Six months after their shock kiss at the BRIT Awards, Danny Jones and Maura Higgins are set for an awkward reunion at the National Television Awards. The pair – who appeared on I’m A Celebrity! together last year – are both expected to attend the annual showbiz event in September, as the ITV show has been shortlisted for Best Reality Competition.
Danny – who was crowned King of the Jungle – will also be there for his role as a judge on The Voice, which has been nominated in the Talent Show category. But with all eyes inevitably on Danny and Maura, we’re told his wife Georgia has given him an ultimatum, setting some strict ground rules for the night.
‘Ever since that kiss, everyone’s been waiting to see what happens when Danny and Maura end up face-to-face again, and the NTAs could be the first real test,’ a source says. ‘The kiss is still fresh in people’s minds and if they cross paths, it’ll be impossible for it not to be the elephant in the room. The NTAs are huge for TV, but most people will be watching to see if Danny and Maura lock eyes – that’s where the cameras will linger.
‘Georgia’s made her feelings very clear about boundaries, and Danny’s keen to show he’s committed. There’s huge pressure on this event. Georgia isn’t naïve and she’s tightened the rules – he can be polite if necessary, but nothing more. She doesn’t want Danny to give anyone a reason to question where his loyalties lie. Danny will definitely be trying to avoid Maura.’
Just one day after reports appeared about the potentially awkward NTAs meet-up, McFly singer Danny, 39, made his commitment to his family clear, posting a string of idyllic holiday snaps of his wife, 38, and their six-year-old son Cooper. But behind closed doors, our source says Danny is feeling anxious and doesn’t want to risk upsetting his influencer wife further.
‘Danny was genuinely torn about whether to go to the NTAs. The kiss with Maura created more noise than he ever expected, and part of him thought it might be easier to skip this event altogether. He knows how much speculation it will spark if he and Maura are under the same roof again,’ the insider continues.
‘He doesn’t want to hurt Georgia any more and Georgia didn’t mince her words. She told Danny to be extremely careful and reminded him that she won’t tolerate any slip-ups, especially not on a night as public as this one will be.’
This will be Danny’s first event since he drunkenly snogged his co-star Maura, 34, at a BRITs after-party in March. At the time, Danny apologised to his wife and family for ‘putting them in this situation’, while former Love Island star Maura chose to remain quiet. Georgia temporarily moved out of the couple’s London family home, but returned in April, with claims Danny was willing to do ‘anything to make it work’. But sources said that despite their best efforts to mend their relationship, the pair were like ‘passing ships’.
Since then, their relationship has slowly gone from strength to strength. Danny attended a reunion with Georgia’s family in July, and a few days later, the pair – who have been married for over a decade – watched Oasis together alongside Danny’s mum Cathy. However, our insider adds that Danny is on his last chance as Georgia won’t stand for being humiliated again.
We’re told, ‘Danny and Georgia have worked through a lot, and they still are working on things. Those who know them say they’ve tried to move past this, but there will be no more second chances.’