Strictly Come Dancing's Pete Wicks addresses romance rumours with Jowita after 'kiss' claims

Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks said he and his professional dance partner Jowita Przystał have "great chemistry" amid speculation about their partnership

Pete Wicks has addressed claims that he is entangled in a romance with his Strictly Come Dancing partner Jowita Przystał. Amid speculation fuelled by their close connection, an apparent almost-kiss during a live performance and whispers of a romance behind-the-scenes, Pete has finally set things straight.

Discussing their partnership, the 36-year-old reality star spoke highly of Jowita, 30, but firmly shut down that they are more than friends. When probed if they are dating, he replied: "Erm, no. We're dance partners, she's amazing and I get on really well with her.

"She is honestly one of the nicest people I've ever met in my life." Reflecting on the circumstances of their pairing, Pete quipped: "She's won it before, so I think they thought listen she's already won it, so let's give her someone that she's not going to win it with.

"So, she's dragging me along the dance floor like a f*****g corpse at the minute, but she's really positive, she's really nice and she's got a very good sense of humour," reports the Manchester Evening News.

Speaking on Olivia Attwood's So Wrong, It's Right podcast, the ex TOWIE star said it was Jowita's personality that sealed his immediate preference for her as a dance partner as he gushed: "The first time I met her I thought, I like you, you're just a good person, you don't annoy me."

He elaborated on their connection, stating: "So yeah, she's the best person I could've been with, but it's not a romantic thing, but we do have great chemistry because we get on, we genuinely get on well."

Previously addressing rumours about an on-air kiss with Jowita during a performance on the show, he clarified on his Staying Relevant podcast with Sam Thompson: "During the choreography, there's a story been going around for two weeks saying me and Jowita kissed during the dance... everyone watched it on TV!"

He dismissed the claims, adding: "They called it a passionate kiss, it's the choreography, and we didn't. That's all anyone speaks about the next day." The duo are set to attract more attention this weekend with their upcoming Rumba routine to Oasis's 'Don't Look Back In Anger.

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday at 6.25pm on BBC One.