PETE Wicks gave away that he and Maura Higgins wouldn't last the distance while talking about past relationships in a recent interview.
The Strictly Come Dancing star admitted that the thought of settling down with someone 'scared the s***' out of him.
Pete, 37, and Maura, 34, have ended their relationship following a string of fiery rows, according to reports, but it seems the writing was already on the wall.
Last month, Towie star Pete opened up to The Times about his love life and admitted he has always been frightened to commit.
The interview came shortly after Pete and Maura spent a romantic Christmas break together following her stint on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!.
Pete told the newspaper: "[Settling down] is the bit I just can’t do.
"The minute a relationship gets to the point where I seem to be having an impact on someone’s life, it scares the s*** out of me.”
Speaking about past relationships, Pete added: "Yeah. Over the years, people have tried to understand me, but if you don’t understand yourself, it’s very difficult for anyone else to understand you."
Maura and Pete had been linked with each other for more than a year before going official last autumn, and they were pictured snogging in pubs on multiple occasions.
But the pair remained extremely coy about their romance during their time together.
Pete admitted to Lorraine Kelly in a recent interview that he didn't like to publicly talk about relationships after years of his romances making headlines.
He previously dated with fellow Essex favourites Megan McKenna and Chloe Sims.
Awkward moment Maura Higgins dodges Pete Wicks question live on Loose Women
Megan, meanwhile, who has previously dated Love Island legends Curtis Pritchard and Chris Taylor, was just as cagey on Loose Women last month.
When panellist Frankie Bridge said that they made a good couple, Maura replied: "Do we really? I never really thought about it."
Going on, she said: “Not really much to tell, we spend time together, get on really well, and he is a great person.
"But there is nothing to tell.”
In December, the couple jetted to Maura's native Ireland for the festive period and stayed at the Glasson Lakehouse Spa & Golf Club, which costs a £243 a night.
Maura and Pete's relationship timeline
Maura and Pete are believed to have met for the first time in 2019, following her stint on Love Island. She late said they "just clicked".
In August 2024, the pair were spotted enjoying a lunch date together in London's Soho.
The following month, Maura showed her support to Pete following the release of his book Never Enough: My Words Unfiltered. She wrote online: "Proud of you."
In October, Pete appeared on Olivia Attwood's podcast and was grilled about his romance with Maura. Olivia said: "Your dating life. Maura Higgins." Pete replied: "Me and Maura have known each other for a long time." Olivia told him she'd seen a photo of them kissing.
Maura spoke briefly about Pete on Paul C Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast in the same month. She said: "We just get on very, very well. I adore him, he's an amazing person."
Later in October, Maura and Pete were spotted kissing and cuddling several times; once at the Pride Of Britain afterparty and again during a dinner date.
Maura jetted off to the jungle for I'm A Celebrity in November. But she continued to pretend nothing was going on. Maura told GK Barry: “No, I'm single. People can date and not be in a relationship and take things slow. What’s the point in getting them involved too soon, when you just don’t know where it’s gonna go, you know?”
In December, Maura and Pete flew to Ireland and spent Christmas together. The pair broke cover and gave fans a glimpse inside their cosy lake house.
Just weeks later, Pete told The Times that he was "s*** scared" of settling down. He also appeared in Loose Women in February and spoke about his fears of commitment.
On February 14, Valentine's Day, it was reported that Pete and Maura had split up.
But their trip was not enough to sustain their relationship.
A source told the Mail today: "Maura and Pete have decided to call off their romance.
"There have been a few clashes, and it was eventually agreed they were better off as friends.
"Those closest to them know it's been a very on and off relationship, which is why they were so resistant to go public in the first place.
"They remain close and share a deep connection."
