Pete Wicks faces calls to leave BBC Strictly as fans rage over ‘trip’ during routine
BBC Strictly fans have called for the elimination of TOWIE star Pete Wicks from the competition after he made an error during his routine on this Saturday’s show.
The 36-year-old and pro dance partner Jowita Przystal found themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard during Musicals Week.
The pairs Waltz, set to West Side Story’s Somewhere, failed to particularly impress the judges who awarded them a low 26 points.
Head judge Shirley Ballas along with Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke each gave the couple a seven.
Fellow judge Craig Revel-Horwood said of the routine: “You don’t have the swing, the footwork was shoddy, there wasn’t a lead in the house, and you went completely wrong.”
Despite awarding the dance a five, Revel-Horwood also added the issues, “didn’t bother me because the storytelling was so engaging.”
Fans were outraged that none of the judges picked up on a moment during the Waltz where Wicks visibly lost his balance forcing Przystal to accommodate.
They took to social media to express their anger at the perceived soft judging and call for the TOWIE star’s exit from the show.
One viewer fumed: “Pete Wicks gets away with blind MURDER”
“The BBC are keeping Pete in #Strictly for his fans. He was stiff, made mistakes… SHAME!” another raged.
“This is a dancing show right? Jesus, action figures have more movement in them than Pete Wicks… can he finally be gone,” a third wrote.
A fourth complained: “Pete’s time is up I am sorry, but he cannot make a good semi-finalist in any world. It’ll be a complete injustice if anyone else is eliminated over him this week.”
A fifth shifted blame to other viewers, demanding to know: “Who keeps voting Pete to stay in #strictly – his time has come, he’s really got to go now!”
This is not the first time fans have slammed Strictly for alleged bias towards Wicks, with accusations head judge Ballas unfairly favoured the judge.
However, not every fan was outraged with Wicks routine and the judge’s critique – despite also acknowledging the gaffe.
“That was my favourite dance from Pete and Jovita so far, despite the noticeable mistake it all looked so graceful,” one fan enthused.
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Another viewer wrote: “Oops Pete making a mistake, but…I just love watching him dance. Their story telling is one of the best on #Strictly”
Regardless, Wicks and Przystal found themselves languishing at the bottom of the leaderboard after this Saturday’s show.
Chris McCausland with partner Dianne Buswell and Montell Douglas who dances with Johannes Radebe made up the rest of the bottom three.