PETE
After months of speculation, Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins have sent fans into a frenzy by confirming their long-rumoured romance.
And with a string of big-money deals under their belt, the couple already being tipped as the ‘new Posh and Becks of British TV.’
Having risen to fame as a star of The Only Way Is EsSєx, Pete has won a whole new army of fans by transforming his bad boy image with his stint on BBC favourite Strictly Come Dancing.
This is just one of a string of TV gigs for the reality star, as he also impressed viewers with his appearance on Channel 4’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, and Olivia Attwood’s Bad Boyfriends, which aired on ITV2.
And in a matter of days, Maura will follow suit, as she is set to fly to Australia to join the star-studded lineup for ITV’s golden show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
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Pete Wicks and Maura Higgins look set to cement themselves as the ‘new Posh and Becks of British TV’, with a string of deals set to see them dominate BBC and ITV well into 2025
Between them, Pete and Maura could be set to earn millions through their TV work, with brand and culture expert Nick Ede also tipping them ‘cash in, in both the UK and beyond’
Between them, Pete and Maura could be set to earn millions through their TV work, with brand and culture expert Nick Ede also tipping them ‘cash in, in both the UK and beyond.’
He told MailOnline: ‘Pete and Maura have cleverly spread their fame and their faces all over the UK’s TV landscape.
‘Whether it’s BBC and Strictly, or ITV and I’m A Celebrity, they have manage,d and are managing, to become omnipresent TV personalities.
‘Pete has only just finished SAS on Channel Four and now he’s on ITV. Pete has also kept his profile and his fame up due to his bromance with Sam Thompson which has been going on for many years; this and his new show on UKTV means that there is no escaping him.
‘Similarly Maura is an ITV favourite and this winter she’ll be brightening up our ssceeens on I’m a celebrity .
‘They can keep up this momentum by appearing post show on daytime tv and also I can see Maura being snapped up to follow in Olivia Atwood’s footsteps and becoming a Loose Woman.
‘That and podcasting, and if they play their romance right I can see them being offered their own fly on the wall documentary from the likes of ITV2 would love a new reality show with such a H๏τ couple.’
So, as Pete and Maura prepare to cement themselves as TV’s biggest power couple, MailOnline takes a look at how they could become multi-millionaires with shows spread across so many channels, viewers can’t escape them…
PETE
An unlikely Strictly star
Pete has become a fan-favourite on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, and last week he earned his first 10 after dancing an emotional Couple’s Choice in honour of his late nan
In August, it was revealed that Pete would be joining the lineup for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Confessing he wasn’t a fan of the show, Pete admitted he was begged to sign up for the BBC One show by his manager and close pal Sam Thompson.
The star has been paired with former Strictly champion Jowita Przystał, and the pair struggled to impress during their first week with a Paso Doble to The Prodigy’s Breathe.
However, in the weeks since, he has continued to improve, and last week he earned his first 10 after dancing an emotional Couple’s Choice in honour of his late nan.
While Pete has cemented himself as a fan favourite, making it to the show’s famous Blackpool show this weekend, he is being paid the same flat as all of the celebrities taking party.
Reality TV stars through to sport stars and soap stars are reportedly all paid the same amount – which is a flat rate fee of £25,000, however the fee increases for stars who perform well on the show.
Any celebrities that make it past Blackpool and the quarter final see their salary jump to £60,000, followed by £75,000 for semi-finalists, and if Pete were to lift the famous Glitterball Trophy, he’d receive an eye-watering £100,000.
Podcast mogul
In 2022, Pete and his best pal Sam Thompson found a huge new audience when they launched their podcast Staying Relevant, taking the show on tour earlier this year
In 2022, Pete and his best pal Sam Thompson found a huge new audience when they launched their podcast Staying Relevant, poking fun at the pair’s attempts to maintain their fame, with the pair’s bickering and stories leaving listeners in hysterics.
The pair have since expanded the format to start their own production company, and even took to the show on tour for a string of sell-out gigs earlier this year.
In September, in the wake of news of Pete’s Strictly stint, the pair’s show hit a record-breaking eight million monthly audience
Along with 65,000 YouTube subscribers, the show picks up huge views on TikTok, with nearly 400,000 followers, and Instagram, with 277,000 followers.
Dog documentarian
As well as appearing on Strictly, Pete is also set to present his own documentary series, Pete Wicks: For Dog’s Sake for U&W later this year
As well as appearing on Strictly, Pete is also set to present his own documentary series, Pete Wicks: For Dog’s Sake for U&W later this year.
The series follows the star, who himself has two dogs Eric and Peggy, as he works with Dogs Trust to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome vulnerable dogs.
‘Up until a few months ago my main dream was to do a show with dogs and I was lucky enough to film for it this summer,’ he said.
‘Animals make me happy, they make me feel good. They live for the present and I think that’s a beautiful thing we as humans don’t really do. If we were more like animals that would be amazing!’
SAS Favourite
Last month, Pete also appeared on Channel 4’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, and despite eventually withdrawing from the course, was praised by viewers
Last month, Pete was praised by viewers when he appeared on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
He was originally forced to quit during his first stint in 2022 after suffering a nasty injury while jumping from a helicopter, but this year he has returned to the show and is currently appearing in the new series alongside Ovie Soko, Bianca Gascoigne and Georgia Harrison.
