Towie star Pete Wicks opened up about the 'mistakes' he made following his split from Maura Higgins.
Strictly star Pete, 36, was first romantically linked to former Love Island star Maura late last year. It came as the pair were spotted sharing a passionate kiss in August. Maura further fuelled speculation about a relationship between the pair when she left a comment on Pete’s Instagram page following news he had signed up for Strictly Come Dancing.
Appearing to poke fun at the rumoured romance, she wrote: "I know what those hips can do. Proud of you." During an afterparty at the Pride of Britain Awards in October the pair once again shared a kiss. While on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, Maura opened up on her feelings for Pete but the two never confirmed their relationship status.
While they were pictured together immediately after Strictly ended, it was later claimed they decided they were “better off friends". Following their reported split, Pete appeared on Lorraine to discuss his mental health as part of Lorraine Kelly's new mental health campaign.
“It took me a long time," he said of his mental health. "I have made a lot of mistakes in my life and throughout that time, I think a lot of it is through not understanding myself and not being able to express how I was feeling, and I think a lot of men suffer with that. Not just men, women as well, but not understanding your own emotions or not giving yourself time to understand your own emotions, they often present themselves in a different way."
“For me it used to be anger, because that was the only kind of emotion that I understood. As I’ve gotten older and over the last few years, through certain things that have happened like losing my nan and whatever else, it’s enabled me to try and understand myself better.”
Earlier this year, the Mail Online claimed they decided they were “better off friends”. An insider explained at the time: “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."
Pete later took to his Staying Relevant podcast with best pal Sam Thompson and joked he would like a girlfriend who "doesn't leave".
