Television presenter Olivia Attwood, 35, has made her relationship with former The Only Way Is Essex star Pete Wicks, 37, official on Instagram after sharing the first photos of the couple together on Wednesday night.
Attwood posted a series of loved-up photographs showing the pair kissing on a beach during a summer holiday in Ibiza, weeks after Wicks first shared pictures of her on his own social media page.
Joking about the timing of the post, Attwood told her followers that she published the pictures because she misses Wicks while working away, rather than feeling bullied into the reveal by fan requests.
Fans had been repeatedly asking Attwood when she would post pictures with Wicks since he first published photographs of her online last month.
Instagram official in Ibiza
The announcement triggered a wave of supportive messages from followers in the comments section. Fans wrote "Giving us all what we want", "The hard launch we've all been waiting for", and "Awwh they've both gone soft. What a time to be alive! I love this for you guys".
Other followers added comments reading "Finally, love this for you", "I can't cope with you guys", "Locked in", and "What a cool couple".
Wicks confirmed their official boyfriend-girlfriend status back in July when he published his own array of romantic photographs from the same Ibiza trip for his own hard launch.
Sending fans wild at the time, Wicks captioned his July post: "I guess someone has to go first…IBIZA".
His best friend, TV personality Sam Thompson, was quick to comment on the post. Thompson wrote: "Never thought I’d see the day YOU hard launch!! couldn’t be happier for you brother".
Teasing the romance
The full reveal follows a subtle hint Attwood shared earlier this month in a multi-image Instagram photo dump.
That previous post featured a bikini shot, recent luxury purchases, her dogs, Wicks' dogs, and promotion for her booze brand. However, the post was stolen by a brief glimpse of Wicks, whose hand appeared driving a Range Rover through the countryside.
Eagle-eyed followers spotted the detail immediately. One user wrote, "It's not a sneak peek, it's a sneak Pete!" while another asked, "Did we just get a little Pete picture," to which Attwood replied: "I think you might of".
Navigating a new relationship
The couple went public following months of speculation about their relationship status after spending many years as close friends. The romance developed after Attwood separated from her ex-husband, 32-year-old professional footballer Bradley Dack, at the start of the year.
Attwood began dating Wicks several months later after he declared his feelings for her. Their split followed allegations that Dack had been unfaithful during their marriage.
Attwood recently appeared to take a cryptic swipe at her ex-husband on Instagram Stories while processing their painful separation. She re-shared a post reading: "Stop being so f**king forgiving, people know exactly what the f**k they're doing."
Speaking to The Times, Attwood admitted she initially feared she was moving too fast with Wicks while overcoming her split from Dack, noting that friends advised her to remain single after the breakup.
Attwood said of her romance with Wicks: "It was unexpected, we went from platonic to non-platonic very quickly. He's extremely intelligent and compassionate and patient, all the things I desperately needed but didn't know I needed."
She added: "Is something amazing happening while I'm still processing something awful? Yes. People are telling me to be single, to go on dates. But if I shut things down with Pete I'd only be dating people to find the connection I have with him."
Looking to the future
Attwood also spoke about the prospect of starting a family, stating she has considered having children with the right person but has come to terms with the idea that she may not.
She said: "I could also see it not being part of my story. I'm at peace with that. You can't have everything. So many parts of my life have worked out so much better than I could ever imagine."
Meanwhile, Dack has rekindled his relationship with his former partner Emily Maloney. The pair were seen together in photographs obtained by the Daily Mail last month.
Sources revealed that the sale of the £1 million home Attwood previously shared with Dack showed that the writing had been on the wall for their relationship for some time.
