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Pete Wicks is the gift Strictly Come Dancing really needs – and here’s why he’s a dark horse to win the show
The reality TV favourite is taking on a new challenge on prime time
PETE Wicks could be a dark horse to win Strictly Come Dancing - despite his questionable moves on TikTok.
That's according to his former Celebs Go Dating co-stars Paul Brunson and Anna Williamson, who have attempted to help Lothario Pete find love three times on the E4 show.
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The former Towie star signed up to the under-fire show after becoming renowned for his awkward TikTok dances with best pal Sam Thompson.
But dating gurus Paul and Anna believe he'll surprise viewers by exceeding expectations - and will save the scandal-hit show from.
Anna told The Sun: "I think Strictly casting Pete is just the gift that the show, I'm sure, really want and need.
"Pete, I mean he's not terrible at dancing, he's got some little snake hips, but I am really intrigued to see how he's going do with the full make up the shoes, the whole having to do some like Latin situation or a jive.
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"He's such a good guy. I hope he ends up falling in love on there, that would be great."
Paul added: "I think he's going to do exceptional on Strictly and the reason why is because there's this thought that he is like 'I'm just so cool, I don't give any effort to anything' but he puts exceptional effort into everything that he does."
Anna agreed wholeheartedly, adding: "He's very considered, he's a very considered person and he would actually never sign up to a show to expose himself."
Paul continued: "Then on top of that he's going to work perhaps harder than anyone on that show so I think he's going to do very well."
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Pete's close friend Zara McDermott revealed earlier this month she had been kicked by professional dancer Graziano Di Prima, leading to his sacking.
Just months before, Giovanni Pernice, 33, left the show under investigation by the BBC following allegations of misconduct made by Amanda Abbington, which he denies.
Pete Wicks bends over in pain as he reveals injury - days after starting training for Strictly Come Dancing
It led to a crisis at the BBC as bosses struggled to hire female celebrities for the latest series.
Strictly is the first big break into primetime television for Pete, who found fame on ITV reality show Towie in 2015.
Previously Pete has appeared on Celebs Go Dating, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and The Real Full Monty – where he stripped naked for charity.
Strictly's full scandal so far
Strictly Come Dancing's scandal has been growing over the past few months, with several major players speaking out about what went on. Here are the key moments of what's happened so far
16th May: Giovanni Pernice sensationally quits Strictly Come Dancing after nine years on the show.
17th May: Giovanni becomes the centre of an official investigation after three former partners – believed to be Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh – make complaints to the BBC.
16th June: Giovanni releases an official statement vowing to clear his name and denies any wrongdoing.
8th July: Strictly confirms Aljaz Skorjanec will return to the series, replacing Giovanni, after initially quitting the show two years ago.
10th July: Amanda Abbington launches fresh legal proceedings to get the rehearsal footage from her time with Giovanni, after allegedly he refused to release the videos.
13th July: Graziano Di Prima is axed from Strictly for "gross misconduct" after footage of his treatment of Zara McDermott is brought to the attention of the BBC.
Graziano quickly broke his silence, apologising for his behaviour in a statement and saying he "deeply regrets it", adding his "intense passion and determination to win might have affected his training regime."
15th July: Strictly bosses implement new duty of care protocols, including having a chaperone present throughout all rehearsals.
16th July: Zara McDermott speaks out publicly for first time. She states while the production team were "amazing to work with", she found the rehearsal room "completely different", confirming there's footage of "certain situations".
19th July: Anton Du Beke is put under the spotlight for his "1970s attitude" and treatment of female celeb stars, particularly after allegedly referring to 2009 partner Laila Rouass as a "p***" after getting a spray tan.
21st July: Paralympian Will Bayley, who has limb condition arthrogryposis, revealed he was encouraged to leap from a table during a dance routine, despite fears. The stunt caused an injury that forced him to withdraw from the show.
22nd July: MasterChef's Gregg Wallace admits he broke down in tears and got a nasty stress rash on his face during his time on Strictly in 2014.
22nd July: Despite ongoing issues, the Strictly professional cast begin rehearsals for this year's series.
23rd July: Celebrity agent Melanie Blake claims she was sexually assaulted by an unnamed pro dancer while backstage on the show, and claims she witnessed ageism, rudeness and a rough treatment to the point of injury.
23rd July: Strictly is forced to beef up security after 'an intruder scales the wall of the rehearsal studio'.
23rd July: BBC boss Tim Davie breaks his silence on the ongoing allegations against Strictly, saying he is 'deeply sorry', adding: "Hundreds of people, be they pros, contestants or crew have been part of it and had a brilliant experience.
"At the same time if someone thinks there was something wrong or they want to talk about their experience then of course we want them to raise that with us. Be in no doubt we will take it seriously, listen and deal with it as appropriate."
24th July: Strictly 2023 star Krishnan Guru-Murthy holds a bombshell interview with Amanda Abbington on Channel 4 news, where she claims she was bullied, with some of the 'humilation being of a sexual nature'.
27th July: Laura Whitmore releases a statement regarding her Strictly experience, saying "I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong".
She adds she is not part of the official complaint, but has come forward to support Amanda with the BBC, alongside others.
28th July: Laila Rouass speaks out against the accusations regarding Anton Du Beke, saying she "never felt pressured" by him and ";personally insisted on six to seven hours training a day".
August 10: Graziano breaks his silence on his Strictly axe, saying "these vile, false allegations have ruined my life."
He also told of the "shocking" end to his friendship with Zara McDermott.
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