Pete Wicks has reignited public speculation about his relationship with former Strictly Come Dancing partner Jowita Przystal after sharing a cosy photograph of the two together on Instagram.
The former TOWIE cast member posted the image to his Instagram Stories on Sunday, showing him and Przystal in what appeared to be a dance studio. The post followed a gushing birthday tribute he wrote for Przystal last month, in which he wrote, "It was never about dancing…it was about the person. Happy birthday @jowitaprzystal - I am so blessed and grateful to have you in my life. My pocket rocket ❤️." Fans responded with speculation in comment threads and on social channels, with some asking whether the posts amounted to a "hard launch" of a new relationship and others expressing support for the pairing.
Wicks and Przystal were paired on Strictly Come Dancing last year and reached the semi-finals, prompting recurring attention to their off-screen rapport. Wicks has previously described Przystal as "one of the most important people in his life," and his recent Instagram activity included a photo dump of shared moments from the show: a ballroom shot, a close-up car selfie, rehearsal images and photos from nights out.
The renewed interest in their relationship comes amid other developments in Wicks's personal life that have attracted media attention. In a recent episode of his podcast Staying Relevant, Wicks underwent a lie detector segment that led to headlines after a polygraph indicated he was not truthful when asked whether he was in love. Wicks initially denied being in love but the polygrapher signalled otherwise; the host, Sam, reacted with excitement and Wicks subsequently teased the existence of a new, unnamed romantic interest, saying the woman had not replied to his message.
Earlier this summer Wicks was photographed appearing cosy with friend Olivia Attwood during a yacht trip to Ibiza. That image generated a backlash online and prompted unsavoury chants aimed at Attwood's husband, footballer Bradley Dack, while he was playing for League Two side Gillingham. Attwood told the Daily Mail that she and Dack intend to work through the scrutiny and the pressures of their busy careers.
Throughout his time on Strictly, Wicks said he did not expect to progress as far as the semi-finals and credited Przystal for her role in his progress on the show. He told the Daily Mail he took the experience seriously and described learning to dance as the highlight of his participation. Przystal is due to return to the Strictly lineup later this month with a new celebrity partner, according to promotional schedules for the series.
Neither Wicks nor Przystal have issued a formal statement confirming a romantic relationship. Representatives for both stars did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The public attention on celebrity pairings intensified for Wicks following his split from Maura Higgins roughly six months before the podcast episode in which the lie detector segment aired. Media coverage has since tracked his public interactions with former dance partners, friends and new acquaintances, while Strictly viewers continue to examine off-screen dynamics between professional dancers and celebrities.
Fans and tabloids have frequently interpreted social media posts and candid photographs as indicators of celebrity relationships, a pattern that continues to shape how public figures' private lives are discussed in the press. In this instance, Instagram posts and prior interviews have prompted fresh speculation about Wicks and Przystal, even as both continue their professional commitments in entertainment and television.
As of publication, there has been no confirmation from the BBC, Wicks, Przystal or their representatives that the pair are romantically involved. Upcoming Strictly performances and the celebrities' own public statements are likely to determine whether the conjecture persists or subsides.