Irish Love Island star Maura Higgins has said she “didn’t want to be here” after leaving the reality TV show behind.

The reality star opened up about having dark thoughts on her We Need To Talk podcast episode released yesterday, hosted by Paul Brunson.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, broadcaster and reality TV fan Padraig Wilson McCarthy said the interview got into the “nitty-gritty” and was much more in depth than anything she has done before.

“We've seen her [Maura] on the Late Late Show and they’re very short, more fun interviews,” he said.

“She gets quite into it on this podcast – she goes into details about her growing up, her struggles in school, she talks about her past relationships.

“And of course, she goes into more detail about her experience on Love Island.

At its peak

Mr Wilson McCarthy said Higgins credits the show for her success – but is also open about the “struggles that come with it”.

“She admitted that when she left the villa, nothing could have prepared her for the level of stardom that she was experiencing,” he said.

“This was 2019 as well - probably when Love Island was at its peak, and it had broken all its previous records.

“It was the most watched final ever which she was a part of, and she said that she was basically dropped in the UK afterwards, and she had nowhere to live.

“She was living at home here in Ireland at the time before she went in, so she had nowhere to live.

"She didn't have any friends, she didn't have any family and she was just expected to cope."

The broadcaster said the Irish star didn’t even have clothes with her, only what she brought into the villa with her.

“She details, as well, the stress that she felt and the pressure that she felt and how she didn't really have a lot of experience or preparation […] for the amount of work that was going to come her way, and the expectations that were held of her,” he said.

Time and time again

Mr Wilson McCarthy said we’ve seen this “time and time again” with reality show stars.

“The show has come under very heavy criticism - as many reality TV shows have - and many have spoken out, particularly from Love Island, about their struggles,” he said.

“I mean, ITV say that they've got a duty of care.

“They get access to registered mental health professionals throughout - before, during and after filming.

“And they also say that they offer this bespoke training for people to deal with social media, which is a huge part [of it] when you come out.”

The broadcaster said people should be warned when they’re going into something like Love Island that there is a lot “expected of them” afterwards.

“I don't know if there's ever enough amounts of therapy or, you know, access to these supports that's going to actually properly prepare people for this,” he said.

Maura also spoke on the podcast about blaming herself after being assaulted by a taxi driver.

Listen back here:

Maura Higgins at the 'Oh Polly' fashion week event. Image: Grant Buchanan / SplashNews.com