Strictly's Pete Wicks' love life: Co-star relationships, Jowita rumours and Maura Higgins kiss

by · RSVP Live

Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks hit the limelight in 2015 when he joined the cast of hit reality show, The Only Way is Essex.

With his rugged good looks, Pete instantly became a heartthrob with viewers and in the years that followed hit the headlines over his relationships with co-stars and rumoured romances.

More recently, Pete has been linked to his Strictly partner Jowita Przystał, as well as Love Island legend Maura Higgins.

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Speaking about his dating life, the TOWIE star previously revealed his hopes for settling down. He said: "I'm going to get married one day, I believe in soulmates, but I’m not going to be in a relationship if I don’t see it as the person I’m going to spend the rest of my life with."

Here, we look back at Pete's dating history - plus all of those Maura Higgins rumours.

Megan McKenna

Pete began dating fellow TOWIE star Megan in 2016, as viewers watched their fiery relationship play out on TV.

They split a year after dating and both took part in Celebs Go Dating, where they agreed it would be best for them to stay friends.

Speaking about their split, Pete said: "About three or four months into us being together I made a few mistakes. I was messaging other women. When I start to get feelings for someone I feel vulnerable."

Megan McKenna and Pete Wicks attend the National Television Awards on January 25, 2017 in London, United Kingdom.(Image: Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Chloe Sims

Pete dated another co-star of his, Chloe Sims, on and off for two years but things came to a final end when Pete said there had "definitely been blurred lines".

"We haven't been officially seeing each other but there's definitely been times it's been more than just a friendship," he told The Sun.

The pair had an argument on TOWIE, as Pete admitted: "I can't be in a relationship, I can't give you what you want and I can't give you what you deserve and I know that."

The pair have since made up and remain friends.

Ella Rae Wise

Pete was linked to TOWIE's Ella Rae Wise in 2021, but their supposed romance was short-lived.

Speaking on the Saving Grace podcast, Pete said: "The whole Ella thing, I was single when we filmed that and me and Ella get on really well. She's a lovely girl.

"We enjoyed a little flirt but I think people like to get carried away with the idea of it. There needed to be something going on didn't there?"

Jowita Przystał

Pete has been dancing up a storm on this year's Strictly Come Dancing, with Polish dancer and fan favourite Jowita Przystał.

The pair have fantastic chemistry on the dance floor and have performed some steamy routines so far, from sizzling sambas to romantic rumbas, leading fans to speculate if something more is going on between them.

While Jowita agreed they have a great connection, she has insisted they are just friends.

"We have very good chemistry together as friends, we really get on well with each other, and we have so much fun together. And dancing is a bit like acting, so we're telling a story every night on Saturday night, and I think we're doing a pretty good job with that," she told OK!.

"But we're very good friends, and I love him so much as a brother, and I think we're going to stay friends for life, to be honest."

Pete and Jowita backstage at Strictly(Image: BBC)

Maura Higgins

Pete has been linked to Maura Higgins on more than one occasion, but according to reports their romance was "confirmed" at this year's Pride of Britain Awards.

The Mirror revealed that the reality stars shared a kiss at the in the Red Bar of London's Grosvenor House Hotel, where they partied until 1am.

This comes after the pair were papped kissing back in August, though they played down reports as Maura poked fun at the situation by posting a snap of herself wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the photograph that said: "We can't be friends".

When grilled about the rumours on a podcast with his pal Olivia Attwood, Pete remained coy. Olivia said: "Your dating life. Maura Higgins," to which Pete simply replied: "Me and Maura have known each other for a long time."

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