I’m A Celebrity stars Maria Thattil and Joey Essex hit it off in jungle

A romance is bubbling on I’m A Celebrity, with the star duo getting cosy in the jungle on Sunday night as they admitted “something is there”.

There’s a bit of jungle romance brewing on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here this season.

British reality star Joey Essex, 31, and Australian model Maria Thattil, 28, appear to be hitting it off on the Channel 10 reality show, with the duo filmed holding hands on Sunday night’s episode.

Essex later admitted during a confessional that “something is there” between the pair.

Thattil, who was Miss Universe Australia in 2020, was talking about qualities she looks for in a potential partner, as the pair held hands in front of their campmates.

Joey Essex and Maria Thattil on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! Picture: Nigel Wright

“I like people who are adventurous, creative and open,” Thattil said.

Essex responded: “I’ve pretty much got all those things haven’t I? I’m just saying. If there was like a piece of paper with all the boxes I reckon every one would be ticked.”

The TOWIE star later said in a confessional: “It’s nice to have someone in here who I can talk to, who I can be with in a friendly way but at the same time, something is there.”

During her own confessional, Thattil mirrored Essex’s sentiments.

“I think we’ve hit it off really, really well. We’re having great conversation. It’s really lovely. He is very charming,” she said.

Joey Essex and Maria Thattil appear to be forming a close bond.

Romance is in the jungle air. Picture: Channel 10

It comes after Thattil told The Daily Telegraph she had no idea who Essex was when he entered the Aussie jungle as an intruder last week.

“I had no concept of who he was so when I was getting to know him, I wasn’t getting to know ‘Joey Essex’ the character,” Thattil told the publication.

“I am not overly impressed or flustered by that side of things. It is more, are you a nice, kind, attractive person that I am vibing? Cool, let’s enjoy that. It didn’t really phase me because I had no idea who he was.”

The show was shot in northern NSW late last year, with Thattil now back in Melbourne and Essex in the UK.

Maria Thattil opened up about her connection with Essex. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Essex is well known in the reality TV circles in the UK. Picture: Nigel Wright

It wouldn’t be the first time an international star has forged a connection with a local celeb on the show.

On the 2020 season, former MAFS groom Ryan Gallagher briefly dated British Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby.

The pair split a short time after filming, after Crosby told Gallagher she was not ready for a new relationship as she was going through a break-up.

Charlotte Crosby and Ryan Gallagher on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! in 2020. Picture: Supplied/Channel 10

While he’s not a household name to Australians, Essex is quite a well known character in his home country.

He has appeared on a host of reality shows over in the UK, including the 2013 season of I’m A Celebrity, in which he finished fourth.

He first shot to notoriety on the popular reality series The Only Way Is Essex (abbreviate to TOWIE) in 2011, before going on to star in further local productions including Celebrity SAS, Celebrity Ex on the Beach, Splash! and The Jump.

I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! continues tonight from 7.30pm AEDT on Channel 10

Originally published as I’m A Celebrity stars Maria Thattil and Joey Essex hit it off in jungle