PETE Wicks has appeared to confirm his romance with his Strictly pro partner Jowita Przystal after they shared a passionate kiss on stage.

The former TOWIE star was rumoured to have been dating his pro partner Jowita around the same time he was linked to TV beauty Maura Higgins.

During Pete’s Staying Relevant podcast live show with best pal Sam Thompson at London’s O2 Arena, Pete was reunited with Jowita as they performed a racy routine on stage for the crowd.

But it became a lot more hot and heavy than anything ever seen on the Strictly dancefloor.

Pete and Jowita kissed one another THREE times during the performance in the clearest sign yet that their romance is well and truly on.

A source close to the pair has even admitted that things are official for Pete and Jowita – nine months on from the BBC programme.

An insider told the Mail Online: “Pete and Jowita are now an item, they’ve been dating for a few weeks.

“They kept things professional on Strictly, there was no crossover with Maura.

“But once Pete was single they grew close again and recently the relationship has blossomed into something more.

“You could tell something is going on between them during their routine – it was extremely raunchy and dance partners don’t usually kiss quite like that.”

Pete previously shared a cosy snap with Jowita on Instagram earlier this month – sparking fresh rumours that things had been rekindled between the pair.

He shared a gushing birthday tribute to the 31-year-old in which he admitted his Strictly journey was not about the dancing but “all about the person”.

Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal dancing on Strictly Come Dancing.

Alongside their cosy snaps, Pete 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 (love heart emoji).”

Pete is understood to have been single since calling time on his brief romance with Maura at the start of the year.

He was later spotted on a date with a fellow Love Island beauty – Samantha Kenny – but nothing came to be of a potential budding romance.

Just last month, Pete was spotted getting cosy with his close pal and radio co-host, Olivia Attwood, who is married to Bradley Dack.

They were snapped on a boat together during an Ibiza trip which sparked discussion over the state of Olivia’s marriage.

The Lothario had his arm around his married friend’s waist as they sat together on a yacht with pals.