Pete Wicks has broken his silence after his “split” with former Love Island star Maura Higgins.
Former The Only Way is Essex star Pete, 36, and Maura, 34, were reported to have been seeing each other since last year. But last week reports emerged suggesting their pair had called time on their romance.
Maura discussed their relationship during her stint on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! but the pair never made it official, reports The Mirror. The two stars, who have known each other for six years, are said to have been in an on-off relationship for months.
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Now, on his Staying Relevant podcast with best friend Sam Thompson, Pete says he spent Valentine’s Day “moving house”. It came as Sam, 32, explained Pete had “spent a lot of time in the press”.
Former Strictly Come Dancing star Pete responded: “Don’t believe everything you read. For my Valentine’s, I’ve moved house.”
Sam laughed and, hinting towards headlines about his split from former Love Islander Zara McDermott, said: “I love the fact that it’s gone from me to you, it’s like a tennis game.”
The former I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! winner asked Pete if he had ever dressed up for Valentine’s Day. Pete replied: “I’m not a big fan of Valentine’s, I don’t think I’ve ever done anything for Valentine’s.”
When asked by best bud Sam if he’d ever dressed up for Valentine’s Day, Pete said: “It’d be weird if I was sat on my own dressed as a policeman, wouldn’t it?
It prompted Sam to probe Pete further, asking him what he did in the evening on February 14. Pete, 36, replied: “I moved house. I went to bed, I was tired, it was a lot of moving.”
Sam described the pair as “two middle-aged lonely men”. The 32-year-old went on to confess he “loves” an Instagram Valentine’s Day post however.
He said: “I love posting it but also I love viewing people’s but when you’re single it just hits different. It’s more of like a punch in the gut.”
Pete explained he isn’t interested if he is in a relationship or not. He added: “I think Valentine’s Day is b******.”
Rumours about Pete and Maura’s relationship began to circulate last year when the pair were spotted sharing a kiss during a Soho dinner in August. But a source told MailOnline the pair split after “a few clashes”.
They said: “Maura and Pete have decided to call off their romance. There have been a few clashes, and it was eventually agreed they were better off as friends. Those closest to them know it’s been a very on and off relationship, which is why they were so resistant to go public in the first place. They remain close and share a deep connection.”