They were set to be reality TV’s ‘It couple’ but fans were left shocked earlier this month when news broke that Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins had split, with sources saying the former Love Island star called time on their romance after feeling she’d ‘never be able to trust’ him.
And insiders tell Closer that while both are devastated at the split, Maura felt forced to call it quits.
A source says, ‘Maura fell for him very quickly and very hard – so for things to end so soon has been heartbreaking. But in any relationship, she needs to be able to trust someone 100 percent and she just couldn’t find that with Pete, so she had to end things.
‘She’d introduced Pete to her family and friends back home in Ireland, and they were surprised when she announced that things were over. But it’s Maura’s call and she’s told them she believes it was never going to work.’
Maura, 34, was first linked to former TOWIE star Pete, 37, last autumn, with their romance later being confirmed when they were papped kissing at an event in October. While they never explicitly confirmed they were serious, the pair supported each other on their social media accounts during their respective Strictly and I’m A Celebrity stints, with Maura also opening up about her love life to her campmates in the jungle, saying she was, ‘seeing someone’.
But reports recently claimed the couple had broken up after Maura found ‘loads of messages’ on Pete’s phone from other women. However, those close to Pete insisted that the conversations had been with female friends and colleagues and were totally innocent.
Our insider says, ‘For his part, Pete is insisting he’s done nothing wrong. His view is that he always has and always will have a lot of female friends. But Maura has said she’s going with her gut and has made her decision – once she’s made her mind up on something she won’t budge.
‘Pete’s gutted because he cared deeply for her, but he realises that it isn’t meant to be and is just looking to the future now.’
Pete’s best pal and podcast co-host Sam Thompson has also recently became single, splitting from girlfriend of five years Zara McDermott in early January.
And now our insider adds that Pete – who is launching a new radio show with close pal Olivia Attwood in March – is using work to distract him, as well as no doubt leaning on Sam.
The source says, ‘Pete’s going to throw himself into his work which is keeping him busy at the moment. There will no doubt be a few nights out with Sam too, who has been a great support. He’s looking on the bright side. What he and Maura had was fun while it lasted but it’s over now and Pete is determined to focus on moving on.’