Pete Wicks The TOWIE hunk has sparked a storm of speculation over his love life, with fans eager to decode his relationship with his close friend Maura Higgins And his Strictly Come Dancing partner Jowita PrzytalThe 36-year-old reality star has been caught sharing a kiss with Maura on multiple occasions, while his bond with Jowita has only grown stronger during their time on Strictly, leading many to wonder if there's more going on than just fancy footwork.
With Maura, 34, hinting at a "special someone" while chatting in the I'm A Celeb jungle, the buzz surrounding the trio is back in full force, sparking rumours of a possible love triangle behind the scenes. Despite the romance rumours, Pete and Jowita have been spotted spending time together away from the dance floor, including a heartwarming visit to the Dog's Trust in Basildon.
Pete and Maura have been photographed together at celebrity events(Image: GC Images)
Jowita couldn't hide her joy as she snuggled up with the furry friends for photos, later taking to Instagram to share her experience: "Last week, I had the pleasure to visit @dogstrust_basildon. Thank you, team, for a warm welcome, and thank you, @p_wicks01, for taking me there on one of the most beautiful mornings."
She gushed: “What you're doing for those little ones is absolutely remarkable, you're my heroes. Like @p_wicks01 says everyone deserves a second chance. »
In the adorable snap, Jowita beams as she cuddles a puppy, with Pete sitting next to her on the floor, giving another dog some love. Pete recently took to Instagram to share his heartfelt feelings for his dance partner, saying: "I've been struggling to think of what to say and it's not often I'm lost for words. I am so overwhelmed and blessed to have had your support over the past three months, I never expected it and I have never taken it for granted. The belief you guys have had in me has been incredible and at times I'm not sure I've deserved it," reports the mirror.
“I've said it before, but no amount of words will ever be able to repay what you have given me. People talk about the 'journey', and let me tell you, this isn't my journey at all. It's our journey. Jowita, you and I have all been on this wild ride, and I wouldn't have it any other way! »
While some fans speculated about a romantic spark between them, Pete cleared things up with Lorraine Kelly last month, insisting: “We've said from day one that we're really good friends, but they just want to do what they want to do. »
Now, a close friend of Pete's alleges that he ended his "romantic affair" with Jowita in an attempt to reconcile with Maura. The source suggests that the two have been seeing each other on and off for about five months, with Pete apparently "completely smitten".
Maura allegedly laid down the law on Pete, telling him to commit or quit, which led to Pete "slowing things down" with his dance partner Jowita, a source revealed to Daily Mail. The source said: “Before Maura entered the jungle, Pete wanted to make their relationship exclusive, but Maura, aware of Pete's reputation and his close bond with Jowita, decided to slow things down. She gave him an ultimatum: either commit to her or let it go. »
“So she went off a single woman. Since then, Pete has gone all-in, openly expressing his feelings to anyone who'll listen. Although he continues to dance with Jowita weekly, their off-the-floor relationship isn't as close as it once was. »
On the December 2 episode of I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Maura opened up about her love life at camp. When asked by Oti Mabuse if she was single, Maura intriguingly replied: "I am, but I was seeing someone before I came in, but I'm not in a relationship."
Reverend Richard Coles then asked her if her relationship was "exclusive," quickly apologizing for the personal question. Maura thought about it and replied, "I dunno."
Later, now-outcast DJ Dean McCullough asked if her man was a familiar face. Maura hinted with a playful look, "Yeah..." and confirmed that she missed him when Dean asked.
During her interview on Lorraine, Maura's mother Sharon Higgins was asked about the romance rumours between her daughter and Pete, but she remained flirtatious, confirming that they are "great friends".
