Pete Wicks says 'different now' as he opens up on Maura Higgins relationship

Pete Wicks has opened up about his romance with Maura Higgins, having kept it low-profile since going public last August. In a heart-to-heart on the We Need To Talk podcast, hosted by Celebs Go Dating's Paul Brunson, the ex-Towie icon shared insights into their bond.

Reflecting on their six-year acquaintance, Strictly Come Dancing star Pete said: "Maura and I have known each other for a long time now... about six years. We have the same sense of humour, she's super intelligent and I think that is sometimes something that people don't realise about Maura."

Pete, 37, spoke fondly of how they've always supported one another, "She's incredibly witty. We have always been there for each other for the past six years at a distance."

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His feelings seem to have deepened, as Pete remarked, "It's different now. We spend more time together now than we did before.

"My relationship with her is that I think she's a great person and I would hope that she thinks I'm alright."

Despite Pete's glowing comments, Maura, who rose to fame on Love Island, has confessed to The Times that she has a "terrible" taste in men but remains optimistic, saying "it would be lovely" to fall in love.

Speaking candidly, she affirmed she is "happy now," leaving open whether this means she's currently in love. Maura expressed her current stance on relationships, explaining: "I don’t feel like I need a man. But I’ll date, and I’ll see where something goes, and if it happens, it happens."

Maura spoke about the complexities of their relationship in the I'm A Celebrity jungle. When asked if she was single, the 34-year-old said: "I am, but I was seeing someone before I came in. I'm not in a relationship."

Richard Coles probed: "Was it exclusive? Or if I've put you on the spot, sorry!" and Maura replied: "I don't know". She added that it was someone who the public would recognise.

Maura admitted that she thought she had never been in love, before admitting: "It does [feel different this time], but then is it because we've known each other for a long time?'"

Richard added: "You'd know if he was an a****** or not, by now, as the stunner smiled to herself, and replied: 'Yeah, he's not an a******.'