people, regurgitate my stories as your own, study the playbook, follow the recipe, blah blah blah, but it will NEVER taste the same. That’s all.”
Many on social media reckoned Olivia was referring to Maura, who had just been taken on by the same PR company as her and had told a similar story about an ex.
Maura revealed to her jungle campmates that she cleaned a loo with a cheating former boyfriend’s toothbrush before vowing to go on Love Island.
Similarly, Olivia had previously revealed she was inspired to go into the TV villa to get back at Bradley for being unfaithful when they were an on-off couple.
And the similarities don’t end there.
Both women are former models, ring girls and Love Islanders — Olivia appearing in the 2017 series and Maura featuring two years later.
Maura also followed Olivia’s I’m A Celebrity appearance of 2022 by going into the jungle in 2024.
On Monday The Sun told how devastated Maura dumped Pete after she saw messages from other women on his mobile phone.
A source said: “Maura was suspicious of Pete and whether he might have been messing her around.
“There have been some rows over trust. She felt she was proved right when she saw loads of messages with other women on his phone.
“But Maura remained coy about the relationship when they were together and isn’t going to start bad-mouthing him after the split. She is now just determined to move on from him.”
Pete has previously admitted to having a “bad boy persona” — and on Olivia’s Staying Relevant podcast, he admitted he had struggled to maintain long-term relationships.
He confessed: “I do feel like I’m now at a different stage of my life. I’m an older man now than when I was younger and a complete p***k.”
On Thursday we told how Maura had a profile on celebrity dating app Raya — although friends insist she is not interested in trying to find love again.
One pal said: “Maura’s had a tough time. She just wants to be single.
“Her account popped up on Raya but she’s deactivated it and said she’s not used it for a year.”
Pete and Maura’s split has also come as a blow to ITV.
A TV insider said: “Their relationship was hot property and telly chiefs were hoping to give them their own show.
“They thought Pete and Maura together would be a hit with viewers — but now that is obviously not going to happen. They’re gutted.”
The pair were first seen kissing in August last year but went on to poke fun at the gossip, with Maura wearing a photograph of the smooch on a T-shirt with the slogan: “We can’t be friends.”
In October at the Pride of Britain Awards they were caught kissing again — and Maura also attended Pete’s rehearsals for Strictly.
But it was during her stint in the jungle that Maura confessed to campmates that she was “seeing someone” despite trying to keep it under wraps.
‘Nobody believes me!’
In a conversation with campmate GK Barry, she said: “Well, we’ve already been papped — tongues down each other’s necks”.
Pete supported Maura while she was in the jungle, urging his fans to help keep her in the camp before McFly’s Danny Jones won the show.
Referring to an outfit he wore on Strictly, Pete wrote on Instagram: “I’ve been George of the Jungle but now it’s time to vote for Maura of the Jungle.”
Maura’s previous boyfriends include Love Island star Curtis Pritchard and Strictly pro dancer Giovanni Pernice.
Before rising to fame, she was in a nine-year relationship.
Last month she squirmed as she was grilled on Loose Women about her romance with Pete.
She said: “We’ve known each other for six years. He’s a great person. But there is actually nothing to tell. Nobody believes me!”
A source close to Maura said: “Maura doesn’t know Olivia that well, but does really respect her.
“As far as Maura is concerned she doesn’t have any issues with Olivia and will always make an effort to say hello if they are at the same parties or events.”
