STRICTLY underdog Pete Wicks was kicked off the close-run semi-final tonight, saying: “It’s been wild – it’s been beautiful.”
The former Towie star was voted out by judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke after he ended up in the bottom two with Love Islander Tasha Ghouri.
But even head judge Shirley Ballas – who’d earlier christened him “Mr Strictly Come Dancing” – said she thought he should have gone home after finishing bottom of the scoreboard yet again.
After receiving their verdict, departing Pete said: “It’s been wild.
“I’ve been quite honest about the fact that I didn’t necessarily want to do this in the first place, but everyone else wanted me to do it, and I am so, so glad that I did it.
“You don’t always have to be the best, but if you enjoy something then why shouldn’t you have a go at it?
“I’ve tried my best from day one, I said I was in for a penny, in for a pound and I’ve done it, it’s been beautiful.”
On the results show he specifically thanked his dance partner Jowita Przystal, who he’s rumoured to have grown exceptionally close to on the BBC One dance contest.
Pete said: “There’s a lot of things I’m going to take away from this, but one of the most special things is you and I mean that, because you’re one of the most incredible people – not just as a dancer – but as a person.
“You’ve been a ray of sunshine for me.
“You’ve helped me through things in the past three months that I didn’t think I could do and you made me believe in myself and that means more to me than anything.”
Jowita replied: “I just want to say thank you, thank you for the trust you have given me since day one.
“I know it wasn’t easy, but with your hard work, your commitment and your heart, which is the most amazing thing, you were winning every week.
“For me, every dance was special… even the Cha Cha in Blackpool! Remember on day one you said ‘I’m not going to stay long in this competition because I cannot dance’ but now I can say to you: ‘Yes you can.’”
Many viewers were stunned last week when Pete made it through to the semi-final after avoiding ending up in the bottom two.
Instead Montell Douglas and her pro partner Johannes Radebe went after ending up in the dance off against Tasha and her pro partner Aljaz Skorjanec.
A groundswell of support from voters at home seemed to have propelled him within touching distance of the Glitter Ball, and his two dances on Saturday night got a largely positive reception from the judges.
Shirley told him: “You are Mr Strictly Come Dancing – you are what this show is all about.
“You should hold your head up high.”
But now four couples will go forward to the grand final – Tash and Aljaz, Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell, JB Gill and Lauren Oakley.
Pete and Jowita wowed the judges with their first Foxtrot on Saturday’s live show, but their second dance oozed chemistry.
Right at the end of the performance, they pulled each other in close and positioned themselves as if they were kissing.
1. JB Gill & Lauren Oakley: 79 – Paso Doble – 39 (9, 10, 10, 10) – Salsa – 40 – (10, 10, 10, 10)
2. Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec: 75 – Salsa – 35 (8, 9, 9, 9) – Waltz – 40 – (10, 10, 10, 10)
3. Sarah Hadland & Vito Coppola: 72 –Tango – 36 (9, 9, 9, 9) – Jive – 36 – (9, 9, 9, 9)
4. Chris McCausland & Dianne Buswell: 69 – Charleston – 33 (7, 8, 9, 9) – Viennese Waltz – 36 – (9, 9, 9, 9)
5. Pete Wicks & Jowita Przystal: 65 – Foxtrot – 32 (7, 8, 9, 8) – Argentine Tango – 33 – (7, 8, 9, 9)
The ending of their dance sent fans wild on X, with one writing on the platform: “Wow Pete the near kiss at the end.”
Another asked: “Did they kiss then?”
Since the very beginning of the competition, Pete and Jowita have kept fans guessing about their friendship.
However, Love Island‘s Maura Higgins has revealed they are dating and spoke about their romance on the show,
