Strictly’s Pete Wicks goes on final date night with Maura Higgins before she flies out to Australia for ngocc

   

PETE Wicks and Maura Higgins glammed up for a date night in London ahead of the Love Island beauty's I'm A Celeb stint.

Maura, 33, will soon jet Down Under to join the rest of the I'm A Celeb 2024 line-up.

Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins enjoyed a cute London date night ahead of her I'm A Celeb stint

Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins enjoyed a cute London date night ahead of her I'm A Celeb stintCredit: Splash

The Love Island 2019 alumni looked glam in a white puffball skirt and heels

The Love Island 2019 alumni looked glam in a white puffball skirt and heelsCredit: Splash

The duo were seen nattering outside the London Palladium

The duo were seen nattering outside the London PalladiumCredit: Splash

Yet she was eager to catch up with Strictly Come Dancing star Pete, 36, before her long-haul trip - with the night at the London Palladium proving an excuse to dress up before switching to her jungle slacks.

The ITV2 star looked glam in a black velvet sleeveless waistcoat top, worn over a white puffball skirt.

She donned black point-toe heels to finish her smart yet sophisticated look, and styled her brunette locks poker-straight.

Pete, who left Strictly fans sobbing with his emotional Couple's Choice routine on Saturday, was wearing a classic black polo neck matched with a dark suit.

He styled his hair off his face and took the lead guiding the pair down the street.

Last week, Pete and Maura confirmed their romance with a sweet kiss after a night in east London.

It came after the duo were spotted "all over" each other at a boozy celeb bash.

At the time, an onlooker told The Sun: "They were chatting to Pete's co-star Wynne Evans and it was very clear they were more than just friends.

"Things have clearly turned romantic as they were all over each other.

"At one point she ran her hands through his hair under his hat, and they were cuddling loads too.

Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins Confirm Romance

"They looked really cosy and comfortable with each other."

The pair first got fans all hot under the collar when they were pictured kissing in a posh bar in London this summer.

Meanwhile, it was claimed Glow Up Ireland star Maura "couldn't stop smiling" after her romance with Pete was revealed - and she swiped an I'm A Celeb spot after Tommy Fury pulled out.

Yet fans fear Maura - who will be a late I'm A Celeb entrant - will be first to pull out.

I'm A Celebrity 2024

As the hit ITV show enters into its 24th series, a brand new batch of famous faces look set to enter the Aussie jungle once again to face terrifying Bushtucker Trials and living amongst the critters in camp in order to come out on top and be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars heading Down Under this year...

Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name heading into the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, will be making a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to head into the camp this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever.Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge looks set to be making a triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal.Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he will be hoping to become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities when he gets into camp.Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. He has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle.GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brand such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers.Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs, Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live.Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She origianlly found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice.Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle, after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice, along with bandmate Tom. A jungle insider said: "As well as bringing some of the star appeal of the group with him, he'll be supplying some serious guy candy for the campmates and viewers at home."Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard. Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year.Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist will be braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband. It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past.Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry will become the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to breast cancer. He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache."Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is set for I’m A Celebrity — and is ready to let rip at his old employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, 62, said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year.An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth."

INSTANT CONNECTION

Maura - who shot to fame on the 2019 series of Love Island - recently spoke for the first time about her connection with former Towie star Pete.

She said: "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 made the admission on the We Need To Talk podcast with Paul Brunson.

Yet despite the pair's blossoming romance, some fans are still convinced Pete is "head over heels" for Strictly partner Jowita Przystal, 30.

Last week he was seen looking cosy with the former show winner during their rehearsals.

Maura couldn't stop giggling as she strolled down the street

Maura couldn't stop giggling as she strolled down the streetCredit: Splash

Pete has also been linked with Strictly partner Jowita Przystal

Pete has also been linked with Strictly partner Jowita PrzystalCredit: PA

Maura will soon swap her glam wardrobe for jungle slacks on I'm A Celeb

Maura will soon swap her glam wardrobe for jungle slacks on I'm A