There are hints that Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins might be secretly dating after they spoke up following a drunken kiss.

Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins shared a kiss at this year’s glamorous Pride of Britain event. The Mirror looks back at their flirty past, which includes cozy lunches and moments where they shared “intense” looks.

After months of rumors, Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins confirmed their relationship with a kiss, even though Pete had said earlier that night he was “single.” According to The Mirror, the two were seen kissing and getting close at the Pride of Britain afterparty at the Red Bar in London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

This news probably won’t shock fans, as there have been rumors about Pete and Maura for a while. Meanwhile, Pete, 35, has also faced a lot of attention over his friendship with his Strictly Come Dancing partner, Jowita Przystal, because their strong chemistry made fans wonder if there was more going on. The Mirror looks back at Pete and Maura’s flirty history and their playful moments together.

Close Conversation
This isn’t the first time Pete and Maura seemed close at the Pride of Britain Awards. At the 2023 event, they were seen having a deep conversation and sharing looks that hinted at something more than just friendship.

Maura broke up with her Hollywood stuntman boyfriend, Bobby Holland Hanton, in March, and Pete, known for his playboy image, has been single for a while. Though he has a reputation as a womanizer, Pete has spoken openly about wanting to settle down. In a recent interview with The Times, he said, “I’m nearly 36. I want to get married and have kids. I’ve had many great opportunities, but what’s the point if I can’t share them with someone?” He also admitted that he’s not ready for a serious relationship yet because he’s still figuring himself out.

Maura has been a strong supporter of Pete. In September, she cheered him on when he released his memoir Never Enough: My Words Unfiltered by posting “Proud of you” on her Instagram story.

The two have also been seen having fun trying out dance moves on TikTok, with Maura getting into the spirit as Pete continues on Strictly Come Dancing.

Lunch Kiss
In August, Pete and Maura were spotted enjoying a cozy outdoor lunch at the Broadwick Soho Hotel. Even though it was a public place, they didn’t hold back when it came to kissing. Pete reportedly arrived about an hour after Maura, who was with friends. An eyewitness told The Sun that after sitting for a while, Maura leaned in for a long, passionate kiss with Pete, which was more than just a friendly peck. The source added that they could barely take their eyes off each other, with Pete keeping his arm around Maura all evening. They looked very much in love and weren’t trying to hide it.

Intense Looks
After photos of them in Soho went public, body language expert Judi James commented that they seemed “equally smitten” with each other, which is rare for celebrities. She told The Mirror that when famous reality stars like Maura and Pete start a relationship, it often looks one-sided or staged, where one person seems more interested than the other. But in their case, Judi noted that their eye contact and gazes at each other looked balanced and intense. This kind of connection is unusual for reality stars, as one usually looks captivated while the other might be distracted by cameras.

Making Light of Rumors
They also seem to be having fun with the rumors about their relationship.

Maura responded to the gossip with some playful humor by wearing a t-shirt featuring the photo that got everyone talking, along with the slogan “We can’t be friends.”

She wore the shirt while supporting Pete and his friend Sam Thompson during their live podcast recording at Hammersmith Apollo. Maura shared a picture of herself in the shirt on her Instagram Story and wrote, “Hilarious night… You smashed it!”

Podcast probe

Pete recently chatted with Olivia Attwood, a former star from TOWIE, on her podcast So Wrong It’s Right, where she asked him about his relationship with Maura. Olivia, 33, didn’t hold back and directly asked, “Your dating life. Maura Higgins?” Pete responded, “Me and Maura have known each other for a long time.”

Olivia kept pushing, saying, “You’ve had a kiss; we’ve seen it!” Pete replied, “No, you haven’t seen it.” Olivia wasn’t letting him off the hook, adding, “We’ve seen a picture of it.” She then asked, “Are you and your dance partner romantically involved?”

