MARRIED Dancing on Ice star Alexander Demetriou leaves skate partner Maura Higgins’s home after a secret rendezvous.
Our exclusive pictures show Alex, who is wed to fellow pro Carlotta Edwards, wearing a hooded parka jacket as he drives away from Maura’s flat.
Married Dancing On Ice star Alexander Demetriou was pictured wearing a hooded parka as he drove away from Maura Higgins’ home
It is understood the pair spent several hours together before his exit at 1pm today.
We revealed last week that Alex and Carlotta’s four-year marriage was on the brink of collapse following his pairing with Maura, 29.
Irish star Maura split from Curtis Pritchard two weeks ago.
A close source said: “This will devastate Carlotta. As much as her relationship with Alex has deteriorated, they are still married.
It is understood Maura and Alex spent several hours together before he was seen leaving her home
“She was hanging on to a hope they might be able to fix the unfixable. But it seems very clear there won’t be a way back.
“And seeing Alex emerge from Maura’s flat will be a real kick in the teeth.
“I imagine it will be a bitter pill for Curtis to swallow too.”
An onlooker in Essex who saw Alex leave said: “He was trying very hard not to be noticed.
Alex and Carlotta Edwards’ four-year marriage is believed to be on the brink of collapse
“He had his head down and hood pulled up. Why would you do that just to go to your car?
“He also looked around pretty carefully before emerging from the building and driving away.
“The impression created was that he was trying to sneak out without being seen.”
Maura and Alex, 29, first sparked rumours of a romance last month.
Maura and Alex first sparked rumours of a romance last month
Sources on the ITV show told how he seemed “smitten” with his partner — infuriating Carlotta.
Their closeness led to whispers backstage. Speculation mounted when Maura announced her seven-month romance with fellow ex-Love Islander Curtis, 24, had ended.
The next day, she seemed tearful as she chatted to Alex at a café.
Days later Alex appeared on the Dancing on Ice final without his wedding ring. He and Maura have not been seen together since then.
Maura’s closeness with Alex led to whispers backstage on Dancing On Ice
But she seemed to send a secret Instagram message last week, in which she wrote in a photo caption: “Hello T Rex arm.”
Sharp-eyed fans recognised a nod to Alex’s T-Rex nickname for her, after he explained she was prone to curling her fingers while skating.
The source added: “All the signs are pointing towards Maura and Alex being together however much they might be trying to keep it under wraps.
“Maura really is a lovely girl, but at the moment she does seem to be the wrecking ball destroying every relationship she comes into contact with.”
Maura announced her seven-month romance with ex-Love Islander Curtis Pritchard had ended two weeks ago
Maura has recently been accused of jeopardising a third relationship — after striking up a flirty friendship with ice champion Joe Swash.
She is said to have confided in pals about sharing “chemistry” with Joe, who has one-year-old son Rex with TV favourite Stacey Solomon.
A source said: “Maura has told friends there is an attraction.
“There’s no suggestion that things have gone any further. But I’m sure Stacey wouldn’t be too happy about it.”
Their revelation comes after Joe, 38 — who won the skating show last week — admitted he and Stacey had been through a rough patch.
Speaking ahead of the final, he confessed: “Me and Stacey are like ships in the night because this really has taken over everything.
“I think she’s looking forward to having me back.
“I feel like we had a baby and I haven’t seen him. I’ve been massively getting dad guilt both with my eldest and Rex.
Carlotta was infuriated by claims Alex was ‘smitten’ with Maura
“Stacey’s day is packed too. She is at home with the kids and working on Loose Women at the same time, and I’m at Dancing on Ice, so it’s tough.
“It has pushed the stress levels for her and me. Her work schedule has increased and so has mine.
“When this finishes we’ll be fine, but both of us are very stressed at the moment.”
Maura revealed in November that she and Joe “call each other outside of training”.
Maura has been described as ‘naturally a very flirty person’
And Dancing on Ice’s Lucrezia Millarini also said of them: “Maura and Joe Swash, they have this kind of love/hate relationship which is hilarious.
“Joe just takes the mick out of her the whole time, it’s really sweet.”
The source went on: “Maura is naturally a very flirty person, as audiences of Love Island saw during the show.
“And Joe really brought out that side of her.
Maura was accused of striking up a flirty friendship with Joe Swash – who has a one-year-old son with Stacey Solomon
“Eyebrows were raised behind the scenes as she was also developing a flirty friendship with her partner Alex, and dating Curtis.
“Show studios are always full of gossip and much of that this year was centred on Maura, and how she seems to have been spreading herself a bit thin.
“But hopefully if she and Alex decide to make a go of things, she’ll find happiness there.”
