‘Maura and I don’t feel like celebrities’
The Love Island couple reveal the secret to making their relationship work, despite their hectic TV schedules
They were the breakaway stars of this year’s series of Love Island, coming runners-up on the dating show.
And now, Curtis Pritchard has landed a role alongside Cheryl on BBC’s The Greatest Dancer, while his girlfriend Maura Higgins is gearing up to compete on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
But despite their busy diaries, the couple aren’t letting their new-found fame change them. They’re fully committed to each other, finally going official in October after their summer romance.
“I don’t feel like I’m a celebrity or some big famous person,” Curtis, 23, tells Closer. “I’m no different to anyone else on the planet! Maura feels the same as well – that’s why we work. A lot of people come out [of Love Island] and think they’re a lot bigger... I do understand it can go to your head.”
With Curtis performing as Dick Whittington in pantomime, and Maura, 29, training for Dancing On Ice in January, the couple’s work commitments mean they won’t be able to spend Christmas
Day together. However, Curtis reveals he has more than made up for it, by treating Maura for her birthday in November.
“Things are going incredibly well with me and Maura,” he says. “I gave her a present every single day for the days around her birthday. I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to say what I got her! A lot of chocolate – that was one of the things… We’ll leave it there!
“I’ve told Maura that, unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to make Christmas with her. Hopefully she can stay in the hotel with me [in High Wycombe]. That’s what’s made it hard for us, as she’s training for Dancing On Ice. We are trying to find time.”
Just as Curtis will be finishing up in panto in early January, Maura will be starting on the skating show. He says he is proud of what she’s achieved so far on the ice.
“I’ve seen her a few times and we’ve been ice skating a couple of times. I watched the first time she did it – there was room for improvement. I’ve seen her since and she’s doing incredibly, she really is. There’s been a massive improvement and I’m so in awe of it. I don’t know if she’ll win, because
I’ve not seen any of the others, but she’s definitely one to watch. Her arms are very impressive – the best arms I’ve ever seen!”
‘We’re trying to find time –
it’s hard’