Pete Wicks puts on a very flirtatious display with rumoured love interest Maura Higgins as they toast his Strictly success &#821

Pete Wicks was spotted putting on a very flirty display with rumoured love interest Maura Higgins on Sunday night.

While the TOWIE legend, 36, was first linked to Love Island star Maura, 33, in August he recently sparked romance rumours with his Strictly partner Jowita Przystal.

In fact, just hours before his cosy outing with Maura, he sent fans wild when he appeared to kiss Jowita during their passionate American Smooth on Saturday’s live show.

Yet on Sunday he was back in Maura’s arms as they enjoyed a night out at The Ship in Wandsworth alongside his Strictly friends after being put through to the next week.

An onlooker exclusively told MailOnline that the pair were inseparable, whispering in each other’s ears and even interlocking legs as they enjoyed a drink alongside Wynne Evans, Tom Dean and Jamie Borthwick.

Pete Wicks was spotted putting on a very flirty display with rumoured love interest Maura Higgins on Sunday night at The Ship in Wandsworth alongside his Strictly friends

While the TOWIE legend, 36, was first linked to Love Island star Maura, 33, in August he recently sparked romance rumours with his Strictly partner Jowita Przystal (pictured)

The eyewitness shared: ‘They were all over each other, I was surprised to see them looking so close because I thought he had real chemistry with Jowita.

‘At one point they were basically straddling each other and didn’t seem to care at all that people could see them.

‘You’d think Pete would be more concerned about Tom given he’d just been given the boot on Strictly but he only had eyes for Maura all night!’

MailOnline has contacted Maura and Pete’s representatives for comment.

Romance rumours between the reality stars started swirling last month when they were pictured kissing outside the Broadwick Soho Hotel.

However, Maura poked fun at the reports earlier this month as she supported him at his Staying Relevant podcast tour.

Maura donned a personalised T-shirt showing a picture of the kiss and words, ‘We can’t be friends’ written in capital letters across the front of her chest.

She posed with an arm around Pete’s best friend Sam Thompson in the snap, which she captioned ”Hilarious night…. you smashed it @samthompson @stayingrelevantpodcast.’

The eyewitness shared: ‘They were all over each other, I was surprised to see them looking so close because I thought he had real chemistry with Jowita’

Maura broke her silence on the Pete romance rumours earlier this month as she supported him and his best friend Sam Thompson (pictured) in a hilarious T-shirt at their podcast show

It’s not the first time Maura and Pete have been romantically linked.

Last year, the pair were filmed getting cosy at Grosvenor House in London.

In the clip, which was recorded in October 2023, Maura and Pete cosied up together in the corner of a room, seemingly taking selfies on Maura’s phone.

They were spotted gazing into each others eyes during what looked like a deep conversation, with Maura flashing a huge smile at the reality star as he waved his arms around during the chat.

Their encounter happened a year before Maura, who split from American stuntman boyfriend Bobby Holland Hanton earlier this year, wrapped her arms around Pete’s neck and kissed him during their recent romantic luncheon together.

In recent weeks, Pete has been linked to dancer Jowita.

Pete was spotted getting very cosy indeed with the Polish beauty at the National Television Awards earlier this month.

In fact, their intimate conversations set tongues wagging amongst fellow guests that they might just strike up a romance during this year’s series.

The long-haired lothario, who has previously dated Megan McKenna, Chloe Sims, and Ella Rae Wise, was seen with Jowita after in a corridor at London’s O2 Arena where the star-studded ceremony took place.

One onlooker said: ‘Pete was admiring Jowita outfits and told her she looked stunning. They were deep in conversation, and were both leaning in close. It got people talking and wondering if there might be a Strictly romance this year after all.

‘There was a lot of affection between the pair. He was whispering in her ear which really made her smile.

‘At one point, Pete placed a protective hand on Jowita’s shoulder, it all looked very lovey dovey.

‘They’ve clearly formed a very close bond during their time on Strictly.’

In recent weeks, Pete has been linked to dancer Jowita. Last week, Pete’s best friend Sam fuelled the rumours as he said the TOWIE star was ‘in love’ with the professional dancer

Last week, Pete’s best friend Sam fuelled the rumours as he said the TOWIE star was ‘in love’ with his professional dancing partner.

His podcast co-host revealed that he believes the two are in love and that the reality TV star ‘cares about her so much’.

When appearing on Friday’s This Morning, Sam was quizzed by show hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary about their relationship.

The presenter said: ‘I think they are in love,’ but quickly added that he actually believes their relationship is ‘platonic.

Sam added: ‘He cares about her so much, the way he looks at her, I’ve never seen it before.

‘I just want to see him happy, he is one of the best people I know.’

On Saturday night fans branded them the ‘fittest couple ever’ after they took to the floor with a sensual American Smooth that saw Pete drawing Jowita in close and their lips just millimetres apart.

The dance also ended with them leaning in for a kiss before the lights cut out, and while it appeared choreographed some viewers were positive a true romance was brewing between the pair.

Judge Motsi Mabuse even spotted their connection saying: ‘I think both of you, you had such a beautiful, flirty, romantic atmosphere, and I believed it was authentic’.

Their routine saw them score 22 out of a possible 40 and ended up in joint tenth place on the leaderboard with Nick Knowles.