Latest news with #PeteWicks
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Pete Wicks admits he's been 'sad for a really, really long time' and struggles to appreciate his success as former TOWIE star reveals private mental health battle
Pete Wicks admits he's 'not happy' within himself and struggles to appreciate his mainstream TV success because of persistent low moods. The reality star has become something of a household name following his stint on long-running show The Only Way Is Essex, with a subsequent appearance on Strictly Come Dancing and his close friendship with Sam Thompson endearing him to millions. But despite his success, Wicks, 36, says he is frequently plagued by feelings of intense sadness. 'I'm sad at the minute and have been for a really, really long time,' he told close friend Thompson during the latest instalment of his Pete Wicks: Man Made podcast. 'Trying to get out of that is very, very difficult, and I think there's a lot of people that feel that way, you know? 'I've said it similarly about you. From the outside we've got f***ing great lives, great lives, and we are so, so blessed. 'But it's when you kind of sit at home on your own that none of that really matters, because you're not appreciating it, and it's very hard to appreciate things when you are not happy within yourself.' Wicks previously admitted his former Strictly Come Dancing partner Jowita Przystał had become 'one of the most important people in his life,' after his 'overwhelming' stint on the show. The former TOWIE star was dubbed an unlikely signing when he took part in the BBC show last year, but became such a fan-favourite, he made it all the way to the semi-finals. Speaking to MailOnline, Wicks himself admitted he thought he'd be the first celebrity to be voted off the show, having entered Strictly with zero dance experience. But the star did the opposite, winning over viewers with a string of light-hearted performances, including a viral Samba dressed as George Of The Jungle, and a hilarious Cha Cha Cha in Blackpool. He said: 'I thought as soon you could vote people out, what is it week two? I thought I'd be gone, I genuinely did and that would be it, and every week after that I thought I'd be gone. 'I certainly never expected to get to the semi-finals and be that far along and have that experience for such a long time, but I was very fortunate, it was very overwhelming. 'A lot of that, if I'm totally honest, is down to Jowita, she was the best partner I could have had, I was with her on Saturday night, she's become one of the most important in my life. She's one of my best mates, and I adore her. 'She had to put up with me, she dragged me through it, because it certainly wasn't the dancing!' 'I didn't take myself too seriously but I took the show really seriously, and I took the process really seriously, I took the learning really seriously. 'I enjoy learning things, and that was my favourite part of the whole thing, obviously I didn't take myself too seriously because I knew I wasn't the best dancer, and that's why I was dressed as George of the jungle and wearing pink PVC trousers. 'I don't think anyone expected me to be doing that – it was like a fever dream!'
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Sam Thompson hits on Olivia Attwood's MARRIED sister after his date with influencer is revealed as he ‘shoots his shot'
OLIVIA Attwood has revealed how Sam Thompson hit on her MARRIED sister. It comes just days after it was reported that Sam, who split from long term girlfriend Zara McDermott earlier this year, had grown close to an American influencer. 6 6 The former Made In Chelsea star has been enjoying the perks of being a single man. So much so, his good mate Pete Wicks revealed he had hit on Olivia Attwood 's sister. Pete and Olivia revealed the story on their podcast, Sunday Roast Reheated. It came after Love Island star Olivia revealed she had bumped into Sam while having dinner out in London with her sister Georgia. Starting off the story, Pete said: "Sam has an unhealthy fascination slash obsession with one of the Attwood's - and it isn't Liv…" Olivia then replied: "He's got a crush on my sister…. but this is how Sam shoots his shot. "When Pete went to the toilet Sam came and sat in Pete's seat next to my sister, stared at her, then turned to her and said 'I love you'. "They don't know each other - they've met once!" Pete then added: "Liv's sister is happily married but Sam thought, 'Do you know what I've got a new mullet, I've had a glow up, this might work…'" Laughing Olivia chimed in: "He's like, 'I'm going to throw it at the wall and see what sticks.'" Pete then quipped: "And I tell you what stuck… nothing, not a thing!" DATES WITH INFLUENCER It comes after it was recently revealed that Sam has enjoyed a string of dates with stunning Steph Robinson. An insider told the MailOnline: 'Sam and Steph have been on a few dates and are getting to know each other. 