Love Island’s Michael Griffiths was "surprised" to discover Maura Higgins initially had eyes for him when she first entered the villa.
The 27-year-old firefighter only found out about the 28-year-old model’s intentions when she revealed her feelings on last night’s (29.07.19) live final – on which she finished fourth alongside Curtis Pritchard – and he has admitted the ring girl didn’t ever "make it clear" she liked him.
Quizzed on whether he was aware Maura was keen on him, he said: "No, not at all, not in the slightest. That was news to me, I was a little bit surprised by that.
"She didn’t ever make that clear to me."
Lucie Donlan, who was close pals with Maura in the villa, said: "I already knew that. She told me at the beginning which guy she really fancied but I didn’t want to say anything."
But Michael insists nothing would have happened between himself and Maura even if he had known about her feelings.
He said: "At that stage me and Maura were just chatting and we got on really well but there was nothing there for me."
Michael was previously coupled up with Amber Gill on the show but dumped her in favour of Joanna Chimonides after the original girls went to stay in second villa Casa Amor.
But Amber had the last laugh as she and Greg O’Shea won the show and the £50,000 prize money last night.
Asked if he was thinking "that could’ve been me", Michael replied: "No, no, not at all. I was so happy for her, just to see that smile on her face is unbelievable.
"I’m actually so happy for them, just to see the excitement in Amber’s face.
"They didn’t expect that. But I’m so happy for them. Amber has been on such a journey, so it’s great. I’m so happy for her."
And Michael admits he had a feeling a couple of days ago that Amber and Greg were going to pip long-term favourites Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague to the post in the finale.
Speaking on ‘Lorraine’, he added: "I thought, ‘Do you know what? Tommy and Molly have got it,’ but in the last few days I was like, ‘No, Amber and Greg have got this.’ I could feel it."
Love Island’s Michael Griffiths ‘surprised’ by Maura Higgins
