Pete Wicks makes a very public declaration of love for Maura Higgins – after the I’m A Celeb star confirmed they were dating

Pete Wicks made a very public declaration of love for Maura on Sunday after the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Star confirmed they were dating.

The former TOWIE star, 36, who kissed the former Love Island star, 34, a few weeks ago after cooling off his romantic relationship with partner Jowita Przystal, 30, took to his Instagram to urge viewers to root for Maura votes and placed some hearts.

Pete reposted a funny meme of Maura on the ITV show and captioned the post with: ‘I’ve been George of the Jungle but now it’s time to vote for Maura of the Jungle.

He also shared a voting link in his Stories for his 1.8 million followers to click to keep Maura in the jungle.

The snap, which was originally posted to the show’s Instagram account, featured Maura having a hilarious conversation with her new boyfriend Reverend Richard Coles, 62.

Pete’s post comes after Maura appeared to confirm she is dating the Strictly star when she made a rare comment about her love life during Sunday’s show.

The former TOWIE star, 36, who kissed the former Love Island star, 34, a few weeks ago, took to his Instagram to urge viewers to vote for Maura

Pete reposted a funny meme of Maura on the ITV show and captioned the post with: ‘I’ve been George of the Jungle but now it’s time to vote for Maura of the Jungle’

Since entering the jungle, the star has insisted she was single, despite kissing Pete a few weeks ago.

When asked by Oti Mabuse whether or not she was single, Maura replied: “I am, but I had been seeing someone before I came in, but I’m not in a relationship.”

Rev. Richard then asked, “Was it exclusive?” Or if I put you on the spot, sorry!’, to which she replied after a long silence: ‘I don’t know’.

After being asked if it was someone the public might know, she coyly replied, “Yes,” before admitting that she had missed him since entering the camp.

Maura admitted that she thought she had never been in love. Richard described looking for his late partner David in a crowd and feeling his heart pounding, as Dean said, “I know that feeling.”

The Radio 1 DJ then asked about her current situation: ‘Does it feel different this time?’

Maura replied, “That’s right, but is that because we’ve known each other for a long time?”

Richard added: “You would know by now if he was a bastard or not as the stunner smiled to himself and replied: ‘Yeah, he’s not a bastard.’

It comes as The Mail on Sunday revealed Pete has ended his romantic relationship with Jowita – as he is determined to win Maura’s heart.

Sources close to Pete say he is telling friends he is completely in love with the jungle star he has been casually dating for the past five months.

When he started Strictly and met Jowita, Maura gave up all hope of the relationship lasting.

A friend said: ‘Before Maura went into the jungle, Pete wanted to make their relationship exclusive.’

“But Maura, aware of Pete’s reputation and his close relationship with Jowita, decided to take things easier.”

‘She gave him an ultimatum: be faithful to her or let it go. So she left as a single woman.”

“Since then, Pete has gone all in and openly expressed his feelings to anyone who will listen.”

Pete and Jowita have been competing on Strictly Together since September, and in recent weeks sources have claimed they have been secretly seeing each other away from the show.

Pete’s post comes after Maura seemingly confirmed she is dating the Strictly star, as she made a rare comment about her love life during Sunday’s show

The Love Island star was spotted kissing Strictly’s Pete a few weeks ago, but since entering the jungle she has insisted she is single (pictured together in May)

Pete is said to have ended his romantic relationship with Jowita (pictured together on Strictly) – as he is determined to win Maura’s heart

Insiders claimed that ‘something has changed’ between the reality star and the professional dancer in recent weeks and that they had been secretly seeing each other outside the show.

At the start of the series, they were said to have ‘sent tongues wagging’ between the cast and crew due to their sizzling chemistry, with viewers even noticing their close bond.

“The chemistry between them has been quite evident since the moment they met, but in recent weeks things have changed and they have started seeing each other outside of the show,” a source told The Sun.

“They’ve tried to keep it low key, but they often travel together instead of taking separate cars to different locations.”

“And they’re so tangible backstage that it’s become pretty clear that something is going on. Everyone is talking about how they seem closer than ever.”