I’m a Celebrity’s Maura Higgins and Strictly’s Pete Wicks could be the UK’s hottest new celebrity couple but are they actually dating? The I’m a Celebrity star has finally spoken about those rumours while in the jungle.
Higgins burst onto the reality TV set on Love Island in 2019, the same series that made Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury famous. Meanwhile, Wicks has been on the reality scene in 2015 on The Only Way Is Essex. Naturally their paths have crossed while mingling with the stars on red carpets.
Being on Strictly Come Dancing, it’s only expected that the former TOWIE star’s love life would be even more under the microscope than usual over the next few months. In fact, he has also been rumoured to be dating his dance partner Jowita Przystał which he has denied.
Now that Higgins is a big star on I’m a Celebrity, the excitement around the rumours has only increased.
I’m a Celebrity’s Maura Higgins on dating
Higgins has addressed the dating whispers — without naming any names — but said she was single. Asked about her single status, she told her campmates: “I am but I was seeing someone before I came in but I’m not in a relationship.”
Rev Richard Coles asked her whether the romance was exclusive to which she responded: “I dunno.” The former Love Island star was shy about saying who it was but admitted “yeah” it was someone the public would know.
Dean McCullough quizzed her on whether the romance felt different. She responded: “It does, but then is it because we’ve known each other for a long time?” At 34, Higgins has said she had never been in love though.
Wicks and Higgins have always maintained they are friends during their time in the spotlight but since the reports of a kiss, they have stayed quiet on the claims.
Pride of Britain kiss
It follows The Mirror’s reports that Wicks and Higgins were seen kissing at the star-studded Pride of Britain afterparty in the Red Bar of London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
This isn’t the first Pride of Britain event where Higgins and Wicks were seen getting close. The friends were seen snapping selfies and enjoying a cosy chat at the 2023 awards ceremony party, sparking rumours at the time they could become an item.
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Both Wicks and Higgins have shared pictures from inside the 2024 event but neither of them have commented on the kiss or posted pictures publicly together.
On the same night however, Higgins was also seen getting close to Strictly professional dancer Kai Widdrington. Previously, the TV personality has been romantically linked to ex Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice.
Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins dancing
Only days prior to the kiss headlines, Wicks was showing Higgins some of his best dance moves. They were seen having a great time while performing some of the choreography the former TOWIE star has been learning for Strictly.
They even staged a moment which looked like they could be sharing a kiss and wrapping their arms around each other. The Love Island star joked in the caption: “A few concussions later…”
It sent fans wild in the comments section with hopes they could get together. “I feel like Maura perfect for him, ballsy and won’t put up with any crap. I’m rooting for them,” one person said.
Another added: “He denied it recently on a podcast however he deserves happiness. x”
Someone else said: “They would be the best reality TV couple there ever was.”
“Why did I love this, a couple I never imagined!!” Agreed another.
Pete Wicks answers whether he’s dating Maura Higgins
Earlier, Olivia Attwood point-blank quizzed friend Wicks over his love life for her podcast series So Wrong It’s Right. She said: “Your dating life. Maura Higgins.”
Wicks danced around the question when he answered: “Me and Maura have known each other for a long time.”
Attwood pressed him further: “You’ve had a kiss, we’ve seen it!” Wicks insisted that “no you haven’t seen it” in response shutting down the talk of a kiss. Attwood added: “We’ve seen a picture of it.”
“You haven’t seen it,” Wicks hit back.
Playfully, the Love Island star questioned him over his Strictly dance partner. She said: “Next thing I need to know, are you and your dance partner romantically involved?” To which Wicks responded “my God”.
Attwood said: “You don’t get awards by not asking the questions!”
Fears of dying alone
In September, Wicks voiced his fears he would die alone but at the same time he said he was unable to commit himself fully to a romantic relationship.
He told The Times Magazine: “I’m nearly 36. I want to get married and have kids. I’ve been blessed with so many opportunities, but what’s the point if I can’t share them with anyone?
“Right now, I’m not ready to wholeheartedly commit to a romantic relationship because I don’t fully understand myself yet. I would love to find a wife, but you know what? I may end up one of those men who dies alone.”
‘We can’t be friends’
In August, Wicks and Higgins were seen sharing a kiss over al fresco lunch at the Broadwick Soho Hotel. The moment was described as “passionate” by The Sun who obtained the pictures from someone who was at the restaurant eating at the same time.
Higgins saw the funny side as she promote Wicks’ podcast Staying Relevant while wearing a T-shirt that said “we can’t be friends” with the photograph of them sharing a kiss over lunch.
It comes months after March 2024 reports that Higgins had split from her boyfriend Bobby Holland Hanton, a stunt double for Chris Hemsworth.
Yahoo has reached out to Maura Higgins and Pete Wicks’ representatives for comment.