Pete Wicks has broken his silence after fans claimed ‘something was going on’ between himself and Zara McDermott. 

The former TOWIE star, 35, has been spending time with Sam Thompson‘s girlfriend Zara while Sam competes on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! but the couple have been plagued by rumours that their relationship isn’t purely platonic.

Sharing his feelings for Zara with new! magazine, Pete mused: ‘I love Zara – she’s a sweetheart’, adding that the Strictly star is ‘really missing’ Sam.

He was quick to shut down rumours that the pair were doing anything untoward while Sam is in the Jungle, admitting: ‘Me and Zara find it quite funny.

‘That’s the problem with social media everyone’s got an opinion. Sam is my brother, and Zara is a very good friend of mine. We just laugh about it.’

Pete Wicks has broken his silence after fans claimed ‘something was going on’ between himself and Zara McDermott

The former TOWIE star, 35, has been spending time with Sam Thompson ‘s girlfriend Zara while Sam competes on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!

Insisting he wouldn’t date the Love Island star even if they were both single, he continued: ‘I absolutely adore Zara, but she’s not my cup of tea and I don’t think she’d last five minutes.

Me and Sam could not be any more different. They’re such a great couple and love them to bits. It’s just sad that people can’t understand that girls and guys can be mates. It’s ridiculous.’

Pete is currently in Australia waiting to greet Sam when he leaves I’m A Celeb and joked that he would be more likely to give his a pal a ‘slap’ rather than a hug when they reunite on the Jungle bridge.

Last month, Zara revealed while Pete was going instead of her even though she was free because of her early exit from Strictly Come Dancing.

The influencer, 26, told Fleur East on the Hits Radio Breakfast Show: ‘When I left Strictly I was like “Shall I pack my case?” and he went “Oh no it’s already been arranged Pete is coming”.’

She continued: ‘When I suggested maybe Pete and I could both go, he said, “No, just Pete!” Maybe I can get Pete to take a cardboard cut-out of me … But you know what it’s fine, absolutely fine.

‘I’ve got all the time in the world to live with him and see him. If he wants Pete at the end of that bridge I respect and appreciate that – also I can’t wait to see that hug!’

Zara was the first former Love Island star to compete on Strictly Come Dancing, and she was eliminated in week six.

Last month, Zara revealed while Pete was going to Australia instead of her even though she was free because of her early exit from Strictly Come Dancing (pictured on the show)

Her early elimination meant she was effectively at a loose end. At the same time, Sam, who had gambled on her still being in the competition, jetted off to Australia for his own reality TV adventure.

Speaking to breakfast hosts Fleur East and James Barr, he said: ‘When they asked [me to go into the jungle] I did think, if Zara was still on Strictly would I be a bad boyfriend if I went – but then decided I had to!’

This decision made him question whether he would even have a girlfriend by the end of the three-week competition.

He said: ‘As it turns out she’s tapping out of Strictly just as I’m tapping in.

‘But because I thought she would still be doing Strictly, Pete’s [Wicks] coming with me!’ he admitted.

‘I don’t know if I’m going to have a girlfriend at the end of it…’

Zara, Sam and Pete often team up to film funny videos together and Pete has insisted that his relationship with the Love Island star is purely platonic