BBC Strictly's Pete Wicks' devastating family grief - 'toughest thing I've been through'

Strictly Come Dancing contestant and TOWIE star Pete Wicks endured a difficult family time two years ago and he struggled to understand his feelings over it as a result

Pete Wicks believes women are better able to understand and navigate traumatic times - and it's why he surrounds himself with 'a good circle' who help him cope with life's hurdles.

Pete Wicks is currently starring in Strictly Come Dancing where his chemistry with professional partner Jowita Przystal has had fans buzzing with excitement from the outset. The handsome pair have been posting playful snaps together on social media and he revealed on his podcast, Staying Relevant, that he hosts with best friend Sam Thompson that the diminutive dancer makes him "feel good".

"What I do know is that she makes me feel good," he confessed of the time they have spent in each other’s company. "And that is really important and hopefully I make her feel good and that's a really nice place to be, you know what I mean?"

Reality star Pete, who has had a reputation as a ladies’ man in the past, certainly appreciates the company of women, whether they are love interests or just friends. In fact he credits his female pals with helping him through life’s tricky patches. In an interview on Lorraine before the launch of Strictly he spoke of how significant the females in his life are: '"I surround myself with a very good circle of strong women, it's really important," he told her.

"Women are so much more important at understanding and getting through difficult situations. The boys go to the pub and it's like 'you alright, how are you' and that's it. It does make a massive difference, it's not just about talking, it's having someone just to listen," he added.

The star, who is currently single, released his book Never Enough: My Words Unfiltered on September 5. In it he discusses raw topics such as suicide and grief and he spoke to Lorraine about the darkest period in his life so far. That came when he lost his "best friend" and grandmother Doreen back in 2022.

He said: "She was amazing Doreen, just an angel on earth. She had a major impact on my life and losing her is the toughest thing I've ever been through. She was more than a grandma, she was my best friend. You can't really understand your own emotions and feelings. Mine came out as anger because I couldn't process what I was feeling."

One of the women who has presumably helped Pete through his grief is former Love Island contestant and presenter Zara McDermott - Sam’s girlfriend. The three celebrities have become the best of friends and it was Zara who pushed Pete to sign up to Strictly.

She competed on the BBC talent show last year and despite Zara being at the centre of a probe into misconduct after allegations her professional partner Graziano Di Prima kicked her during rehearsals, she encouraged her pal to take part. "Zara pushed me to do it," Pete previously revealed: "The first time I saw Strictly was a live show when Zara was on it and I thought wow this is amazing."

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