Pete Wicks and BBC Strictly’s Jowita Przystal ‘closer than ever’ after Maura Higgins’ ‘I’m single’ blow

Strictly Come Dancing’s Pete Wicks and his professional dance partner Jowita Przystal are said to be “closer than ever” as speculation about their relationship intensifies.

Sources claim “something has changed” between the former TOWIE star, 36, and the professional dancer, 30, in recent weeks.

The pair, who have been partnered together on the BBC dance show, are said to have been secretly meeting away from the programme.

A source told The Sun: “The chemistry between them has been pretty clear since the moment they met but the last few weeks something has changed and they’ve started seeing each other away from the show.”

“They’ve tried to keep it low-key but they often travel together rather than getting separate cars to different locations,” the insider added.

The source also noted their tactile behaviour backstage has become “pretty obvious” with everyone talking about how close they appear.

The development comes after Love Island star Maura Higgins, 33, who was recently linked to Wicks, declared she is single before entering the I’m A Celebrity jungle.

The pair had been spotted kissing at various events, including the Pride of Britain Awards, and enjoyed a final evening together at the London Palladium watching pianist Ludovico Einaudi.

In an interview with MailOnline, Higgins insisted: “I’m not. I’ve been on dates with many people. I mean, I date, but I’m very much single. Everyone goes on dates.”

However, Higgins and Wicks could reunite after her stint in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! claims love guru Jesper Jensen at ExpertsEnAmour .

He said: “Time apart helps people figure out what they really want. If they genuinely value each other and prioritise regular communication, this separation could deepen their connection and clarify whether they’re ready to make things official.”

Back in October, Wicks dismissed romance rumours with Przystal during an appearance on This Morning.

When host Alison Hammond probed about their “love bubble”, Wicks insisted: “It’s not a love bubble, unfortunately…”

He explained: “No, it’s not a love bubble, we have great chemistry because we’ve become such good friends.”

The Strictly star added: “She’s one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met, genuinely, not just in the dancing side of things but outside of that.”

In September, Wicks opened up about his personal life to The Times magazine, sharing his hopes for the future.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

ITV I’m A Celeb ‘duty of care’ called into question by viewers as Ant and Dec make shocking revelation
Amanda Holden left confused and admits ‘I don’t know what I did’ as daughter ‘super upset’Louis Tomlinson makes sweet gesture hours after Liam Payne’s emotional funeral

“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?” he revealed.

However, he admitted he wasn’t ready for a serious commitment, explaining: “I’m not ready to wholeheartedly commit to a romantic relationship because I don’t fully understand myself yet.”