Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins FINALLY confirm romance with a kiss at Pride of Britain afterparty

Strictly Come Dancing's Pete Wicks and Love Island's Maura Higgins confirmed their romance as they shared a kiss at the Pride of Britain afterparty

Maura Higgins and Pete Wicks confirmed their romance at the Pride of Britain afterparty.

The couple shared a sweet kiss in the Red Bar of London's Grosvenor House Hotel, where they partied until 1am, The Mirror can exclusively reveal.

The pair have previously played it cool about their rumoured relationship, but made it clear to onlookers at the party that they were an item, sharing a tender moment in a corner before Maura planted a kiss on his nose, and then shared a kiss on the lips together.

The pair join a long list of celebrities who have found love at the ceremony, including Christine and Frank Lampard, who met at the 2009 ceremony and are now happily married with two children.

Love Island’s Maura, 33, and TOWIE’s Pete, 36, were first seen sharing a kiss in August, outside the Broadwick hotel in Soho, but the pair have poked fun at the gossip - with Maura even wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the photograph, and a slogan which read: “We can’t be friends.”

Maura had been cheering on Pete and his friend Sam Thompson as they recorded their Staying Relevant podcast live together at Hammersmith Apollo.

Earlier this week, they shared a TikTok video of them practising dance moves together, as Pete continues in Strictly Come Dancing.

Their romance has clearly heated up, as they put on a loved up display at the ceremony, though they have both downplayed their romance.

Pete was previously grilled about the rumours by their mutual friend, Olivia Attwood, who quizzed him: “Your dating life. Maura Higgins.” Pete replied coyly, answering: “Me and Maura have known each other for a long time.”

Later at the Pride of Britain party, Maura asked Strictly dancer Kai Widdrington for help stretching out a cramp as the last partygoers moved into the hotel lobby to continue the festivities.

On Saturday’s Strictly, Pete and Jowita Przystal performed a rumba routine to Don’t Look Back In Anger saw their faces pressed close together and lots of lifts.

Judge Craig Revel Horwood called the lifts “totally illegal”, and said in a competition there could be a “disqualification” for the moves, but praised Wicks for the work that had gone into the dance. The judges awarded Wicks and Przystal 22 points.

During the Pride of Britain ceremony, Pete and his close friend, Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson, were tasked with encouraging celebrities and other attendees to donate to the Child of Courage winner Florrie Bark’s charity, BeMoreFab.

Florrie had the room in hysterics as she shouted: “Get all of them! Round them up! Get Duncan Ballantyne! Before he hides.”

The Dragon was impressed with her attitude, and donated £30,000 to her charity, with more than £100,00 raised overall from the generous attendees.

Masked Singer host Joel Dommett and Strictly’s Oti Mabuse, who presented her Child of Courage award, told Florrie: “You are one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met. You light up every room.”

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