Pete Wicks, pictured with pals Zara McDermott and Sam Thompson, is reportedly set to appear on Strictly Come Dancing (Image: No credit)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy Notice Zara McDermott has reportedly opened up about her pal Pete Wicks joining the Strictly Come Dancing line-up. Despite recent allegations following her stint with Graziano Di Prima on the BBC hit show in 2023 – with Graziano now axed amid claims about his conduct – the Love Island alum is reportedly all smiles for her friend. Former Love Island star Zara is said to be over the moon for Pete, who’s been her close pal since 2019 and is often playfully dubbed as the third wheel in her romance with Sam Thompson. Pete is rumoured to be stepping onto the dance floor for the new series. “Zara is so happy for Pete landing the Strictly gig,” an insider told MailOnline. “Her experience on the show was so individual she hopes no one will go through the same again. She knows that Pete will have an amazing time and could even impress the judges, he’s incredibly hardworking and a good person, and will thrive in the environment, which can be intense, but he performs best when he’s challenged and under pressure.” The source added: “Zara doesn’t want anything that happened to her to taint his Strictly journey and backs Pete even if it is a bit close to home,” reports the Mirror. OK! has contacted a representative for Zara for comment. Sign up to OK’s TV newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free
Sam and Zara with pal Pete
(Image: PA)
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Pete, 36, found fame on ITV’s TOWIE in 2015 and this reported move would mark his first major foray into primetime television. However, it comes after the claims of misconduct on the show towards Zara with her professional dance partner Graziano having admitted to ‘kicking her once’ during rehearsals. “Pete has joined the Strictly line up and is excited to get started. He isn’t much of a dancer but that’s what the BBC loved about him. They wanted the show to feel more like it did in the beginning. Pete is also going to attract younger viewers who have followed his career since Towie,” a source told The Sun.
Zara with dance partner Graziano on Strictly last series
(Image: BBC)
Pete has previously appeared on Celebs Go Dating, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and The Real Full Monty where he stripped naked for charity. Last year, he was seen in the audience supporting Zara when she competed with Graziano. However, Graziano, 30, has now been sacked following allegations of his treatment towards Zara, which saw video footage believed to have been brought to the attention of the BBC. Following the news, Zara made her own statement on the situation on 16 July. Zara told fans via social media that she had “wrestled with the fear of opening up” as she “was scared about public backlash”. She also revealed how much of her experience on the show was ‘everything she’d ever dreamed of,’ although her “ experience inside the training room was very different.” Meanwhile, Graziano said to his fans: “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. While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s only right for the sake of the show that I step away.” Zara recently opened up about ‘trusting her gut’ following the claims. In a video for Lookfantastic, Zara sits cross legged on a sunlounger and says: “I think confidence means something different to everyone, but for me it’s about trusting in myself. Trusting my gut, trusting my judgement on situations. Believing you can do hard things and just pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.” Zara continues to say: “I think that you can find moments of joy in the small things and I really do think that that is the key to living a happy life.” Sign up to OK!’s daily newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for freeStory SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnStrictly Come DancingPete WicksZara McdermottGraziano Di Prima
