Irish reality TV star Maura Higgins put on an animated display as she starred in a light-hearted promotional video for ITV Racing amid the Danny Jones ‘drunken kiss’ scandal
Maura Higgins promos 2025 Cheltenham Festival on ITV
Maura Higgins became the very first famous face to appear on ITV’s coverage of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.
The former Love Island star, 34, who has found herself at the centre of a media storm following her kiss with married McFly star Danny Jones at the BRIT Awards, starred in the promotional advert as the Cheltenham Festival kicks off today. The Irish reality TV star appeared on-screen with a sassy attitude as she joked about another upcoming battle between Ireland and Britain in the coming four days.
Dressed in a checkered brown blazer and a cream turtleneck, Maura rolled her eyes back in the advert as she tells UK viewers that the Irish are ‘gracious winners’ who would never dream of gloating if they win any races. “Look, you’re going to hear a lot of noise this week. Willy Mullins wins another…. the Irish dominant Cheltenham. Blah, Blah, Blah,” she quips.
“But you won’t hear it from us. Oh no. We’re gracious winners, not boastful at all. Oh no, nothing at all.” However, after having a sip of Guinness with the legend that is Ruby Walsh, Maura changes her tune and shouts: “Oh to hell with it, it’s Cheltenham and we’re going to win it all.”
The promotional video then shows a montage of Ireland’s greatest wins at the festival over the years, as a band plays traditional Irish music in the background. While many Irish fans have backed Maura’s new role with ITV as she supports her homeland, it appears that UK viewers are not as impressed.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, they aired their grievances following Maura’s controversial BRIT Awards kiss with Danny, 38, and the fact that neither of them are yet to comment on the scandal.
One X user shared: “I’m guessing they filmed that Maura Higgins bit before the Brits party kiss, and ITV didn’t have anything else in their back pocket so had to run with it #CheltenhamFestival.” Another echoed: Why have ITV started Cheltenham festival with Maura Higgins talking? Shouldn’t she be snogging Danny Jones?? #Cheltenham.”
Someone else wrote: “Maura Higgins on Cheltenham intro? Not sure whether to stand up and applaud or call it woke nonsense.” And another enthused: “Maura Higgins on ITV. What a sensational start to Cheltenham coverage.” Despite the negative comments, there was also an overwhelming amount of positive ones – especially from Maura’s fellow Irish.
“Go on Maura!!!! No better woman for something like this,” one fan gushed. “Yesssss Maura!!! The Queen of Ireland has made it. You tell them Brits,” another echoed. “Woohoo, the finest looking woman in all of the land is on an ITV ad.”
Maura, who shared the clip on her Instagram page, stars in the advert alongside former Irish jockey, Rupert ‘Ruby’ Walsh, who makes a blink and you’ll miss it appearance as one of the punters at the bar.
The former ring girl from Ireland jetted off to Los Angeles last week after her drunken kiss with Danny angered fans. Maura is said to be “in a bad way…and really struggling” according to pals who have rallied behind her in the wake of the scandal.
Friends of the reality star say that the last week has been “horrendous” as she has been deluged with “horrific” trolling on her social media.
Speaking to the Mirror, her pal said: “Maura is a tough character but the reaction to events of the last week has been utterly relentless, and it’s fair to say it’s taken its toll. She has found all of this very difficult to navigate. She appreciates she’s in the public eye and there is extra interest around her, but the abuse is off the charts, and people need to calm down.”
Danny, meanwhile, is yet to break his silence but his wife, Georgia, did share a snap of their seven-year-old son, Cooper, on Instagram today and was flooded with support. Telling the mum of one they were thinking of her, on wrote: “Hope you’re okay Georgia, you’ve got this xxx.” Another said: “Everyone is in your corner you’ve got this much love” while a third pledged: “We’re all rallied around you.”
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