I’m A Celebrity viewers saw the arrival of two new campmates in Thursday night’s episode (November 21), with Love Islander Maura Higgins and priest Richard Coles set to disrupt the peace and harmony in the camp.
However, it’s not just the white lies the two new celebs have been telling their fellow castmates that could cause friction, as Maura actually has history with the son of one of her jungle co-stars. The Love Islander previously dated boxer Barry McGuigan’s son, Shane McGuigan, which means there could be an awkward moment in store on the show.
With interest in Maura’s love-life now sky-high thanks to her appearance on I’m A Celebrity, what more is there to know about her former flame Shane?
(Image: 2013 Dave M. Benett)
Who is Shane McGuigan?
Shane, 36, has followed in his father’s footsteps and entered the world of boxing, though not as a pro boxer. He actually works as a boxing coach and has trained multiple world champions including David Haye and Chris Billam-Smith.
The sportsman and his dad have their own elite boxing gym called McGuigan Gym which was the subject of a four-part BBC One documentary called Stable: The Boxing Game. Available to stream now on BBC iPlayer, the documentary lifted the lid on life inside the gym and the stories that have unfolded within it.
At the time of its release earlier this year, Shane explained that the four-parter “captures the highs, the lows and everything in between about what fighters, trainers, their families and friends all go through before, during and after a fight.”
(Image: (Image: Getty))
Personal life
Shane is the father of two boys, called Finley George and Caelan James, who he shares with his singer-songwriter partner, Taylor West. The family also have two pet bulldogs.
It’s clear from Shane’s Instagram feed that he is a family man as he regularly shares pictures of Taylor and his children with sweet captions, alongside his boxing content.
Shane and Taylor got engaged in March 2023, with the boxing coach posting a loved-up snap of the pair captioned: “Over the moon @taylorwestmusic said yes.”
(Image: (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images))
How did Shane meet Maura Higgins?
Maura and Shane reportedly dated briefly in 2018, a year before Maura got her big break as a Love Island contestant.
Prior to her stint on the reality dating show Maura was working as a ring girl. She was involved in the David Haye vs Tony Bellew rematch, which is where she met Shane. Given Maura was based in Ireland and Shane was running his boxing gym in London at the time, the pair’s relationship ultimately fizzled out due to the challenges of long-distance, according to an insider.
“Maura has brains and beauty and she quickly caught Shane’s eye. They got chatting and had instant chemistry so of course he asked her out,” the insider told The Sun, recounting the former couple’s first meeting. Despite their relationship coming to an end, the pair are rumoured to still remain friends.
I’m A Celebrity viewers hoping for a tense reunion between Maura and Shane’s dad may be left disappointed as the Love Island star confessed that she had never met her ex’s father.
I’m A Celebrity…. Get Me Out Of Here! continues tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX
View news Source: https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/reality/who-barry-mcguigans-son-inside-34164289