Sharon said: “I can only say what she told me, she did tell me that they were great friends and that she's single and she's dating. So I don't know much after that, like, she didn't really expand on that. So I don't know what's happening. Maura and Pete were always friends but like the way Maura is, she at the moment – she was concentrating on herself. »
She added: “I don't know whether she expected to go on the dating scene again so soon after her last relationship, so I think at the minute. The way she is with friends anyway, she's supportive. She's very supportive, and they support her. So at the end of the day, look at it, she's dating, and she's entitled to date. »
The romantic buzz surrounding Pete and Maura was fueled by The Mirror, which reported that the duo shared a kiss at this year's Pride of Britain after-party. They indulged in a bit of public display of affection at the Red Bar at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, where Maura tenderly kissed Pete on the nose and lips, capturing the attention of everyone around them.
A source said at the Mirror Pete's candid confession at the after-party, although he was spotted getting close to Maura. The source said: “Pete did look cozy with Maura at points, but he wasn't shy about telling people he was single. He was proudly declaring himself single on the red carpet during interviews and even made a joke of not being in a relationship in the bar after the awards. »
Fans keeping tabs on the duo won't be shocked, as rumors of their romance have been circulating for quite some time.
In fact, this isn't the first time they've met for a Pride of Britain ceremony. At the 2023 edition, they were caught sharing what appeared to be a heartfelt conversation, exchanging glances that hinted at more than just friendship.
Last August, Pete and Maura were rumoured to be kissing over lunch at the posh Broadwick Soho Hotel in London, seemingly oblivious to the buzz of the place. According to an eyewitness who told The Sun: "After they'd sat there for a while, Maura went in for a long kiss with Pete. It wasn't the kind of kiss you'd give a friend, it was very passionate."
The source revealed that the stars were completely captivated by each other, with Pete apparently staying close to Maura throughout the evening. They noted: "They were all over each other. They looked totally in love and weren't trying to hide it from anyone."
Body language expert Judi James analysed the couple's dynamic after pictures of them together went viral in Soho, suggesting they could be genuinely head over heels in love with each other - a rare sight among celebrities.
Judi disclosed to the Mirror: “When two of the most famous and gorgeous-looking reality TV stars roll into a relationship like Maura and Pete seem to be doing here, the body language can often look lop-sided or over-congruent, with one looking keener than the other or both just hoping to double-up on the headlines via some showmance before breaking up publicly to get a gig on the next dating show or even re-hook up on a show like 'Ex on the Beach'. »
She added: “Pete and Maura's signals here, though, do suggest they might be equally smitten, especially as their eye contact and eye attention appear balanced in terms of intense gassing at the other's face. This is a rare behavior for reality stars or any celeb couple as one will often be gazing adoringly while the other appears distracted by cameras or even a mirror. »
Pete Wicks and Jowita Pryzstal are Strictly partners(Image: BBC)
Maura responded to the rumours with a cheeky Instagram post, wearing a T-shirt with the famous Soho photo and the slogan: 'We can't be friends'. Maura wore the top while cheering on Pete and his friend Sam Thompson as they recorded their Staying Relevant podcast live at Hammersmith Apollo.
Sharing a snap of herself wearing the shirt via Instagram Story, Maura wrote: « Hilarious evening… You broke it.
In an interview with TOWIE's Olivia Attwood on her series So Wrong It's Right, Pete found himself being grilled about his relationship with Maura. Olivia, 33, didn't beat around the bush, asking directly: “Your dating life. Maura Higgins. »
Pete replied: “Me and Maura have known each other for a long time. »
Olivia continued to probe, saying: “You've had a kiss, we've seen it! ", to which Pete insisted: "No, you haven't seen it. »
Not letting him off the hook that easily, Olivia pushed: “We've seen a picture of it,” before adding: “Next thing I need to know, are you and your dance partner romantically involved? “.
Pete burst into laughter, exclaiming: “My God! » to which a determined Olivia responded: « You don't get awards by not asking the questions! » Skilfully avoiding the question once again, Pete revealed: “One of the biggest problems is my b*******. »
He continued: “Well, I'm having to wear like shapewear … because otherwise, Shirley will end up with a couple of black eyes. »
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