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Metro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Pete Wicks reveals he's ‘in love' six months after split from Maura Higgins
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Pete Wicks is 'in love' again, months on from his split with his ex Maura Higgins. On the latest episode of the Staying Relevant podcast, the ex-Towie star, 36, and his co-host, Sam Thompson, 33, took a lie detector test and asked eachother personal questions. After a warm up and beating around the bush, the former Made in Chelsea star asked Pete an absolute belter. 'Are you in love with somebody right now?' asked Sam, insisting that he was being vague enough for their public platform. After taking a while to respond, Pete smiled and said: 'No.' The polygrapher confirmed Pete was lying by shaking his head and giving a thumbs down signal to the duo, leading to Sam erupting. 'Ahhh, I knew it! And that's all we're going to say, he said with his hands up, reassuring Pete that he wouldn't say his love interest's name. 'How could you do that to me?' asked Pete. 'I don't know, it just came to my head, it's a f***ing lie! Pete's in love with somebody! Find her, find her! All of our listeners find her! Pete's in love, secretly, and I think I know who it is.' 'You know exactly who it is, I literally told you the f***ing story. And she's not replied,' he said with a laugh. 'Why would you put that one in there? That was not on the f***ing list!' In March, Pete was seen hugging Love Island star Samantha Kenny after they were spotted hugging outside Mayfair's Amazonico club. Samatha is now dating someone new and the pair insisted that they are just friends. Pete and Maura were dating for several months, with Maura hinting at their relationship while in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. When Oti Mabuse asked if she was single, she replied: 'I am but I was seeing someone before I came in, but I'm not in a relationship.' She added that she was 'missing' the mystery man, who she acknowledged was someone the public might know. Speaking on the We Need To Talk podcast, Pete said of Maura: 'Maura and I have known each other for a long time now… about six years. We have the same sense of humour, she's super intelligent and I think that is sometimes something that people don't realise about Maura. 'She's incredibly witty. We have always been there for each other for the past six years at a distance. 'It's different now. We spend more time together now than we did before. My relationship with her is that I think she's a great person and I would hope that she thinks I'm alright.' The duo broke up in February 2025. On Valentine's Day, Maura confirmed things had cooled down by sharing a bunch of red roses with a card that read 'To me, Love me.' More Trending 'There have been a few clashes, and it was eventually agreed they were better off as friends,' a source told MailOnline. During the polygraph episode of the podcast, Pete turned the tables on Sam by asking him if he was currently in love. Sam answered no, and was proved to be telling the truth – with Pete delighted that he was not in love with anyone. This was likely linked to his break-up with Zara McDermott, which took place at the end of last year. Zara and Louis Tomlinson 'hard launched' their relationship with a snogging snap at the start of the month. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Maura Higgins shares first glimpse inside incredible new £1,200,000 home
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Pete Wicks 'finds love with another Love Island star' after Maura Higgins split
Former The Only Way Is Essex star Pete Wicks has been linked to another Love Island star just weeks after he split from girlfriend Maura Higgins after they enjoyed a six month fling Pete Wicks is said to have found love with another Love Island star. The 37-year-old The Only Way Is Essex star is well known for his romantic antics. Most recently, he was linked to Love Island star Maura Higgins - who he reportedly dated from August 2024 until their abrupt break up in February this year. Maura appeared on Love Island back in 2019 during season five of the show where she fell for dancer Curtis Pritchard - although they split months after the show stopped filming. Pete saw his love life create headlines and drama as he appeared in front of reality show cameras for seven years from 2015 until 2022 as one of the cast members of ITV's TOWIE. Last year he won over new fans as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing - and was supported by Maura along the way. Since their split earlier this year, it seems Pete has found a new romantic interest in the Love Island star Samantha Kenny. The 27-year-old was a contestant on season 11 of the reality dating show in the summer of 2024 but was dumped from the island just over two weeks after she entered the villa. The Sun has claimed the pair have been on a series of dates - with a source claiming: 'Pete and Samantha have gone on a few dates and have really hit it off. She's got a wicked sense of humour and is absolutely gorgeous.' The pair were previously spotted hugging outside Mayfair's Amazonico club at the end of last month. The Mirror has contacted representatives of both for comment. And it appears that while Pete may have a liking for women who have appeared on Love Island, Sammy also appears to have a type on paper. During her time in the villa, the online content creator fell for Joey Essex, 34. Joey himself appeared on TOWIE from 2011 until 2013 - and was something of a surprise star on Love Island last summer. Samantha wasn't the only one to turn his head, however, as he also enjoyed dates with Grace Jackson, Jess White and Jessy Potts. Meanwhile, Maura sparked scandal last month when she was caught seemingly kissing married musician Danny Jones while they were both celebrating the 2025 BRIT Awards. Footage of the pair caught in an intimate embrace generated headlines - and put McFly star Danny's marriage at risk. Star Girl singer Danny issued a statement days after the scandal broke. He wrote in a statement on Instagram Stories: 'Hello everyone. Sorry it's taken me a while to post this but I've taken some time out to be with those closest to me. 'I want to deeply apologise to my wife for putting them in this situation. I love them so much and we'll continue to deal with this privately. 'I love you guys, thank you for your patience, understanding, and support. See you all soon, Danny.' Earlier this month, his wife, Georgia Horsley, broke cover and was spotted looking upbeat more than a year after the scandal. Spotted at a Marks and Spencer event, the mum-of-one shared a photo of herself smiling beside a rooftop swimming pool in London and wrote: "My first event in a while & really looking forward to seeing some gorgeous humans."
