Maura Higgins breaks silence on Pete Wicks romance after couple were spotted sharing a passionate kiss

Maura Higgins has broken her silence on her romance with Pete Wicks after they were spotted sharing a passionate kiss. 

The Love Island icon, 33, and Strictly star, 36, who were first linked back in August, confirmed their relationship this week as they packed on the PDA during a date in London.

Now, Maura has spoken for the first time about her connection with Pete on the We Need To Talk podcast with Paul Brunson.

She told the host: 'We just get on very, very well. I adore him, he's an amazing person.

'Do you know what's so weird? We met very soon after me coming off Love Island and we just instantly clicked.

'Our humour is the same. It's like that sick, dark humour. It's very abusive. We abuse each other. Very nasty, it's hilarious.'

Maura split from American stuntman boyfriend Bobby Holland Hanton earlier this year.

She has also previously dated Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice, as well as her Love Island co-stars Christopher Taylor and Curtis Pritchard.

Speaking about her previous relationships, Maura said: 'I've not had a great track record in relationships. I just feel like apart from my best friend, every guy has just let me down.

'I expect to be let down and you can never be in a healthy relationship if I'm expecting that.'

Maura and Pete, who were first romantically linked in August and have since kept a low profile, shared a tender moment in the corner at the Pride Of Britain after-party on Monday evening. 

Maura - a former Love Island finalist - was seen planting a kiss on Pete's nose before the pair were spotted canoodling at London's Red Bar at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

A day earlier, Pete showed off his impressive Strictly moves as he danced with Maura in a recent TikTok video.

The couple were previously seen together enjoying a night out at The Ship in Wandsworth alongside his Strictly friends.

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.

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!'

The situation became even more complicated as Maura baffled fans while looking cosy with Strictly star Kai Widdrington during Monday's awards do.

Kai, 29, and Maura looked very close after the ceremony, with the pro dancer tightly wrapping his arms around the presenter.

At one point, Kai appeared to twirl Maura before heading into a different room together.

Kai is believed to be single at present following his split from fellow professional Nadiya Bychkova.

A Strictly source told Mailonline the latest romance twists will do little to dampen the show's reputation for its stars hooking up.

The insider said: 'Kai and Maura getting close while she's still got feelings for Pete, who is now infatuated with Jowita , just sums up Strictly right now.

'It's a never-ending conveyor belt of relationships and flings, which shows no sign of ending.'