real deal
Pete Wicks ‘cools romance with Strictly’s Jowita’ amid flirting with make-up artists and sets sights on I’m A Celeb star
It comes after he was placed bottom of the leaderboard this week
STRICTLY Come Dancing's Pete Wicks is said to be "cooling" his romance with show pro Jowita Przystal - as he sets his sights on an I'm A Celeb star.
The Sun exclusively revealed this week how the TOWIE alum had also been flirting with make-up artists on the set of the BBC One show.
6
6
6
Yet it appears his feelings for Love Island beauty Maura Higgins, 34 - with whom he was seen on a date before she headed Down Under for the I'm A Celeb jungle - haven't been put to one side.
A source has now outlined their relationship state of play after Maura exclusively told us "I am very much single."
They 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.
read more strictly
"She gave him an ultimatum: either commit to her or let it go.
"So she went off a single woman."
They added to : "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."
Most read in Reality
The Sun has gone to Pete's rep for comment.
LOVE STORY?
As Maura arrived in Australia last month, she said: “I date, but I’m very much single.”
Pete Wicks fights back tears as he tells partner Jowita 'I'm so sorry' after dance is branded a 'disaster'
After she was snapped kissing Pete she insisted to The Sun the pair were not an item, and said: “I’m not, I’m not. Where have you heard that?
“I mean, I date, but I’m very much single.
“And honestly, I just think the interest in my dating life is so boring.
Strictly 2024 pairings
Here's who is matched with who this series...
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas
JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe
Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec
Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova
Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones
Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones
“Everyone goes on dates, but then you’re like... Maura’s in a relationship with this person, this person.”
When queried if she has been on a date with Pete, she laughed: “I mean, I’ve been on a date with many people.”
The ex-Towie hunk seems to have found himself in a love triangle with Maura and Strictly dance partner Jowita Przystal.
He grown increasingly close to Jowita 30, with the pair sharing car rides to rehearsals.
HUGE FLIRT?
Meanwhile, Pete has been hailed a "huge flirt" backstage on the BBC series, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
A source was first to tell The Sun: “Pete is a huge flirt and has made a beeline for the make-up girls.
“He is never pervy and brightens the room wherever he goes and always treats women with the utmost respect, which has them falling at his feet.”
They added to us: "Things have been complicated a bit by Pete flirting with the make-up girls.
"It’s not clear how serious he is about any of them or whether it’s just banter."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Meanwhile, Pete was placed bottom of the leaderboard on Saturday for his emotive Waltz with Jowita.
He was then placed at the heart of a "favouritism" row as fans accused the judges of "brushing over" his mistakes.
6
6
6
Topics