PETE Wicks has admitted he has done “more crying than dancing” while rehearsing for the next Strictly Come Dancing live show.
The Towie star, 36, has been given the Tina Turner power ballad Simply The Best to dance to, but he has revealed the track holds a lot of emotion for him.
In an interview on Strictly: It Takes Two, Pete explained that the song was played at the funeral for his beloved nan Doreen, who he describes as his “best mate”.
Doreen sadly passed away in June 2022 and Simply The Best was her favourite tune when she was alive.
Pete said rehearsals with his professional partner Jowita Przystal have been “tough”, adding that he has only just been able to listen to the track in its entirety.
Looking visibly emotional, he told host Janette Manrara during Thursday’s show: “This is going to be a tough one for me.
“I’ve not heard the song all the way through up until this week since my nan’s funeral.
“My nan was my best mate and we played this at her funeral because it was her favourite song.
“If there’s one person I wish was here and was able to watch me, it would be her. And she’s not been.”
Pete, who was sat next to Jowita, added: “This is kind of my way of having her on this mad little adventure with me.
“It’s been a tough week. I’ve spent more time crying than I have dancing.”
Pete’s sad comments prompted Jowita to comfortingly rub his arm with her hand.
The pair will be performing their Couples’ Choice to Simply The Best, which was released in 1989, this weekend.
Jowita explained that there will not be a fictional story behind their dance, with just ‘Pete and Jowita’ taking to the dance floor.
“The most important thing was to keep it real and keep Pete being Pete,” she explained.
“This is the first time we aren’t playing any roles and there is no made up story behind it. It’s genuinely Pete and Jowita.”
The current Strictly Come Dancing odds
Chris McCausland
1/2
Sarah Hadland
5/2
Tasha Ghouri
8/1
Jamie Borthwick
20/1
JB Gill
28/1
Pete Wicks
33/1
Montell Douglas
50/1
Wynne Evans
66/1
Shayne Ward
100/1
Pete was raised by both his mum Tracy and his nan Doreen following his parents’ divorce when he was 11.
He previously said: “The two most important people in my life are my mum and my nan. We are like the three best friends anyone could have.”
Pete was crushed when Doreen passed away and he spoke about her death during his previous Celebs Go Dating stint.
In November 2022, he broke down on the show after Anna Williamson asked if he had allowed himself time to grieve.
“In my way. But it’s been tough. Yeah, it’s been tough,” he admitted.
Pete and Jowita are currently sitting bottom of the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard after scoring 22 points last weekend.
However, the pair escaped the dance off and made it through to dance another week thanks to the public vote.
