Her whirlwind trip to Las Vegas had fans convinced she wasn’t joining this year’s I’m A Celebrity as a late entry.

But MailOnline can reveal Maura Higgins, 33, will arrive in Australia ‘imminently’ and is simply cutting it fine with her partying in Sin City over the weekend.

An ITV source said: ‘She will be arriving this week, the brand trip was always part of the schedule as Maura had agreed to it and it fit into her arrival dates for the Jungle.’

For weeks it’s been rumoured the Love Island star, 33, was a contestant on the ITV flagship show and Maura has done her best to throw fans off the scent in the past few days.

But in an attempt to squeeze out every last ounce of luxury from her lavish lifestyle, Maura accepted a paid-for trip to Vegas with the beauty brand, Space NK, which she knew would be cutting it fine when it came to her arrival Down Under.

Her whirlwind trip to Las Vegas had fans convinced she wasn’t joining this year’s I’m A Celeb as a late entry. But MailOnline can reveal Maura Higgins will arrive in Australia ‘imminently’

An ITV source said: ‘She will be arriving this week, the brand trip was always part of the schedule as Maura had agreed to it and it fit into her arrival dates for the Jungle’

Staying at the 500 dollars a night Palazzo at the Venetian H๏τel, Maura was joined by the likes of Stacey Solomon and was flown out on Thursday first class to Las Vegas.

Treated to morning facials and extravagant dinners of calamari at Nobu and lobster at the Bellagio, it’s a far cry from what’s in store for her in Australia, a diet that will consist of rice and beans.

After watching Adele at her Vegas residency, when the Easy on Me singer even interrupted her song to compliment Maura on her scarlet red suit, the Love Island star went on to party the night away with friends.

Playing into how last minute the trip was before the Jungle, Maura teased fans that she was headed to Australia by posting a picture of an aeroplane with the caption, ‘Where to?!’

When she later popped up in Las Vegas, fans who were expecting her to arrive at Brisbane Airport, were sent into a tailspin claiming she had already quit the Jungle.

But ITV knows she is too good a signing to let go.

When she entered the Love Island villa in 2019 with her non-nonsense confrontational demeanour, ITV bosses could not believe their luck and the Irish star quickly became a fan favourite.

But in an attempt to squeeze out every last ounce of luxury from her lavish lifestyle, Maura accepted a paid-for trip to Vegas with the beauty brand Space NK

Staying at the 500 dollars a night Palazzo at the Venetian H๏τel, Maura was joined by the likes of Stacey Solomon and was flown out on Thursday first class to Las Vegas

Treated to morning facials and extravagant dinners of calamari at Nobu and lobster at the Bellagio, it’s a far cry from what’s in store for her in Australia, a diet that will consist of rice and beans

This year’s campmates include Tulisa Contostavlos, Coleen Rooney, Barry McGuigan, Danny Jones, Melvin O’Doom, Oti Mabuse, Alan Halsall, Jane Moore, GK Barry and Dean McCullough

And the network is no doubt hoping for the same approach from Maura when it comes to the I’m A Celebrity jungle which will make her the perfect late arrival to shake the camp up.

She will be joining the likes of super Wag, Coleen Rooney, 39, and N-Dubz’s Tulisa Contostavlos, 36, for three weeks living a diet of rice and beans and camping among spiders and snakes.

Strictly’s Oti Mabuse and McFly singer Danny Jones are among the other signings this year. 

I’M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP

OTI MABUSE  

Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt

AGE: 34

OCCUPATION: Professional dancer

FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020. 

DANNY JONES 

Danny Jones is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: McFly singer

FAMOUS FOR:  Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly. 

He is also a coach on The Voice UK. 

BARRY MCGUIGAN 

Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle

AGE: 63

OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer

FAMOUS FOR:  Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight тιтles from 1985 to 1986. 

GK BARRY

GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women

AGE: 25

OCCUPATION: TikTok star 

FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel. 

DEAN MCCULLOUGH 

ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp

AGE: 32

OCCUPATION:  Radio 1 DJ 

FAMOUS FOR:  Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views. 

Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.  

JANE MOORE  

Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women

AGE: 62

OCCUPATION: Journalist

 FAMOUS FOR:  Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002. 

She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.

Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow. 

MELVIN ODOOM  

Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021

AGE: 44

OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter

FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.

He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.

COLEEN ROONEY 

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: WAG

FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, exceeding Nigel Farage’s £1.5million from last year.

ALAN HALSALL  

Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street

AGE: 42

OCCUPATION: Actor 

FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.

Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap. 

TULISA  

Tulisa is making her career comeback after reuniting with N-Dubz last year

AGE: 36

OCCUPATION: Singer and former X Factor judge 

FAMOUS FOR: Tulisa reunited with N-Dubz last year for a tour after first finding fame with the band in 2007.

In 2011, she became a judge on The X Factor and went on to launch her debut solo album, The Female Boss. 

She released her fourth album with N-Dubz last year.