Pete Wicks admits ‘don’t know why you’re voting’ as he addresses BBC Strictly dance-off controversy
Strictly star Pete Wicks has expressed his thanks and bemusement as fans sent him to the popular BBC dance shows quarterfinals.
The 36-year-old and pro dance partner Jowita Przystal avoided the Week 10 dance-off despite finishing bottom of the leaderboard on this weekend’s show.
Wicks and Przystal’s Tango failed to wow the judges with their routine as well as their Samba-thon performance, and ended up on a disappointing 32 points
Judges Craig Revel-Horwood and Motsi Mabuse were the most scathing, giving the couple a six and seven respectively.
Despite the poor marking, the voting public kept them clear of the dance-off and through to the competition’s final rounds.
After the results, Wicks took to social media to thank fans for their support alongside dramatic black and white pictures of he and Przystal dancing.
The former TOWIE star glowed: “Firstly, THANK YOU, I never expected to be anywhere near a quarter-final of this show and the fact that I am is purely down to you at home!
“I’m not sure why you’re voting (for me),” he revealed but reiterated: “I’m so thankful that you are.”
Overflowing with gratitude, Wicks wished: “I could thank every single one of you individually.”
Later in the post, Wicks admitted: “I know I’m not as good as the rest and I’m sorry for that but I’m trying my best, we all are.”
“I’m not a dancer, I’m not a performer, I’m just a bloke trying to get a little bit better each week,” he continued.
Wicks explained: “I have put everything I can in to this for the past 3 months, I’ve thrown myself at it and I feel very blessed to be continuing this rollercoaster with Jowita.”
On Sunday’s results show, celeb contestants Jamie Borthwick and Montell Douglas faced each other in the dance-off – with Borthwick and pro dancer Michelle Tsiakkas being sent home.
Fans were furious about the outcome, taking to social media to blast the results as a “fix”.
On X, one viewer fumed: “I mean this in the nicest way possible but ain’t no way in hell Pete is a better dancer than Montell. What in the actually f***ery?!”
“Why is PETE not in DANCE OFF #strictly this is a joke a farce and a fix,” another raged.
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A third asked dispassionately: “How is Pete still there?”
“Nahhh, I’m gutted for Jamie. Neither of them should’ve been in the dance off this week,” a fourth declared.
Wicks, appearing to acknowledge the anger, wrote in his post: “We’re all giving it 100% and no one wants to see any one go home.
“Whatever happens, all 15 of us that started this series of Strictly took a step outside of our comfort zone to try and learn something new and to put on a show,” he continued.
The 36-year-old concluded: “That’s all we wanted to do.” (sic)