New York Times
12-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Sam Kerr, a nightmare two years and now the chance to look to the future
For Sam Kerr, an ordeal that started more than two years ago is finally over. The decision handed down by a jury on Tuesday means Kerr can put a protracted legal saga behind her, as she prepares to mark her return to football in the next two months. For seven days over the past two weeks, Chelsea striker Kerr, Australia's captain and a star of the women's game worldwide, has battled past a scrum of flashing cameras, stationed outside Kingston Crown Court in south-west London, to attend her trial. Advertisement The 31-year-old's case attracted significant media attention — especially from her home country — with a sizeable press pack waiting outside court every day for her arrival. 'Following today's not guilty verdict, I can finally put this challenging period behind me,' Kerr said in a statement posted on social media on Monday evening. 'While I apologise for expressing myself poorly on what was a traumatic evening, I have always maintained that I did not intend to insult or harm anyone and I am thankful that the jury unanimously agreed. 'I would like to thank my partner Kristie (Mewis), my family, friends and all the fans for their love and support, especially those who attended court each day. 'I am fully focused on getting back on to the pitch and look forward to an exciting year ahead for me and my family.' Kerr could never have imagined a date night in central London on January 29, 2023 with her fiancee, the United States international Kristie Mewis, would end up being dissected in forensic detail inside court nine of Kingston Crown Court just over two years later. On the first day of the trial, extra seats had to be found to accommodate the large number of journalists covering the case. The Sunday evening at the centre of the case followed a memorable day for Kerr, who had earlier scored a hat-trick for Chelsea in a 3-2 win against visitors Liverpool in the fourth round of the Women's FA Cup. The couple, who the court heard began dating in 2019 when Mewis 'slid into' Kerr's DMs, started their evening at their favourite restaurant, Amazonico in the affluent Mayfair district, before joining friends for cocktails and then finally heading to a nightclub, where they stayed for just 15 minutes before heading home to south-west London as it was a 'bit of a dungeon'. However, the driver of their taxi ended up calling the police to complain, saying they had refused to pay clean-up costs for Kerr's vomit in his vehicle and after Mewis had smashed its rear window. The plastic barrier separating the passenger area from the driver was also damaged. Instead of dropping them home, he contacted the police and then drove them to Twickenham police station. Kerr and Mewis told a different version of events. After Kerr 'spit vomited' out of the window of the taxi, the pair described how the atmosphere in the cab changed and the driver started to move the vehicle erratically. They felt they were being held 'hostage' and feared for their lives, citing the case of Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped, raped and murdered by a police officer in London in March 2021, which is why Mewis said she broke the rear window. They, as well as the driver, had also contacted the police. Advertisement When the taxi reached Twickenham police station, they said they initially felt relief but this turned to fear again when they felt officers refused to listen to them, described by Mewis as 'gaslighting'. It was at this point that Kerr allegedly became abusive, insulting, and referenced PC Stephen Lovell's race. On Monday last week, the first day of the trial, there was a collective hush in the courtroom as jurors were shown body-camera footage of the heated exchange that unfolded inside the police station that night. This included Kerr saying: 'You guys are f***ing stupid and white', followed by 'honestly, you guys are f***ing stupid and white. I'm looking you in the eyes, you guys are f***ing stupid. I'm f***ing over this s**t.' With her comments having been caught on camera, Kerr did not deny saying these things. 'I don't normally act like that, so I am quite embarrassed to watch that back,' Kerr told the court. 'It's hard to watch, not just because of the way I was acting, but to watch yourself in that much distress.' She pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress — and it was on this that the case centred. On Tuesday afternoon, on what was day seven of the trial, the jury cleared her of any wrongdoing. When the news emerged, Kerr gave a thumbs-up to her lawyer and was later seen hugging her agent, Florian Schroeder, as well as her brother, Levi. Mewis was visibly emotional. Kerr later spent time with her family, including father Roger and mother Roxanne who had flown over from Australia, before making a swift exit through the media scrum. Following the verdict, Judge Peter Lodder KC, said: 'I take the view her own behaviour contributed significantly to the bringing of this allegation. I don't go behind the jury's verdict but that has a significant bearing on the question of costs.' During the trial, Kerr, who was cross-examined for around five hours, said she felt she was treated differently by police officers that night based on 'what they perceived to be the colour of my skin'. Kerr identifies as white Anglo-Indian while her father is Anglo-Indian. Kerr said she was around nine or 10 years old when she first witnessed racism directed at members of her family. 