But Pete was forced to withdraw from SAS for the second time, after telling the instructors he ‘had nothing left’.
Pete previously appeared on the show in 2022, but was left ‘truly gutted’ after being forced to withdraw after he knocked himself unconscious and broke his ribs during a challenge.
But now Pete has revealed that his second exit was caused after he was asked to write a letter to his mum Tracey and read it aloud on camera.
The reality TV veteran previously shared how he’s saved his mother’s life when he was just 12-years-old after he found her in the kitchen after an attempted suicide.
Pete told The Sun: ‘I decided that night that I was in too deep. I hadn’t prepared for the reading out of the letters’.
‘I said things that I think I shouldn’t have said because I wasn’t saying it to the right person. I thought, ‘I need to go and say what I’ve said in this letter to my mum’.’
‘For them, it’s life and death. But it’s a TV show, and I’d reached my limit on a TV show. I’ve got absolutely no regrets about it.’
MAURA
I’m A Celebrity stunner
Earlier this month Maura was confirmed as one of the famous faces taking part in this year’s I’m A Celeb, and she is set to move into the camp as a late arrival
Earlier this month Maura was confirmed as one of the famous faces taking part in this year’s I’m A Celeb.
Read More Maura Higgins reveals what went on during her final date night with Pete Wicks before I’m A Celeb 
It was previously reported that I’m A Celebrity bosses had set their sights on Maura after boxer Tommy Fury withdrew at the last minute.
ITV were then eyeing up Molly-Mae Hague’s best friend Maura to take his place in the jungle, with bosses banking on the Irish beauty to spill the beans about her pal.
A source told The Sun: ‘With Tommy Fury pulling out it gave show bosses the opportunity to look at other Love Island stars and Maura stood out as the perfect candidate.
‘She’ll bringing a bit of glamour to the jungle and make a brilliant campmate because she’s got a great sense of humour and is bound to get on with everyone.
‘It’s shaping up to be a strong year for women on I’m A Celebrity this year.’
Major film role
This month, Maura also made her acting debut as she swapped reality TV for her role in upcoming music-themed comedy The Spin
This month, Maura has also made her acting debut as she swapped reality TV for her role in upcoming music-themed comedy The Spin.
Appearing fleetingly in the film’s trailer, the Love Island star stripped down to a skimpy metallic strapless top as she lay looking pensive on her bed alongside her love interest Game Of Thrones actor Brenock O’Connor.
Directed by award-winning director and screenwriter Michael Head, Maura stars as Rose in the film as she joins Pussycat Doll star Kimberly Wyatt, Hardy Bucks frontman Owen Colgan and Derry Girl’s star Tara Lynne O’Neill.
Premiering at this year’s Belfast Film Festival, the trailer sees Maura’s character and her boyfriend Dermot looking tense as they sit on the bed together.
Star across the pond
As one of Love Island’s most successful exports, Maura Higgins has also accrued an impressive fortune as one of the UK’s biggest brand ambᴀssadors
As one of Love Island’s most successful exports, Maura Higgins has accrued an impressive fortune as one of the UK’s biggest brand ambᴀssadors.
The Irish beauty boasts a reported net worth of £3.2million.
Just some of the brands Maura has worked with include Mermade Hair, Youth To The People, Mars The Label, Cosmetips and Ann Summers, who she continues to work with a £150,000-per-year deal.
As well as a previous stint on Dancing On Ice, Maura has also been trying to crack the US, appearing as the social ambᴀssador of Love Island USA, and the host of its spin-off show Aftersun, after meeting with NBC network executives in Ma
Maura is the sole director of a media company The Flutter Effect Ltd, which filed profits of £152,000 in 2022, according to its last accounts.
I’M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP
OTI MABUSE
Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt
AGE: 34
OCCUPATION: Professional dancer
FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020.
DANNY JONES
Danny Jones is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: McFly singer
FAMOUS FOR: Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly.
He is also a coach on The Voice UK.
BARRY MCGUIGAN
Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle
AGE: 63
OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer
FAMOUS FOR: Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight тιтles from 1985 to 1986.
GK BARRY
GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: TikTok star
FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel.
DEAN MCCULLOUGH
ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp
AGE: 32
OCCUPATION: Radio 1 DJ
FAMOUS FOR: Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views.
Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.
JANE MOORE
Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women
AGE: 62
OCCUPATION: Journalist
FAMOUS FOR: Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002.
She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.
Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow.
MELVIN ODOOM
Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021
AGE: 44
OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter
FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.
He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.
COLEEN ROONEY
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: WAG
FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, exceeding Nigel Farage’s £1.5million from last year.
ALAN HALSALL
Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street
AGE: 42
OCCUPATION: Actor
FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.
Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap.
TULISA
Tulisa is making her career comeback after reuniting with N-Dubz last year
AGE: 36
OCCUPATION: Singer and former X Factor judge
FAMOUS FOR: Tulisa reunited with N-Dubz last year for a tour after first finding fame with the band in 2007.
In 2011, she became a judge on The X Factor and went on to launch her debut solo album, The Female Boss.
She released her fourth album with N-Dubz last year.
