AFTER months of keeping fans guessing, Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins have finally confirmed their long-rumoured romance, sparking excitement among fans.
With a growing list of lucrative deals, the couple are quickly being dubbed the 'new Posh and Becks of British TV'.
Pete, who gained fame as a member of The Only Way Is Essex, has successfully reinvented his image thanks to a high-profile appearance on Strictly Come Dancing.
His journey from a bad-boy reality star to a beloved TV personality has captured the public’s attention.
But it doesn’t stop there.
Pete's growing popularity has been fuelled by his appearances on Channel 4's Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and ITV2’s Olivia Attwood's Bad Boyfriends.
And now, Maura is set to follow in his footsteps, with her upcoming stint on I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here,
Together, Pete and Maura are making a huge impact, with experts predicting their rise to fame will continue well into 2025.
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede sees major earnings ahead for the couple, telling : "Pete and Maura have cleverly made their faces and names synonymous with British television.
"Whether it’s BBC’s Strictly or ITV’s I’m A Celebrity, they’ve managed to make themselves unavoidable."
Nick went on to praise Pete’s consistent public presence, noting, "Pete has kept his fame up thanks to his enduring friendship with Sam Thompson and his new show on UKTV, making him a constant on TV."
He also branded Maura an "ITV favourite", predicting her I'm A Celeb booking will only see her profile rise.
Nick suggested a bright future for the duo in other ventures, too, such as podcasting and potentially even their own fly-on-the-wall documentary.
Pete’s TV career took an unexpected turn when he joined the Strictly line-up earlier this year.
Initially skeptical about the show, Pete was persuaded by his close friend Sam to sign up.
Though he struggled with his first dance, Pete quickly gained favour with viewers and even earned a perfect score of 10 after a heartfelt routine dedicated to his late grandmother.
His continued success on the show has made him a favourite, and although all celebrities on Strictly are initially paid a flat fee of £25,000, this increases based on performance.
Celebrities who make it past the Blackpool rounds see their pay rise to £60,000, with semi-finalists earning £75,000, and the winner taking home a substantial £100,000.
In 2022, he teamed up with Sam to launch their podcast, .
The show’s humorous take on their attempts to maintain fame quickly gained a loyal following, with the pair even taking the podcast on tour.
As of September, the show hit a record-breaking eight million monthly listeners, and the duo’s social media following continues to grow, with nearly 400,000 followers on TikTok and 277,000 on Instagram.
Alongside Strictly, Pete will also be hosting a documentary series titled Pete Wicks: For Dog’s Sake for U&W.
The show, which follows Pete’s work with Dogs Trust to rescue and rehome vulnerable dogs, reflects his passion for animals.
"Animals make me happy, they make me feel good," he explained.
"If we were more like animals, that would be amazing."
Pete’s appearance on Celeb SAS earlier this year also made waves, though he was forced to withdraw after pushing himself too hard.
Despite this, Pete received praise from viewers for his determination.
Speaking candidly about his exit, he shared: "I had nothing left. I reached my limit on the show, and I’ve got no regrets about it."
Meanwhile, Maura’s own career continues to soar.
Earlier this month, she was confirmed as a late arrival to this year’s I’m A Celebrity.
Show bosses reportedly saw her as the perfect replacement for Tommy Fury, and with her wit and charm, Maura is sure to make an impression.
An insider said, "She'll bring glamour to the jungle and is bound to make a great campmate."
This year has also marked Maura’s acting debut, as she took on a role in the upcoming film The Spin.
Set to premiere at the Belfast Film Festival, the movie features Maura alongside a star-studded cast, including Game of Thrones actor Brenock O'Connor.
As one of Love Island’s most successful stars, Maura has built a formidable career as a brand ambassador, securing deals with major names like Mermade Hair and Ann Summers.
She is also expanding her influence across the pond, having appeared as the social ambassador for Love Island USA and hosted its spin-off show Aftersun.
With a reported net worth of £3.2 million, Maura has shown that her success is far from limited to reality TV.
She is the sole director of The Flutter Effect Ltd, a media company that made £152,000 in profits last year.
As Pete and Maura continue to land high-profile TV roles and brand deals, they’re positioned to become one of the biggest power couples in British entertainment.
With lucrative opportunities across TV, podcasting, and beyond, the duo’s journey is just beginning - and it’s clear they’re in it for the long haul.
