Maura Higgins has admitted she can’t imagine finding love on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!

The reality star, 33, will make her debut as a late arrival on the ITV1 jungle reality show on Thursday night’s episode.

Maura was thought to be dating Strictly Come Dancing contestant Pete Wicks, 36, but has now insisted that she is single, and a romance is likely to be off the cards.

She said: ‘It is quite scary going in later. They have all met and got to know each other. 

‘It’s never easy being the newbie, but I am not a shy person, so I feel like I will be fine. It will be nice to bring some energy to the camp. 

‘I am single at the moment, but honestly no-one is going to fancy me in the jungle. Trust me!’

Maura Higgins has admitted she can’t imagine finding love on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! as viewers await her jungle debut in Thursday’s show

The former Love Island star has jumped at the chance to brave the Australian outback and is looking forward to getting to know hosts Ant and Dec but is ‘very nervous’ about the experience because she is ‘scared of everything’ that the jungle has to offer.

She said: ‘This is the only TV show I have ever wanted to do and it’s a real pinch me moment.

‘I am ready to step outside my comfort zone. I hope I do make myself proud and I am both excited but also very nervous, because I am scared of absolutely everything.

‘But I have watched this show for years and it will be nice to get to know Ant and Dec, who I have met on the red carpet before.’

It comes after MailOnline revealed that Maura will be dumped in the Jungle Junkyard when she makes her show debut.

The Irish model and fellow latecomer Reverend Richard Coles, 62, presumed they would join the rest of the cast in the main camp, but a shock twist sees the unlikely duo initially separated and placed in squalor.

The Jungle Junkyard contains overgrown greenery, rusty corrugated metal and zero luxury, a far cry from the sun-drenched Love Island villa where Maura made her name.

A TV insider revealed that the reality star will receive the ‘shock of her life’ after jetting from Las Vegas where she enjoyed an all-expense influencer trip with beauty brand Space NK, to landing in rainy Australia and being stripped of her luxuries.

The star was thought to be dating Strictly Come Dancing contestant Pete Wicks , 36, but has now insisted that she is single, and a romance is likely to be off the cards

And lack of amenities isn’t the only frightening factor of the Jungle Junkyard, with I’m A Celeb bosses teasing that the show’s latecomers will be put through their paces and the basic camp hides one big secret.

A show source said: ‘Maura and Richard Coles are in for the shock of their lives when they enter the Australian jungle as they will be sleeping in a horrible junkyard.

Read MoreEXCLUSIVE I’m A Celeb’s glam signing Maura Higgins to be DUMPED in new Jungle Junkyard with basic rations

‘Maura has gone from the bright lights of Sin City to being dumped into the basic camp, with no luxuries whatsoever.

‘But in true I’m A Celeb fashion all is not what it seems, and viewers will soon discover the jungle has many secrets.

‘Bosses have a few surprises up their sleeve for the upcoming series… and the Jungle Junkyard might be hiding the biggest one of all.’

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline ahead of her jungle stint, Maura insisted that she is ‘single’ despite dating TOWIE star Pete Wicks for the past few months.

She claimed that Pete, who is currently competing in Strictly Come Dancing alongside professional partner Jowita Przystał, will not be flying to Australia to meet her across the famous I’m A Celeb bridge when her time on the show comes to an end.

Pete is committed to Strictly after managing to avoid the dance-off despite receiving the lowest marks in the cast and being bottom of the leaderboard.

But his departure from the show could see him surprise Maura and best friend Sam Thompson, who is also Down Under co-presenting the new spin-off show Unpacked.

It comes after MailOnline revealed that Maura will be dumped in the Jungle Junkyard when she makes her show debut with Reverend Richard Coles

When asked if she is in a relationship with Pete, Maura said: ‘I’m not. I’ve been on dates with many people. I mean, I date, but I’m very much single. Everyone goes on dates.’

Indeed, the pair enjoyed a final evening together watching pianist Ludovico Einaudi at the London Palladium, where Maura said she was overcome with emotion watching the composer’s performance, before separating due to their work commitments. 

They were also spotted kissing at numerous red-carpet events such as the Pride of Britain Awards, with Maura previously speaking about how the pair have been friends for many years.

On the prospect of Pete flying across the world to greet her at the jungle bridge and reunite with close pal Sam, Maura replied: ‘I know nothing, he’s not said that to me anyway.’