Whether it's his lothario days on TOWIE or his beloved bromance with Sam Thompson that springs to mind when you think of Pete Wicks, you are about to see the reality star-turned-podcast host in a brand new light: specifically the blinding dazzle of the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom.
While fellow 2024 contestant Tasha Ghouri called the opportunity a 'total dream come true', Pete, 36, took a more apprehensive stance, saying, 'Dancing live in front of the nation every Saturday? Absolutely terrifying. But anyone who knows me knows I love a challenge and trying new things, so I'm genuinely looking forward to getting stuck in.'
Curious to know more about the tattooed heartthrob, including who is consistently mistaken for Joe Wick's relative? Grazia has you covered.
Who is Pete Wicks?
First famous as a reality star on The Only Way is Essex, Pete has moved on to pastures new and is now a host on comedy podcast Staying Relevant with best pal Sam Thompson. He has also written a memoir, Never Enough, which will hit bookshelves next month.
Pete joined TOWIE in 2015 and remained a fan-favourite cast member until 2021. After bidding farewell to the ITVBe show, Pete later admitted he didn't miss it. He told Not My Bagg podcast, 'I'd been on [TOWIE] for quite a long time and I owe the show quite a lot. The show was good for me for a lot of stuff that I do now. I was starting to become the Ian Beale of TOWIE, just this sort of drunk in the corner, so it was definitely time for me to f**king do one.'
Pete has appeared on numerous shows including The Underdog: Josh Must Win, The Celebrity Circle and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, but it was 2018 on Celebs Go Dating when he met Made in Chelsea alumni Sam, and the pair became firm friends on their - unsuccessful - quest for love.
Since then, one is rarely spotted without the other. If Sam and Pete aren't making viral TikTok content, they're recording their podcast, jetting off on holiday with one another, or hosting red carpets at showbiz events. By default, Pete has struck up a close relationship with Sam's long-term girlfriend, former Love Island star Zara McDermott, who starred on Strictly Come Dancing last year. She was partnered with Graziano Di Prima, who, it emerged last month, has been axed from the show after kicking her during rehearsals.
But she could not appear more excited for Pete, writing under his Strictly announcement, 'This makes me so happy. You’re going to have the best time. I am so proud of you. I cannot wait to see you in some sparkles and maybe even some hot pants [sic]'. Meanwhile, her boyfriend wrote, 'I….might….cry…. [sic] you’re going to be a sparkling sequin starrrrr!!! [sic] Love you brother.'
How tall is Pete Wicks?
Pete previously joked he's 'only 5ft 10 on a good day'.
Are Pete Wicks and Joe Wicks related?
The age-old question that seems to hang over Pete is whether he is related to fitness guru Joe Wicks. The answer is no, they are not related, despite having the same surname and resembling long locks.
On a recent episode of Staying Relevant, Pete revealed he and Joe - who rose to fame on YouTube during the pandemic thanks to his fitness videos - met for the first time. 'So in all the years, I have never actually met Joe Wicks. He came up to me, tapped me on the shoulder, and went, "Are you Joe Wicks?" and I went, 'Are you Pete Wicks?'" and we had a laugh together. Really really nice guy.'
In February last year, Pete revealed how a woman had mistaken him for Joe and said, 'I loved what you did in lockdown.'
Pete laughed, 'She thought I was 'f**king Joe Wicks.'
Who has Pete Wicks dated?
Pete's most high-profile relationship was with his former TOWIE co-star Megan McKenna, who he dated for a year and a half in 2016. He also had romances with TOWIE faces Jess Wright, Shelby Tribble, Chloe Sims and Ella Rae Wise.
He is since rumoured to have struck up a romance with Love Island icon Maura Higgins, after the pair were pictured kissing at Broadwick Soho Hotel.
Maura added to the rumour mill by commenting, 'According to The Sun…I know what those hips can do [sic] PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!!!' under his Strictly news.
Millie Payne is a News and Entertainment Writer for Grazia. She has specialised in showbiz interviews, features, articles and roundups for over three years and loves combining her love for writing, talking and all things popular culture.