Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks stepped out arm in arm for a date night in Soho on Friday, marking their first public appearance together since officially confirming their relationship on social media.
The television presenter, 35, and former The Only Way Is Essex star, 37, were seen arriving at the Broadwick hotel in central London before heading out into the West End district to meet friends.
Soho Date Night and Evening Style
Attwood, who rose to prominence on the reality dating show Love Island, kept her look simple but stylish for the evening. She wore a plain white T-shirt paired with a black cardigan, straight-cut denim jeans, black heels and a black Chanel belt, with her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail.
She accessorised her outfit with a luxury Hermès Kelly Pochette clutch bag, valued at approximately £7,000. During the outing, she was seen teetering in her heels near the roadside, holding hands with a friend, and pointing at her phone while attempting to flag down a taxi.
Wicks opted for a casual ensemble consisting of a brown suede jacket, a white T-shirt, and black jeans. The television personality appeared to debut a new moustache as he smiled alongside Attwood, and was later seen smoking outside as their group gathered on the pavement.
Instagram Relationship Announcement and Fan Reactions
The Soho date night follows Attwood sharing the first official photographs of the couple together on her Instagram account on Thursday night, weeks after Wicks had previously published pictures of her on his own social media.
Her post featured a series of romantic photographs showing the couple kissing on a beach during a summer holiday in Ibiza. Attwood explained to her followers that she shared the pictures because she missed Wicks while working away, rather than feeling pressured by fan requests.
Supporters had been asking Attwood when she would post pictures of Wicks ever since he uploaded photos of her last month. The announcement drew widespread enthusiasm from followers, with comments including "Giving us all what we want," "The hard launch we've all been waiting for," "Locked in," and "What a cool couple." Other fans remarked that both personalities had "gone soft" and expressed delight that the pair had officially confirmed their romance.
Romance Hints and Ibiza Trip
Wicks had previously confirmed their relationship status in July when he published snaps from the same Ibiza vacation on his own social media page, captioning the post: "I guess someone has to go first...IBIZA."
His best friend, television presenter Sam Thompson, reacted to the post at the time, writing: "Never thought I’d see the day YOU hard launch!! couldn’t be happier for you brother."
Attwood had previously teased the relationship earlier this month within a larger selection of Instagram photos showcasing bikini outfits, luxury purchases, her dogs, Wicks's dogs, and promotion for her beverage brand.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed a brief glimpse of Wicks driving a Range Rover through the countryside in one photo. Followers commented "It's not a sneak peek, it's a sneak Pete!" and asked "Did we just get a little Pete picture," to which Attwood replied: "I think you might of."
Separation from Bradley Dack and New Beginning
The couple went public with their relationship in July following months of speculation, having maintained a close friendship for several years. Attwood split from her ex-husband, professional footballer Bradley Dack, 32, at the start of the year and began dating Wicks several months later after he declared his feelings for her.
The breakup with Dack followed allegations that he was unfaithful. It recently emerged that Dack has rekindled his relationship with his former partner Emily Moloney, with the pair photographed together last month. The sale of Dack and Attwood's £1 million home indicated that their separation had been developing for some time.
Attwood recently appeared to reference the ending of her marriage by re-sharing a blunt statement on her Instagram Stories that read: "Stop being so f**king forgiving, people know exactly what the f**k they're doing."
Romance Progression and Future Plans
Attwood admitted that she initially feared moving too fast following her split from Dack, noting that friends had advised her to remain single and go on dates. However, she explained that shutting down her relationship with Wicks would only result in her dating others to look for the exact connection she already shares with him.
Speaking about the transition from long-term friendship to romance, Attwood said: "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."
Addressing her current circumstances in an interview with The Times, Attwood 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."
Attwood also reflected on the prospect of starting a family, stating that while she could see herself having children with the right partner, she is equally at peace if that does not happen. "I could also see it not being part of my story. I'm at peace with that," she said. "You can't have everything. So many parts of my life have worked out so much better than I could ever imagine."