'Steph travels a lot for her work as a content creator but is currently spending an extended period in London and it couldn't have come at a better time. 'Sam is definitely having fun as a single man, going out when he isn't working, and spreading his wings.' Steph revealed she would be spending more time in London, which Sam was quick to like. At the time, Sam's rep were contacted for comment. SAMIE ELISHI ROMANCE Sam has certainly been getting stuck into single life. Not long after his split from Zara McDermott, he started dating Samie Elish. Sam was first pictured snogging the Love Island alum Samie and holding her face as they smooched outside Olivia's 34th birthday bash. 6 They were also snapped walking arm in arm afterwards and he tenderly placed a hand on her waist. Yet in June, The Sun exclusively revealed the pair had decided to go their separate ways just weeks after starting their romance. A source close to the former couple said: "It was a mutual thing and there is no bad blood between them. "They both just have really busy schedules, particularly Sam who has been non-stop recently, and it was really hard to make it work. They're still good mates. "It's a shame but sometimes things just don't work out." 6 6
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Pete Wicks confesses he's had a 'tough week' as he's reunited with beloved dog Peggy after nearly 'losing her'
Pete Wicks revealed he has had a 'tough week' as he shared the shocking news that his beloved pet dog Peggy nearly died. The former TOWIE and Strictly star, 37, admitted that he was 'so happy' to have his French bulldog back home, before adding she still had a way to go and would be receiving months of treatment. Without going into the full details, Pete took to social media on Friday to update fans on his poorly pup. Posting a snap of him and Peggy sharing a cuddle, Pete wrote: 'So happy to get my Peggy back! 'It's been a tough week...I nearly lost her and she's bee through the wars but if ever there was a dog that never gives Peggy. 'We've got months of treatment ahead but she's got this.' In another post, Pete uploaded another picture of his adorable dog to his stories to show fans she was home. In a sweet black and white shot of Peggy lying on the sofa, Pete penned: 'A different kind of Friday night'. Pete owns two rescued French bulldogs - Eric and Peggy - who has one eye and he regularly posts about his love for them on social media. Speaking in an interview last year Pete admitted he preferred dogs to people. Pete's dog journey began when him and his mum adopted dog Arnie when he was just 10 years old. Then in 2016 he rescued Eric from the Dogs Trust centre in Basildon, Essex near where he grew up. It comes after Pete, who took part in Strictly Come Dancing last year recently revealed his Strictly pro partner Jowita Przystał has become 'one of the most important people in his life,' after his 'overwhelming' stint on the show. Peter was dubbed an unlikely signing when he took part in the BBC show last year, but became such a fan-favourite, he made it all the way to the semi-finals. Speaking to MailOnline, Pete himself admitted he thought he'd be the first celebrity to be voted off the show, having entered Strictly with zero dance experience. Admitting he never thought he would get to the semi-finals, Peter said he owed it all to Jowita. He said: 'A lot of that if I'm totally honest, is down to Jowita, she was the best partner I could have had, I was with her on Saturday night, she's become one of the most important in my life. She's one of my best mates, and I adore her.' During his time on Strictly, Pete took part in a string of light-hearted performances, including a viral Samba dressed as George Of The Jungle, and a hilarious Cha Cha Cha in Blackpool. He also paid tribute to his late Nan with an emotional Couples Choice, earning him a 10 from head judge Shirley Ballas. Having previously described his grandmother as his 'best friend,' the star also opened up her passing in his book Never Enough. Describing his Nan as his 'safety net,' Pete told MailOnline that he's made many changes in his life since her death in 2022. He said: 'Since I lost my Nan a few years ago, life has changed for me, and a lot of that was down to the fact that she was kind of a safety net for me, things change in your head and you have to kind of have a word with yourself in a way. 'The book was cathartic, it was something I wanted to do, because I don't think I'm the only one that feels the way I do in certain situations, it's got nothing to do with what I've been through, because everyone's been through different things. 'If you can put everyone's problems together in a pot, you'd probably be a lot happier just taking away the original problems you had, because there's so many people doing so many things, that's why I want it to be relatable to people.'