Pete burst out laughing and exclaimed, “My God!” Olivia said, “You don’t get awards by not asking the questions!” Instead of answering, Pete joked, “One of the biggest problems is my b******.” He added, “I have to wear Spanx… otherwise, Shirley will end up with a couple of black eyes!”


After party kiss

The pair kissed at the Pride of Britain awards ( Image: Daily Mirror)

Even though Pete and Maura haven’t talked much about their clear chemistry, people at the Pride of Britain Awards noticed their feelings for each other. Maura was seen giving Pete a sweet kiss on the nose, followed by a kiss on the lips.

An attendee told The Mirror that they overheard Pete talking about being single at the afterparty, despite their affectionate behavior. The guest said, “Pete did seem cozy with Maura at times, but he wasn’t shy about telling people he was single. He proudly declared he was single on the red carpet during interviews and even joked about not being in a relationship at the bar after the awards.”

Bride Doesn’t Want Her Dad in Wheelchair to Walk Her Down the Aisle until She Sees Him on TV — Story of the Day

A woman doesn’t want her father to walk her down the aisle because she is embarrassed by his wheelchair. However, when she sees him on TV a few days before the wedding, she regrets her decision and changes her mind.

When Lisa Terrell’s mother died when she was just two years old, her father, Edward, took up her care. Caroline Terrell had died in a terrible hurricane that hit their town years ago, demolishing their home and leaving Edward in a wheelchair due to a severe injury.

Nonetheless, nothing could stop Edward from raising Lisa with love and giving her the finest of everything. He was a well-known journalist and began working remotely following his injury to provide for them.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

However, most people in Lisa’s life were unaware she had a father until he paid her a surprise visit at her school one day.

Lisa had always told her friends that her father was too busy to spend time with her, which is why he never attended school functions or parent meetings. However, the reality was that the invitations never made it to Edward since Lisa was embarrassed by him and didn’t want her friends to see him.

She adored him as a youngster, but as she grew up, the image of her father in a wheelchair mortified her and wrecked her relationship with him.

She was confused as she looked at the television and noticed her father sitting alongside the host.

Still, Edward never reneged on his duties. He was always there for his daughter and saved enough money to send her to a top university.

On the other hand, Lisa did not want him by his side. In fact, when she met her boyfriend, Harrison, at university, and they decided to marry after graduation, she didn’t want Edward to be there for the wedding.

As a result, she freaked out when Harrison asked her to invite Edward to dinner at his parents’ place. His parents were wealthy and of the upper crust. What would they think if they saw an elderly man in their home in a wheelchair? Lisa was ashamed by the very thought of it.

However, based on Harrison’s enthusiasm in inviting Edward to dinner, Lisa realized she didn’t have an out this time. So she had to fake a grin and say she’d ask Edward if he was free.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

When Lisa told Edward about the invitation to dinner, he was more than just free. He was overjoyed for Lisa for finding someone who adored her.

On the night of the dinner, he dressed nicely in a suit and Harrison’s family received him warmly. The young man’s parents were impressed that Edward had reared a daughter on his own. Besides, Edward had a wonderful sense of humor, and everyone had a great time at the dinner. Everyone except Lisa, whose cheeks were flushed crimson with shame the entire time since the man in a wheelchair was her father…

A few weeks before the wedding, Lisa made up her mind. She confronted Edward one night over dinner and notified him that he would not be on the wedding guest list.

“Dad, I wanted to talk to you about the wedding,” she began, glancing at her plate and moving her fork around the spaghetti.

“Yes? What exactly is it, honey?” Edward inquired. “Is there something bugging you about the wedding, the expenses? If that’s the case, I have some bonds that we could use. After all, I did keep it for you…”

“No, dad! It’s just that,” Lisa paused for a moment, “Harrison and I intend to hold the wedding here in New York, but the problem is that we’re having it at one of the city’s largest hotels, and… I just thought it would be best if you didn’t attend the event. You know, there would be way too many guests!”

