Strictly’s Pete Wicks admits he’s ‘petrified’ of show as he reveals advice from Zara McDermott

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Pete Wicks has admitted he is “petrified” of the show and revealed he is taking advice from former contestant Zara McDermott.

The reality television star, who shot to fame after appearing in The Only Way is Essex, admitted he had never watched the show until recently, and revealed it was McDermott who “pushed him” to take part in the competition.

McDermott, the girlfriend of Wicks’s close friend Sam Thompson, is at the centre of a misconduct probe after her former professional dancer partner Graziano Di Prima is alleged to have hit and kicked her in rehearsals.

Appearing on ITV’s Lorraine on Monday (2 September), Wicks said: “Zara pushed me to do it. The first time I saw Strictly was live show when Zara was on it and I thought wow this is amazing.”