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Pete Wicks details close relationship with Strictly partner Jowita Przystał as he brands her 'one of the most important people in my life' and reflects on backlash he faced in overwhelming' show stint
Pete Wicks has revealed his Strictly Come Dancing pro partner Jowita Przystał has become 'one of the most important people in his life,' after his 'overwhelming' stint on the show. The former TOWIE star, 37, was dubbed an unlikely signing when he took part in the BBC show last year, but became such a fan-favourite, he made it all the way to the semi-finals. Speaking to MailOnline, Pete himself admitted he thought he'd be the first celebrity to be voted off the show, having entered Strictly with zero dance experience. But the star did the opposite, winning over viewers with a string of light-hearted performances, including a viral Samba dressed as George Of The Jungle, and a hilarious Cha Cha Cha in Blackpool. Reflecting on his time on Strictly, Pete, who has joined forces with Lynx to celebrate the launch of their new Lower Body Spray, credited his progression to his dance partner Jowita, and said they are still close friends, six months after the series ended. Pete said: 'I thought as soon you could vote people out, what is it week two? I thought I'd be gone, I genuinely did and that would be it, and every week after that I thought I'd be gone. 'I certainly never expected to get to the semi-finals and be that far along and have that experience for such a long time, but I was very fortunate, it was very overwhelming. 'A lot of that, if I'm totally honest, is down to Jowita, she was the best partner I could have had, I was with her on Saturday night, she's become one of the most important in my life. She's one of my best mates, and I adore her. 'She had to put up with me, she dragged me through it, because it certainly wasn't the dancing!' 'I didn't take myself too seriously but I took the show really seriously, and I took the process really seriously, I took the learning really seriously. 'I didn't really enjoy learning things, and that was my favourite part of the whole thing, obviously I didn't take myself too seriously because I knew I wasn't the best dancer, and that's why I was dressed as George of the jungle and wearing pink PVC trousers. 'I don't think anyone expected me to be doing that – it was like a fever dream!' While Pete's Strictly stint earned him many new fans, he also faced backlash from a select number of viewers, who complained he'd been voted to stay on the show over other celebrity couples who had scored higher. But the star brushed off the complaints, telling MailOnline: 'I'm used to it, it doesn't matter what you do, if you're the type of personality that divides people, which I think I am, you're never going to please everyone. 'It wasn't about pleasing everyone, it was about doing something for me, it was about not letting Jowita down, it was about the people around me who matter, and to try as best I could to make them proud. 'I think that's how I've managed all this stuff over 12 years, it's really the people around me that humble me, and as long as they're happy and safe I don't really care what everyone else thinks, I mean I probably wouldn't even like me if I wasn't me. 'With things like Strictly, people obsess over it, and that's amazing because you've got so many people that watch it, and so many amazing fans of Strictly and the show, but the problem with that, is that it's a dance show, it's a bit of entertainment. 'People probably do need to slow down a little bit, this year it will be the same thing, you've got amazing people just going out there trying to do their best, and do something they've not necessarily done before, or something they're not confident doing, so I think as much support as they can get, I would urge people to give them as much support as possible, rather than tear people down.' During his time on Strictly, Pete also paid tribute to his late Nan with an emotional Couples Choice, earning him a 10 from head judge Shirley Ballas. Having previously described his grandmother as his 'best friend,' the star also opened up her passing in his book Never Enough. Describing his Nan as his 'safety net,' Pete told MailOnline that he's made many changes in his life since her death in 2022. He said: 'Since I lost my Nan a few years ago, life has changed for me, and a lot of that was down to the fact that she was kind of a safety net for me, things change in your head and you have to kind of have a word with yourself in a way. 'The book was cathartic, it was something I wanted to do, because I don't think I'm the only one that feels the way I do in certain situations, it's got nothing to do with what I've been through, because everyone's been through different things. 'If you can put everyone's problems together in a pot, you'd probably be a lot happier just taking away the original problems you had, because there's so many people doing so many things, that's why I want it to be relatable to people.' Pete added that much of his decision to open up about his past for the first time came from his mum Tracy, and in his book, he revealed how he saved her life when he was just 12 after he found her in the kitchen following an attempted suicide. He added: 'It's got nothing to do with me, it's got my name on it, but it's a lot to do with my Mum, she's now really open about the struggles she's had and has had over the years, and how that's impacted her. 'She's my absolute hero and she's just an angel and a lot of it is kind of her story as well, and her giving my blessing to tell that story, in order for someone else who might relate to it or understand it a little bit better. 'I'm just a vehicle for things, it's got nothing to do with me. 'She's my hero, she's my absolute hero, there's not a stronger person on this earth than my Mum.' Currently, Pete is filming second and third series of his W series For Dog's Sake, and as well as hosting Staying Relevant with pal Sam Thompson, now fronts podcasts Man-Made, and The Sunday Roast with Olivia Attwood. He and Sam are set to host the red carpet at the National Television Awards next month for the third time, just a week before they take to the stage at London's 02 Arena for a live version of their podcast. As part of the launch of Lynx's new Lower Body Spray, Pete, his pal Chloe Burrows and Joe Weller unveiled a giant boxer-shaped scented ball pit at Boxpark Shoreditch, inviting the public to share whether they identify as 'team spray' or 'team no-way'. The former TOWIE star went onto tell MailOnline that there is still a 'taboo' surrounding men when it comes to looking after themselves, but did say he's going to encourage Sam to add the products to his new 'glow-up' routine.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Pete Wicks reveals the secret to his six-year friendship with Sam Thompson as he insists they've NEVER had a row
