Strictly stars have become embroiled in the show’s first ever ‘Love Hexagon’ after pro dancer Kai Widdrington was spotted cosying up to Maura Higgins.
The dancer, 29, was seen getting close to the former Love Island star, 33, during Monday night’s Pride Of Britain awards at London’s Grosvenor Hotel.
Their flirtatious evening was particularly relevant because Maura has been romantically linked with celebrity contestant Pete Wicks, 36, currently starring on this year’s series.
In an apparent match made in reality TV heaven, TOWIE alumnus Pete and Love Island contestant Maura were spotted kissing just three weeks ago at a London pub.
The Love Island icon, 33, and Strictly star, 36, then reportedly confirmed their romance when they were seen sharing a sweet kiss in the Red Bar at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Londonas they partied into the early hours.
Kai’s dalliance with Maura will not only raise eyebrows from Pete, but also his fellow pro dancer Nadiya Bychkova, 35, who he dated for two years before splitting in July.
All the complicated romantic connections in thie year’s Strictly, which prove that the show is a ‘conveyor belt’ of hook ups
However, Maura’s fondness for Kai may have been triggered by reports Pete has grown close to his Polish dance partner Jowita Przsytal, 30.
The pair are believed to be the first couple to embark on a relationship in this year’s series.
And to complete the show’s ‘Love Hexagon’, former Strictly winner Giovanni Pernice, 34, had a brief fling with Jowita in 2023 – and also dated Maura in 2021.
A Strictly source told Mailonline the latest romance twists will do little to dampen the show’s reputation for its stars hooking up.
The insider said: ‘Kai and Maura getting close while she’s still got feelings for Pete, who is now infatuated with Jowita, just sums up Strictly right now.
Pete Wicks has been setting the Strictly dancefloor alight with his sizzling routines with Jowita Przystał. But it was Maura Higgins who was in his arms on Monday for a daring TikTok
Maura Higgins, 33, and Kai Widdrington, 29, got very handsy inside the Pride Of Britain Awards held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel
The former Love Island star has had her fair share of links within the Strictly Come Dancing family, including a romance with Giovanni Pernice (pictured)
‘It’s a never-ending conveyor belt of relationships and flings, which shows no sign of ending.’
Kai and Maura’s ‘handsy’ evening around a dinner table came hours before the Irish model was reportedly seen getting cosy with Pete at the after-party.
According to The Mirror, the pair shared a tender moment in the corner of the Red Bar when Maura planted a kiss on his nose, and then shared a kiss on the lips together.
Meanwhile, Kai’s relationship with ex Nadiya appears to be in tatters, with the Ukrainian dancer taking a swipe at him while speaking on the red carpet during Monday night’s bash.
She said: ‘We work together but we are not friends and that’s OK.
‘One thing I can tell you is that when you see me dancing with him, it will be amazing because I’m a professional.’
Pete and Jowita put on a friendly display when they were seen at the ITV studios for an appearance on Loose Women at the beginning of October
Close: It was claimed this week that Giovanni Pernice and Jowita Przystal’s romance is Strictly Come Dancing’s ‘worst kept secret’ – but looking back over the last few months what were the signs in plain sight that they were dating? (pictured in a cosy selfie this month)
PASSION: In one secret sign the pair danced together in a pro routine in the week four results show in October where Jowita looked gorgeous in a green dress as she enjoyed a steamy embrace with Gio.
The former couple started dating after Nadiya’s split from fiancé Matija Škarabot in January 2022 and they even headlined their own tour together earlier this year before their relationship broke down in the summer.
Kai is not appearing on this year’s show after he wasn’t matched with a celebrity partner.
HIs rumoured new love interest Maura split from his former colleague Giovanni Pernice in 2023 after dating for a few months.
They went Instagram official in July 2021 with a loved up picture on Maura’s Instagram captioned ‘I’m yours’ in July 2021.
They moved in together shortly afterwards, but their romance turned sour when Giovanni dumped Maura, leaving her ‘blindsided’ just four months into their relationship.
A source told The Sun at the time: ‘It’s all over for now. Maura’s absolutely devastated, it appears the Strictly curse has struck again.
‘Maura didn’t see this coming and is finding it very difficult to come to terms with. She genuinely thought Gio was the one.’
The Italian then moved onto Jowita after the pair fell for each other while filming the 2022 series of Strictly.
Strictly pro dancers Kai Widdrington and Nadiya Bychkova, pictured in March 2024, announced earlier this month that they had quietly split
But the pair called it quits months later, blaming their hectic work schedules.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reported earlier this month Jowita and former Towie star Pete’s romance was an ‘open secret’ among cast and crew on Strictly.
An insider said: ‘ Pete has fallen head over heels for Jowita. He thinks she is amazing in every way.
‘The feeling is mutual from her side and things have definitely progressed between them. They are all over one another behind the scenes, in a way that a loved-up couple would be.’
The source added: ‘It appears that we may have the first Strictly romance of the series, which is so exciting. They are the talk of the show.’
‘The other contestants are really happy for them. They are always smiling. It’s lovely. It will certainly brighten up the show following the dreadful saga around Giovanni (Pernice) and Amanda Abbington.’