Maura Higgins may be winning over viewers with her performances on Dancing With The Stars, but her close partnership with Mark Ballas is reportedly attracting plenty of attention backstage.

The 35-year-old Love Island star was paired with professional dancer Mark for Season 35, and their strong chemistry has quickly become one of the talking points surrounding the competition. However, sources claim Mark’s wife, BC Jean, has been keeping a close eye on the pair as they spend long hours rehearsing together.

BC, who married Mark in 2016, has reportedly been making regular visits to the studio while the couple prepares for each performance.

An insider claimed BC is aware of Maura’s past controversies, including her 2024 kiss with married McFly singer Danny Jones, and wants to make sure her husband’s partnership with Maura does not become anything more.

“BC is certainly keeping a very close eye on the pair,” the source claimed. “She’s very aware of Maura’s man-eating ways and past indiscretion with Danny Jones, and doesn’t want her to have the opportunity to pounce.”

The insider added that BC has been attending rehearsals frequently and watching the pair closely.

“She’s at the studio a lot, watching the rehearsals and making sure they don’t get too close,” the source said. “It’s highly unusual for partners of the pro-dancers to go along so often, so it’s clear she is definitely on edge.”

BC has also become part of Mark and Maura’s performances in a way that has caught attention backstage. The singer-songwriter has performed live on the show twice during their routines.

During the Season 35 premiere, BC sang “Black Velvet” as Mark and Maura performed their opening-night Foxtrot. She returned during Horror Movie Night to perform “Cry Little Sister” while the pair danced.

Her involvement has reportedly raised eyebrows because of how unusual it is for a professional dancer’s spouse to perform during their partner’s routines multiple times.

“BC knows exactly who Maura is and she’s certainly not oblivious to her reputation,” another source claimed. “Everyone knows Maura has never been shy when it comes to flirting.”

“These partnerships can become intense because you’re spending so much time together, and BC has now chosen to sing at two of their dances which is rather unusual,” the insider added.

The source also claimed people backstage have noticed BC’s increased presence around the studio as Mark and Maura’s partnership continues to attract attention.

BC is no stranger to the entertainment world herself. She is a successful songwriter who co-wrote Beyoncé’s hit “If I Were A Boy” and has also written songs for artists such as Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande.

She and Mark have also worked together professionally as the musical duo Alexander Jean. The couple first met at a house party in 2012, became engaged three years later and married in Malibu, California, on November 25, 2016.

Mark is the son of Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas, while fellow Dancing With The Stars professional Derek Hough was among his groomsmen. Mark and BC now share one child.

While BC is reportedly comfortable with Mark being paired with a glamorous celebrity, a source claimed she does not want their partnership to turn into a romantic storyline.

“BC has no problem with Mark having a glamorous dance partner – she understands that’s the nature of the show,” the source said. “But the last thing she wants is to become part of a love-triangle storyline.”

Maura’s past controversy has also reportedly become a topic among some of the cast’s partners. Her kiss with Danny Jones at the 2024 Brit Awards caused widespread attention, and sources previously claimed some of the professional dancers’ wives and girlfriends only learned about the incident after Maura was announced as part of the Dancing With The Stars cast.

One insider previously claimed the partners were sharing details about the incident in group chats after searching Maura online.

“They only just found out about the Danny Jones situation when the Dancing With The Stars line-up was announced and they started Googling Maura,” the source said.

The insider claimed some partners described Maura as “ruthless and desperate” and were determined to prevent her from winning the competition.

Despite the controversy, Maura has focused on proving herself on the dancefloor. She made a strong start to the season by topping the leaderboard after earning 21 out of 30 points for her Foxtrot to “Black Velvet.”

So far, Maura appears to have impressed the judges and viewers with her performances. But as her partnership with Mark continues, the attention surrounding them may create a different kind of challenge away from the dancefloor.

BC Jean and Maura’s representatives were approached for comment.