It's been deemed one of the most unlikely friendships in showbusiness, after they met while looking for love on Celebs Go Dating. But Pete Wicks has revealed that there's a simple secret to his friendship with Sam Thompson, as he insisted they've never had a row. The Strictly Come Dancing star, 37, told MailOnline that their opposing strengths and weaknesses have 'married up nicely,' and they've grown to have 'complete trust in each other.' Since meeting in 2019, Pete and Sam, 32, have gone onto host a string of shows together, and after launching their podcast Staying Relevant in 2022, are set to present a live version of the show at London's O2 Arena in September. Pete's chat with MailOnline came as he joined forces with Lynx to celebrate the launch of their new Lower Body Spray, and the star added that he's going to encourage Sam to add the product to his new 'glow-up' routine. Reflecting on his friendship with Sam, he said: 'All of my strengths are Sam's weaknesses and vice versa, all of this strengths are the things he's not so good at, and that kind of marries up really nicely. 'It's weird it's kind of cliche, it sounds like I'm talking about my wife, he's kind of like the missing puzzle piece – he'll read this and he'll f*****g love it as well – but it's a very weird relationship. 'We've never had a row in the years of being mates, and we talk every day and spend a lot of our time together, but it just kind of works, but I think a lot of that comes from having complete trust in the other one.' Pete also shared that it was Sam's idea that they should take their Staying Relevant Live Show to London's coveted O2 Arena, and he told MailOnline that it was his friend's on-stage vow while on tour last year that has led to the show taking place. He said: 'Prep for the show is generally Sam comes up with mad ideas and I say no, and then what happens is we do them anyway. 'That's pretty much how our life story goes, is I literally say no and then he kind of twists me round his little finger and we end up doing things. 'The prep is massive because we've got our production company now, so we're doing everything, trying to organise a show at the O2 is a lot, and it's something neither of us have ever done before. 'We went on tour last year, and we did a load of sell out dates, but kind of smaller venues, but this is a whole different ballgame. 'It all came from Sam because at the Apollo last year, the last night at The Apollo, Sam told everyone we were gonna do The O2 before we'd even spoken about it, and then at that point he was like ''no I'm dead serious,'' and I thought he was joking, so I started looking into it, and then I surprised him with 'I've booked it, we're doing it!' He said: 'It's weird it's kind of cliche, it sounds like I'm talking about my wife, he's kind of like the missing puzzle piece' As part of the launch of Lynx's new Lower Body Spray, Pete, his pal Chloe Burrows and Joe Weller unveiled a giant boxer-shaped scented ball pit at Boxpark Shoreditch, inviting the public to share whether they identify as 'team spray' or 'team no-way'. The former TOWIE star went onto tell MailOnline that there is still a 'taboo' surrounding men when it comes to looking after themselves. He added: 'It's a tough one to start, how you start this conversation really, but I think that's because there's still a bit of a taboo about that sort of stuff, and there really shouldn't be. 'Men nowadays, we do skin care and hair care and all sorts of stuff, and I think this is just kind of the next step. Everyone wants to smell good, I love smelling good. 'But I think it's something that we don't really talk about, is THAT area, but it's just as important to smell good there. And I think there's a survey so that 98% of men agree with that as well. 'I think a lot of people are just using different things that aren't meant for that area, specifically because there isn't anything really on the market that kind of does that. 'So that's why I think it's brilliant because then you've got something specifically designed to make sure you're smelling good in all areas of your body, and all them kind of backyard bits. I think I read something about people using apple cider vinegar!' Asked why it's important for men to be aware of their bodies, Pete added: 'I think for two reasons. I mean, obviously I think the first thing people think of is for other people's benefit. But aside from that, I just like to smell good. 'When you smell good, you feel good. When you look good, you feel good - I'. still working on the looking good bit, but at least I can smell good - but I think for your own kind of self worth, looking after yourself and spending a little bit of time doing the things that you probably wouldn't have done generation years ago is really important. 'We're a lot more metrosexual now, a lot of men moisturise and do all sorts of stuff. And this is just kind of an added load to that. So it should be something that you add to your daily routine.' Sam send his followers into a frenzy by unveiling his 'glow-up' in the wake of his split from girlfriend Zara McDermott, and Pete said he'll be encouraging his pal to add Lynx's new range to his 'night-time routine.' He added: 'He'll absolutely love this, Sam is in his kind of glow up. He's really looking after himself at the minute. Sam smells great with him as well. He really does. 'He looks great. So this is something I'll be recommending to him to add into his daily routine. He's got a full night time routine, Sam! I only found out about the other day.
