BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Jowita sums up relationship with Pete Wicks amid Maura Higgins talk

Pete Wicks faced a difficult week on Strictly last weekend, finishing rock bottom of the leader board with his partner Jowita Przystal.

Pete, 36, was seen apologising to the professional dancer after their disappointing Salsa to Queen's Another One Bites The Dust, which scored just 22 points. Rumours of a romance between the dancing partners have been igniting ever since they stepped onto the famous floor, but Jowita insists their sizzling chemistry isn't for real.

"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! magazine. "We have very good chemistry together as friends, we really get on well with each other, and we have so much fun together. I love him so much as a brother, and I think we're going to stay friends for life, to be honest."

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Former The Only Way Is Essex star Pete also insists he's single despite being spotted smooching Love Island icon Maura Higgins on multiple occasions of late. The couple are said to have been dating for months and shared a kiss after the Pride of Britain Awards, where they partied until the early hours.

"Pete did look cosy with Maura at points but he wasn't shy about telling people he was single," said a fellow guest. "He was proudly declaring himself single on the red carpet during interviews and even made a joke of not being in a relationship in the bar after the awards."

Jowita thinks of Pete as a brother, saying he will become a lifelong friend

Despite Pete keeping quiet about their undeniable chemistry, guests at the awards were left with no doubt as to their feelings for each other. Maura was seen planting a tender kiss on Pete's nose, followed by a kiss on the lips.

Longford beauty Maura was more open on the We Need To Talk podcast with Paul Brunson, saying: "We just get on very, very well. I adore him, he's an amazing person. Do you know what's so weird? We met very soon after me coming off Love Island and we just instantly clicked.

Pete and Maura looked cosy at the Pride of Britain Awards
(Image: Daily Mirror)

"Our humour is the same. It's like that sick, dark humour. It's very abusive. We abuse each other. Very nasty, it's hilarious."

If reports are to be believed, Maura will soon jet Down Under to star in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! with the likes of Coleen Rooney and Jeremy Clarkson said to be joining her. Down to the last nine in Strictly meanwhile, Pete has odds of 40/1 to win the whole show.

Former Strictly professional Ola Jordan said she thought the podcast host was on "borrowed time" but acknowledged he was a fan favourite. "I can see Pete tries so hard and I felt sorry for him because he messed up badly at the beginning of his routine, but his lifts were amazing," she said of his Freddie Mercury performance.

"He is on borrowed time, but people love Pete and he is getting the votes."