Pete Wicks has finally let his guard down — and fans are lapping it up.

The former TOWIE star, 37, openly admitted he “missed” Olivia Attwood while she was away, in what many are calling the clearest sign yet that their once-platonic friendship has turned into something far more intense.

The pair, who now host The Sunday Roast on Kiss FM together, have been at the centre of swirling romance rumours ever since they were spotted sharing a kiss during a boozy night out in London. And now, their on-air chemistry is only fuelling the speculation further.

Olivia, 34, had been absent from the show after flying to New York for a press trip with River Island — but her return didn’t go unnoticed.

During the latest episode, she cheekily asked Pete if he had missed her while she was gone. Without hesitation, he replied: “Of course I did! It wasn’t the same without you!” — a moment that instantly set tongues wagging.

From Heartbreak To Something New

The timing couldn’t be more telling.

Olivia split from her husband Bradley Dack back in January following what insiders described as a “breach of trust.” Since then, sources say she has been navigating one of the toughest periods of her life — and Pete has quietly stepped in as her biggest support.

According to friends, he has been “a shoulder to cry on” during her darkest days, helping her through the emotional fallout of the breakup.

One insider revealed that their connection has deepened rapidly in recent weeks, insisting there was “no overlap” with her previous relationship. They added that Pete has “held a torch for Olivia for a really long time” — and finally, the timing aligned.

“She is hurting and vulnerable, and he was in the right place at the right time,” the source said.

That Kiss That Changed Everything

Their romance reportedly ignited around the BRIT Awards at the end of February — but it was their very public kiss at Soho’s Flute rooftop bar that confirmed what fans had long suspected.

Eyewitnesses claimed the pair looked completely wrapped up in each other as they partied for hours, with their chemistry impossible to ignore.

Friends now say their relationship has “blossomed into an unexpected romance,” though the pair are still taking things slow and haven’t put a label on it just yet.

Ibiza Calling… Again

And if things weren’t heating up enough, the duo are already talking about jetting off together.

During their radio chat, Olivia brought up the idea of returning to Ibiza — the same party island where they previously turned heads during a wild yacht bash.

Back then, the pair were seen looking incredibly cosy, with Olivia sitting between Pete’s legs as they soaked up the sun and partied into the night.

This time, it sounds like they’re ready to do it all over again.

Olivia teased: “This year has been weird, anything can happen. Are you ready for a return to Ibiza?”

Pete didn’t hesitate: “Of course!”

Clearly excited, Olivia added that her “bag was already packed,” before joking that Ibiza somehow gets even better with age.

“I’m having more fun in Ibiza now than I did when I was 18,” she laughed, while Pete admitted the island’s magic “just doesn’t wear off.”

A Romance Years In The Making

What makes their story even more intriguing is the history behind it.

Olivia and Pete have known each other for nearly a decade, first crossing paths during their TOWIE days in 2019. But while their friendship has stood the test of time, few expected it to take this turn.

Now, insiders say they are enjoying each other’s company without rushing into anything serious — choosing instead to let things unfold naturally.

But with public declarations, steamy kisses, and Ibiza plans already on the table, fans are convinced this “unexpected romance” might be heading somewhere far more serious than either of them is letting on…