Edward’s smile vanished as he stared at Lisa, speechless. “I – I don’t understand…What’s the problem?”

Lisa sighed and fixed her gaze on him. “Look, Dad, it’s just that… The guests will be exclusive, and they’re all businessmen and high-class people. Imagine a man in a wheelchair walking his daughter down the aisle in front of them… I don’t know…It’s just weird.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

“A man in a wheelchair is weird?” Edward’s eyes welled up. He couldn’t believe Lisa was indirectly cutting him off the wedding guest list. But he grasped the cue and forced a grin, hiding his tears from her.

“Is that it? Oh, you’re right! After all, this old age is catching up with me,” he said, faking a laugh. “I may not be able to handle such a large gathering. It’s ok – it’s ok!”

“Thanks for understanding, dad,” Lisa said bluntly and went away to her room. Before dissing Edward, she didn’t think twice about all the years of love and care he’d given her, but eventually, she regretted it.

A few days later, she was watching a show titled “American Heroes” on TV when the emcee announced Edward’s name. She was confused as she looked at the television and noticed her father sitting alongside the host.

Soon after, the camera focused on a screen that displayed images of Edward in a wheelchair and the hurricane that had hit their town years before. He turned out to be one of the brave journalists who had managed to save his family and help his neighbors throughout the disaster.

Edward had a solemn expression as he narrated the whole story of how he’d managed to help people, especially his family.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

“I will never forget that day. It was terrible… we lost practically everything,” he explained. “My wife died in the accident, and my daughter was just two years old at the time. As the debris surrounding us fell, I noticed my daughter standing right there…underneath that spot where it was falling.

“I went to save her and took her into my arms, but as I ran, a large section of the ceiling cracked and crashed on my back, causing a spine injury that prevented me from walking again.”

Lisa’s jaw sank to the floor, and her tears welled up when she heard that. “Dad saved me?” she was shocked.

“It was hard for me,” Edward continued. “But you know, you can’t really avoid your fate. So I gathered courage, knowing I just couldn’t give up in life, especially because I know I had a daughter who was now reliant on her father.”

Lisa was utterly embarrassed about herself at this point. She cried after Edward’s interview, cursing herself for being a terrible daughter, and decided to make it up to him.

So on her wedding day, she did walk down the aisle with Edward, but before the wedding ceremony began, she needed to tell the guests something VERY important…

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

As she took the microphone near the altar, she approached Edward, who was sitting among the guests, fell on her knees, and hugged him. “I know this is one of the most important days of my life, and I’ve been waiting for it for so long!” she cried, holding his hands in hers. “But none of this would have been possible if my father had not been by my side.”

“Ever since mom passed away, I never saw dad saying even once how hard it was for him to raise me alone. He did have hard days, but he never showed me the slightest hint of it. But what did I do? I was about to remove him from the wedding list because I was embarrassed about him being in a wheelchair. Yes, that’s right!”

“If only I had known that dad is in a wheelchair because he injured his back while saving me, I’d have never ever done that. I have been horrible to the man who loves me the most!”

“So I’d like to apologize to him in front of everyone today. I apologize for being the worst daughter to you, dad,” she said, facing him. “You can hate me for the rest of my life. I am sorry.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

Edward wasn’t expecting Lisa to own her mistake publicly. He was surprised but at the same time overcome with emotions at seeing his daughter realize her error, so he forgave her.

“Oh, come here,” he cried, embracing her. “Everyone makes mistakes,” he said. “But if you recognize them and work to fix them, you should be forgiven.”

Everyone was moved to tears and applauded the heartwarming reunion.

What can we learn from this story?

  • Love and respect your parents because they go above and beyond for you. Liza realized this when she heard her father’s story on TV and apologized to him for being rude.
  • Everyone makes mistakes, and if they realize it, they should be forgiven. Edward forgave her daughter when he saw she felt guilty for what she’d done.

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