Pete Wicks was seen out with Strictly partner Jowita Przystal on Thursday night amid claims they have been secretly seeing each other away from the show and have been spotted looking cosy on car rides together.

The TOWIE star, 36, was recently linked to Maura Higgins, 33, after they were pictured kissing on a date.

Yet in a shock twist, Maura insisted she was still single as she prepared to make her I’m A Celebrity debut.

After rehearsing for their upcoming Tango, Pete and Jowita left a North London dance studio together at 7pm – giving them time to catch Maura’s Jungle arrival.

Pete looked sombre as he strode ahead of Jowita while puffing on a cigarette and brandishing a large bag.

Following on behind, Jowita, 30, was clad in an oversized bomber jacket as she fiddled on her mobile.

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Pete Wicks was seen out with Strictly partner Jowita Przystal on Thursday night amid claims they have been secretly seeing each other away from the show

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After rehearsing for their upcoming Tango, Pete and Jowita left a north London dance studio together at 7pm – giving them time to catch Maura’s Jungle arrival

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The TOWIE star, 36, was recently linked to Maura Higgins. Yet in a shock twist, Maura insisted she was still single as she prepared to make her I’m A Celebrity debut, pictured

Eyebrows have been raised over Pete’s love life in recent weeks as he’s been linked to both Jowita and Maura.

On Thursday, sources claimed ‘something has changed’ between Pete and his Strictly dance partner in recent weeks and they have been secretly seeing each other away from the show.

At the beginning of the series, the pair were said to have ‘sent tongues wagging’ between the cast and crew due to their sizzling chemistry, with viewers even spotting their close connection.

‘The chemistry between them has been pretty clear since the moment they met but the last few weeks something has changed and they’ve started seeing each other away from the show,’ a source told The Sun.

‘They’ve tried to keep it low-key but they often travel together rather than getting separate cars to different locations.

‘And they’re so tactile backstage it has become pretty obvious something is going on. Everyone is talking about the fact they seem closer than ever.’

Back in October, Pete shut down rumours of a romance between him and Jowita during a joint appearance on This Morning.

Host Alison Hammond began their interview, by asking: ‘Do you actually listen to the judges or are you just in your own little world?’

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Pete looked sombre as he strode ahead of Jowita while puffing on a cigarette and brandishing a large bag

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Following on behind, Jowita, 30, was clad in an oversized bomber jacket as she fiddled on her mobile phone

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The pair have been putting the finishing touches to their routine ahead of Saturday night’s Strictly where they will perform a Tango to Easy Lover by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins

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On Thursday, sources claimed ‘something has changed’ between Pete and his Strictly dance partner in recent weeks and they have been secretly seeing each other away from the show

A source claimed: ‘The chemistry between them has been pretty clear since the moment they met but the last few weeks something has changed’

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An insider claimed that Jowita and Pete are ‘so tactile backstage it has become pretty obvious something is going on’

Pete admitted: ‘I’m just in my own little world, we’re in a bit of a bubble when we dance!’ causing Alison to jump to the opportunity to probe them about their rumoured relationship, cheekily asking: ‘Is it a love bubble?’

However, Pete insisted: ‘It’s not a love bubble unfortunately…’ before poking fun at Alison, saying: ‘I mean you came in early, that was about 30 seconds before you went in with it!’

Alison laughed and confessed: ‘I was straight in there!’ as Pete continued: ‘You were straight in there! No, it’s not a love bubble, we have great chemistry because we’ve become such good friends.’

Gesturing to Jowita, he gushed: ‘She’s one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met, genuinely, not just in the dancing side of things but outside of that and I think that helps us with the whole dancing thing.’

Alison asked if the pair found the constant speculation about the nature of their relationship tiresome, to which Pete admitted: ‘Yeah, it’s always the same, I’m used to it.’

Pete was also linked to Love Island star Maura, but in an exclusive interview with MailOnline ahead of her jungle stint, she insisted that she is ‘single’.

When asked if she is in a relationship with Pete, Maura said: ‘I’m not. I’ve been on dates with many people. I mean, I date, but I’m very much single. Everyone goes on dates.’

She added: ‘It is quite scary going in later. They have all met and got to know each other.

‘It’s never easy being the newbie, but I am not a shy person, so I feel like I will be fine. It will be nice to bring some energy to the camp.

‘I am single at the moment, but honestly no-one is going to fancy me in the jungle. Trust me!’

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The TOWIE star was recently linked to Maura after they were pictured kissing on several occasions but she has insisted she is single (pictured October 27)

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Pete and Jowita were said to have ‘sent tongues wagging’ between the Strictly cast and crew due to their sizzling chemistry, with viewers even spotting their close connection

She also insisted that Pete will not be flying to Australia to meet her across the famous I’m A Celeb bridge when her time on the show comes to an end.

Maura shared: ‘I know nothing, he’s not said that to me anyway.’

The pair were spotted kissing at numerous red carpet events such as the Pride of Britain Awards, with Maura previously speaking about how the pair have been friends for many years.

On Thursday night, Maura’s entrance into the I’m A Celeb Jungle was aired, with the reality star making her appearance as a late arrival alongside Reverend Richard Coles.

She became an instant fan favourite, with viewers left in hysterics at her one-liners. It is not known if Pete and Jowita were among those watching from home.