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Privacy Notice On Lorraine Kelly’s ITV show today, Monday 2 September, Pete Wicks, 36, credited Zara McDermott as a driving force behind his decision to join Strictly Come Dancing. He confessed to having no prior knowledge of the dance competition and said he has ‘never actually seen it’, but Zara encouraged him to sign up. Discussing his upcoming stint on the hit BBC show, TOWIE star Pete shared: “I’m petrified. I’m like a Ferrari from the waist down and a Volvo from the waist up. The hips are there – but the top half doesn’t move. I’ve got the hips but nothing else, and I feel like you need the whole body.”
Pete Wicks said he has ‘never actually seen Strictly
(Image: No credit)
Zara, who is dating Pete’s best friend Sam Thompson, “pushed” him to compete on the upcoming 20th series. Zara competed on the show last year, but earlier this year, allegations were raised about former professional partner Graziano Di Prima’s treatment of her when they competed together. It was later confirmed that Graziano would no longer be part of the 2024 professional line-up. Revealing Zara’s advice to him about Strictly, Pete said: “Zara was the one who pushed me to do the show because she loves the show. I’ve been quite honest about it, I’ve never actually seen it. “The first time I’d ever seen ‘Strictly’, it was the first live show last year when Zara was on it and I just thought ‘Wow, this is amazing’ but I never imagined myself doing it. Sequins and all that is not really… I’m a man who likes black.
Pete Wicks says his pal Zara McDermott “pushed” him to compete on Strictly
(Image: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)
“I did a photoshoot the other day, and wow, it was interesting. Oh, it was interesting. Just wait until you see it. There was all sorts going on. But I’m excited. It’s a brand new challenge and something I never thought I would do.” Pete will be competing against the likes of EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, The X Factor winner Shayne Ward, and Sarah Hadland of Miranda fame. In an Instagram post in July, Zara said she “wrestled with the fear of opening up” about her time on the show because she feared “public backlash” and “victim shaming”. She wrote in a statement: “So much of my Strictly experience was everything I could have dreamed of. The entire production team and everyone behind the scenes as well as my fellow contestants were so amazing to work with. “However, my experience inside the training room was very different. Reports have been made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch.”
In an Instagram post in July, Zara said she “wrestled with the fear of opening up” about her time on the show after being partnered with Graziano Di Prima
(Image: BBC)
She added that she had spoken “candidly” to the BBC about her time on the show and thanked the corporation for their “swift action and incredibly high level of support”. A statement from Graziano in July said: “I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime.” The BBC announced in July that they would introduce new welfare measures, including a chaperone who will be present “at all times” during rehearsals.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnLorraineStrictly Come DancingThe Only Way Is EssexLorraine KellyPete WicksZara Mcdermott
