Vicky Pattison gives ‘hard as nails’ Maura Higgins her seal of approval to date best pal Pete Wicks ahead of I’m A Celeb liennhi

VICKY Pattison has given her stamp of approval to “tough as nails” Maura Higgins dating Pete Wicks - just in time for I'm A Celebrity.

Last week, reality power couple Pete, 36, and Maura, 33, finally confirmed their romance with a sweet kiss after a night in East London.

It's well known that Vicky, 37, and the former Towie star are good pals - but Maura doesn't have anything to worry about as she's fully on board with the relationship.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun on behalf of Lily's Kitchen, she said: "You know, he tells me absolutely nothing about his love life. He stopped doing that a long time ago.

"Probably for the best. I'm such a nosy cow, so I know nothing about what's going on.

"Maura's absolutely gorgeous and like, if they were together, they would absolutely have my seal of approval, he knows that for sure.

"I’m not even pleading ignorance on this one. I'm genuinely in the dark."

And, with Maura heading into this year’s I’m A Celeb jungle next week, Vicky only had more praise for the Irish beauty.

She added: "I think she'll be incredible to watch. I actually think the bugs should be scared of her, she’s a weapon. I think Maura is tough as nails."

Elsewhere in the chat, the Geordie Shore lass confessed she's already sleeping in separate beds with her husband Ercan Ramadan - despite tying the knot only two months ago.

The surprise sleeping arrangements aren't due to any marital wobbles though, it's just that Vicky prefers cuddling up to their two pet pooches at night instead of her hunky man.

Labradors Max and Milo, who both get birthday parties and their own Christmas dinners, have found their way into the master bedroom and are living in the lap of luxury.

She said: "I suppose some people would potentially consider how we treat them a bit outrageous and probably consider them a bit spoiled, but I just think if you're not willing to have your your dogs and treat them as part of the family I honestly don't know what the point is."

New research carried out on behalf of the pet food brand shows that 57 percent of dog owners have a closer connection with their pets than their partners - and that's at least the case with Vicky when it comes to bedtime.

"I think my behavior, potentially from some, may be judged as outrageous, but it's just par for the course," she said.

"Even though I have just got married, I think less than two months, he's in the spare room and the dogs sleep with me."

The couple adopted Milo from Dogs Trust three years ago and Max followed 18 months later from Many Tears Animal Rescue.

Vicky described the pair as "completing her little family."

"Milo is such a handful," she said. "Anybody who's gone through the puppy stage can absolutely attest that it is pretty spicy, and you know, we had it all with Milo, the destruction and all of the cheeky little bits."

Vicky admitted to romanticising those more difficult moments, but her love for the dogs far outweighs any negative aspects of owning a pet.

And she's keen to give them as much attention as she can, regardless of whether some might find it over the top.

She said: "Every year the boys both get thrown a birthday party and when it comes to big things like Christmas we go the extra mile, whether that's getting them their own advent calendar from Lily's Kitchen or making sure they've got their own Christmas dinner, their own presents to open in the morning, it's all just endless.

"But they've brought us so much happiness. They've turned my house into a home."

Ercan and Vicky elevated their relationship by having two wedding ceremonies - one at Marylebone Town Hall in August and another weeks later at 19th century Castle Elvira in Puglia, Italy, which was filmed for a TV show.

Her stunning bespoke Suzanne Neville dress needed a deep clean after being caked in fake tan as she partied into the night with loved ones, while her other dresses remains in cases.

Vicky's toying with the idea of donating them to bring joy to another bride, or may even wear the less formal ones to a red carpet event, citing Kate Middleton's penchant for re-wearing fancy garments as inspiration.

Beyond the fairytale nuptials and designer gowns though life hasn't changed too much for the couple - but that's not to say the weddings weren't special.

"I think we were probably living as man and wife a long time before we had the big ceremony," said Vicky. "But it's made us feel closer, definitely, and really secure.

"I knew Ercan was the one as soon as I met him and it's really nice to have had our big celebration and included all my friends and family.

"I'm a bit traditional, I suppose. I feel really nice wearing the ring and seeing my husband. Some people might just see it as a bit of paper and a big party, but for us, it did mean something."