'Pete has fallen for Maura completely'

Having won over the public in two of the biggest shows on TV, a source tells new that Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins are getting serious about each other and could even rival Posh and Becks as a power couple

- Mitya Underwood

With Maura Higgins and Pete Wicks set to be reunited any day now, they are being tipped as the next big power couple. While the former Love Island finalist and the TOWIE favourite were tight-lipped about their relationship status before their respective I’m A Celeb and Strictly Come Dancing stints, they’ve now dropped several hints that there’s more to it than a platonic friendship.

Maura, 34, spilled some juicy details to her jungle campmate GK Barry while on the show, confirming she and the one-time TOWIE Lothario were caught with their “tongues down each other’s necks” but said she wanted to keep the details private because “you don’t know where it’s gonna go”. Before that, when Reverend Richard Coles quizzed her on whether she and her mystery man – who she confirmed was someone they’d know – were exclusive, a slightly red-faced Maura said she wasn’t sure, she “doesn’t know the rules” and was still officially single.

The loosening-up hasn’t been all one-sided though. Pete, 36, has also dropped a number of hints on social media that he’s keen on Maura. As well as posting a meme telling his 1.8 million Instagram followers to vote for her to become Queen Of The Jungle, he was also one of the first to post a comment (three applause emojis) on a call for votes on Maura’s own account.