Fitness App on iPad does not find my Apple Watch when I start a workout

Watch (SE) is updated to OS 7.2 and iPad (Air 3) is on OS14.3, everything signed into iCloud on the same account, same WiFi network and Bluetooth turned on for both devices, as per Apple’s instructions, but the app can never find the watch. Works fine on iPhone but not iPad.

Tried everything I can think of to get them to connect:

• removed the Watch from iCloud and then signed it back in
• removed the ipad from iCloud and signed it back in
• restarted both devices

Hope somebody knows the secret to making them work together because workouts on a small phone screen are hard to follow. I’d much rather use the iPad and I’ve seen it demoed on YouTube and Apple say its supported.