'I was quite confused, then sad,' she told the court. She said this later turned to 'disappointment'. Advertisement She said she had been treated differently at times in life because of her skin colour. 'At school, I experienced being in situations where teachers had instigated that I was the troublemaker, or had started trouble,' she said. Kerr outlined how she encountered racism on social media and got 'followed by security guards or staff' at a shopping centre 'if not dressed correctly'. Kerr, who was repeatedly asked to speak up while in court, also told how she felt PC Lovell was using his 'power' and 'privilege' over her. In court, Grace Forbes, defending, told how PC Lovell was alleged to have said, 'Do you think a taxi driver, who is going to rape and kill you, would take you to a police station?' To that, Kerr responded, 'You're sick.' When asked why she said that, Kerr replied, 'I thought he was making light of what had happened to us. I thought it was an antagonising comment.' Asked by Forbes why she used the words 'white' and 'privileged' after her exchange with PC Lovell, Kerr replied, 'It was clear to me he had no idea about the power and privilege he had at that moment, or in life, because the way he commented on what the driver could have done to me showed he has never experienced that or ever had to think about what can happen to you as a female.' Mewis, who is now expecting a baby boy with Kerr, said her partner was 'speaking her truth in how she was feeling; subconsciously, she felt like she was being treated differently, and I've seen it a lot.' Asked to describe her partner, Mewis, who became emotional at times when giving evidence, replied: 'Sam is so loving. She's so humble, she would help anybody… that's one of the things I love about her so much. She's so inspiring, she inspires me every day. I wouldn't want anyone else to be the mother of my child.' The court also heard character references, including from Kerr's Chelsea team-mates Millie Bright and Erin Cuthbert, as well as Emma Hayes, Kerr's former manager at the club and now head coach of the United States' women's national team. 'Sam's one of the warmest, friendliest, kindest and most considerate players I have ever coached,' Hayes said. Advertisement Elsewhere in the trial, Forbes suggested PC Lovell changed his statement to try to get a criminal charge over the line, something he denied. This came after it was revealed the UK's Crown Prosecution Service had initially decided not to charge Kerr. Bill Emlyn Jones KC, for the prosecution, told the court how the 'combination of being very angry and very drunk makes people behave as they would not ordinarily behave', and that Kerr and Mewis' suggestion of being 'kidnapped or falsely imprisoned' in the taxi that night was 'plainly based on a misunderstanding'. In any event, he said, what happened in the vehicle had no bearing on the case being tried. He told Kerr she had no basis to accuse the police officers of being racist towards her, also pointing out how the taxi driver was Asian. The driver was never called to give evidence in court. Emlyn Jones suggested the Australian footballer had given it the 'big I am' when she told the officers in the station, 'I've got all the f***ing people in the world' and 'I've got f***ing Chelsea going on' — something Kerr denied. In his closing remarks, Emlyn Jones asked the jury to imagine that PC Lovell was Black. 'Calling a white man 'white' is not as loaded as calling a Black man 'Black',' he said. 'It does not carry the hurt and injustice of years, decades and centuries of personal and collective experience of prejudice. The fact remains that in the heat of the moment, this insult was delivered in reference to race, and that is what the law prohibits.' After listening to all the evidence and having deliberated for just over four hours, the jury acquitted Kerr of any wrongdoing. Kerr, who has been recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury she sustained in January last year, is expected to finally return to action in the next two months, when she can focus on football once more. Advertisement On and off the pitch, this has been a nightmare period for her. A guilty verdict would have cast a shadow over her name, seriously damaging her reputation. It would have thrown her position as Australia captain into doubt and there might have been repercussions elsewhere too, with decisions for Chelsea and her sponsors to make. As it is, that outcome has been avoided and Kerr can get on with living her life again. More than two years since that fateful night out, and after seven days in a London courtroom, she can finally look forward again. (Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
