‘Three signs’ Strictly’s Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal have fallen for each other

Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal’s sizzling chemistry may not just be on the dance floor, has deciphered after analysing their behaviour.

Following their Samba to the theme song from George of the Jungle, it wasn’t just their daring leopard print ensembles and Pete’s thrusting that got people talking.

Their intense eye contact and long hugs suggest singletons Pete, 36, and Jowita, 30, have formed a strong bond while working together — at least according to Nottingham psychology coach Darren Stanton.

To coincide with their regular displays of affection, Pete has sweetly declared that Jowita makes him ‘really happy every day’.

On the Staying Relevant podcast, he added: ‘I can’t sit here and go “she’s my life” – we don’t know each other that well. But what I do know is that she makes me feel good.’

It is reportedly an ‘open secret’ that the couple have ‘fallen head over heels’, a source told Daily Record. And Darren – a self-proclaimed ‘human lie detector’ – has also picked up on some key signs that this is more than just a showmance…

Prolonged eye contact

After watching Pete and Jowita interact, Darren noticed their ‘significant’ eye contact which often lasts over five seconds.

‘This kind of eye contact is generally reserved for family, friends and romantic partners,’ he noted.

‘They tend to turn and face their heads to each other almost telepathically like a lot of couples do when they’ve been together for a while. It comes from the fact they’re so comfortable with each other.’

This practice is evident in interviews, and also when they are dancing together. In the finale of their week two routine – an American Smooth to Post Malone’s I Had Some Help – they were ‘gazing’ into each other’s eyes.

Darren pointed out this isn’t something that all the couples can do, which they should be able to use to their advantage.

‘They are able to move as one entity across the floor. They’ll go really far due to this deep rapport which is obvious on and off the dance floor,’ he summarised.

Mirroring each other

On Sunday’s results show, Pete and Jowita joined their castmates to chat about making it through to the following week. While telling host Claudia Winkleman how happy they were, the pair unconsciously sat in the same position – both had their right leg crossed over their left.

‘They’re in the same seated position and mirroring each other without really being aware of it,’ Darren said. He added that this indicates a closeness.

A similar display can be seen during their interview on Staying Relevant: ‘What’s interesting with her is as he’s speaking, she’s looking into his eyes and her right shoe, her foot is moving really fast. That’s a flirtatious gesture, similar to how you’d play with your hair when you fancy someone.’

He continued: ‘Her eyes were quite wide, which shows she has this adulation for him, which lets us know something potentially could be going on with these two.’

Tactile celebrations

Jowita and Pete have a lot of fun together, and can often be seen laughing at the same joke. For instance, they both found the skimpy nature of Pete’s George of the Jungle costume amusing. Fair.

It’s not just what they say, it’s also what they don’t say – their celebrations at the end of each routine see Jowita jumping into Pete’s arms. The pair remain touching as they receive any feedback.

‘The banter between each other is key. They enjoy being silly together. We’re not seeing that level of rapport from any other couple.

‘They’re very tactile and comfortable,’ Darren added.

‘They’re very touchy-feely and just in terms of their responses to each other, there is interpersonal attraction in terms of their body language.’

If they do follow in the dance steps of Strictly couples including Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell, as well as Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton, it won’t be Pete’s first high-profile relationship.

Pete Wicks’ love life

Pete has dated many of his Towie co-stars after joining the ITV series in 2015. While he has romanced Chloe Sims, Jess Wright, Ella Rae Wise, and Shelby Tribble, his longest official relationship was with Megan McKenna.

The relationship began to fall apart after he was caught texting other women behind fan-favourite Megan’s back. They were together on and off for a year and a half, before walking away for good in 2017.

Most recently, Pete was linked to Love Island star Maura Higgins, after they were spotted kissing in August. However, neither confirmed if there was something going on.

Pete has been a happily single man for quite some time but told The Times magazine he doesn’t want it to always be this way.

‘I’m nearly 36. I want to get married and have kids. I’ve been blessed with so many opportunities, but what’s the point if I can’t share them with anyone?

‘I would love to find a wife, but you know what? I may end up one of those men who dies alone,’ he added.

Jowita Przystal’s love life

Jowita met dance partnerMichael Danilczuk at a summer dance camp in Krakow in 2013. After ten months of knowing each other, their relationship became romantic. Mixing work and play to great success, they landed themselves on The Greatest Dancer in 2020.

Following on from their win, Jowita was offered a place on Strictly and Michael was proudly cheering her on.

However, by the end of 2022, it was reported that Jowita was now dating Giovanni Pernice. The pair were even said to have been ‘caught kissing backstage’.

However, just after Giovanni ‘let slip’ they were a ‘we’, the duo called it quits.

It was claimed at the time, Giovanni’s busy schedule had made spending time together ‘absolutely impossible.’

Jowita’s rumoured ex Giovanni previously dated Maura, who has been linked to Pete. That’s quite the love square – perhaps even more complicated than a Cha-Cha-Cha!

Metro.co.uk has contacted Pete and Jowita’s representatives for comment.