Love Island star Maura Higgins has denied suggestions that she was involved in a 'showmance' with Curtis Pritchard.

The outspoken 29-year-old got together with Curtis - brother of Strictly Come Dancing's AJ Pritchard - during last summer's edition of the ITV2 reality show and the pair went on to form a relationship outside of the villa.

After much speculation, Maura and Curtis confirmed their split earlier this month, just two weeks after she was eliminated from Dancing On Ice.

A subsequent story in The Sun claimed that the pair had kept their relationship going for career reasons, but in an interview with the same newspaper today, Maura launched a vehement denial.

"People say this, but what's the point?" she said. "If I'm not happy I'm just not going to be with that person, and I can't fake anything because my face will tell it straight away. What are you going to gain? Plus, I'm my own brand.

"I don't need anyone, there's no point denying it! I just felt like I'm 29 and I want somebody that I can see a future with. I'm not getting any younger.

"[Curtis] is 24 – maybe he did want that, maybe he didn't, I don't know, but I just felt it wasn't going in that direction. The time apart as well... I want somebody I can be with most days."

Curtis is now said to be pursuing a new career as a TV presenter with his brother AJ, with ambitions of becoming 'the new Ant and Dec'.