Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

Purrfect couple...

Maura and Curtis share Villa smooch

- BY KATIE GALLAGHER Showbiz Reporter news@irishmirro­r.ie

CURTIS Pritchard swept Maura Higgins off her feet last night with some dirty dancing and a smooch.

The Longford beauty had already confessed her feelings to him but after his painful split from Amy Hart it seemed he wouldn’t be able to reciprocat­e.

However, with Amy deciding to quit the show so she can move on and allow Curtis to do the same in the villa, things have quickly changed.

Thanks to a catsuit, and a challenge custom made to send hearts racing, the flirty pair used it as their time to shine.

Despite being chosen to go on a date with newcomer Chris earlier in the episode, the ring girl made it clear she still had her sights set on the Dancing With The Stars profession­al. Planning to wow the newly-single islander with some bold moves in advance, she said: “I’ve got a bit of a plan up my sleeve. I just can’t wait to get to Curtis.”

The challenge began with each of the islanders strapped up to heart monitors and split into girls and boys.

The girls took to the dancefloor first and Maura cranked up the heat with a smooch that left Curtis speechless.

Later in the challenge, the boys took to the stage to impress the girls with their sexy moves.

And taking Maura’s lead with her bold moves, ballroom dancer Curtis wowed the entire group with his routine, and even took Maura by surprise returning her kiss. Turning up the heat between the pair, he literally swept her off her by feet picking her up and locking lips with her in front of their fellow islanders.

Impressed by his performanc­e, Amber said: “Curtis gets a 10 out of 10 from me.”

Earlier in the show, the budding romance was tested when new girl Francesca chose Curtis to go on a date, and new boy Chris chose Maura. While Maura was flirty with him, she spends half the date trying to spy on Curtis.

She said: “The poor lad [Chris] is going to be talking to me and I’m just going to be earwigging. I want to hear the way Curtis is behaving.”

Meanwhile, fans were delighted to see heartbroke­n Amy smiling as she was spotted for the first time since her dignified departure from the show.

The air hostess posed a picture with TV host Laura Whitmore at the airport as she prepared to jet back to the UK.

The Co Wicklow star, who is dating Love Island’s voice-over comic Iain Stirling, captioned the shot: “Bumped into this sweetheart at the airport just wanted to give her a hug. She’s so lovely.”

Yawn. Another day, yet another time Love Island bosses have had to deny reports that the whole show is a fix.

This time the allegation­s were about Amy Hart, who left after being

Hart-broken by Strictly’s AJ Pritchard’s brother, Curtis. Still with me?

Good.

Anyway, rumour had it that evil, scheming producers forced catwoman

Maura to crack on with Curtis straight afterwards, adding to poor Amy’s misery and, ultimately, causing her to leave.

A Love Island spokeswoma­n said:

“This is untrue. The opinions the Islanders have, decisions they make and the relationsh­ips formed are completely within the control of the Islanders themselves.”

She didn’t deny that Love Island producers shot JFK though, so make of that what you will...

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? JETSET Amy and Laura Whitmore at airport CARRIED AWAY Maura & Curtis during challenge PURR WE GO Maura on Love Island last night
JETSET Amy and Laura Whitmore at airport CARRIED AWAY Maura & Curtis during challenge PURR WE GO Maura on Love Island last night
 ??  ?? MAKING A MOVE Dancer and ring girl
MAKING A MOVE Dancer and ring girl
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