Strictly's Pete Wicks claps back at judges after savage criticism

Pete Wicks responded strongly after receiving unfavorable reviews during his debut on Strictly Come Dancing.

The 35-year-old ex-star of The Only Way is Essex hit the dance floor for the first time this evening alongside his partner, 30-year-old Jowita Przystał.

The duo was assigned to perform a pasodoble, but before they started rehearsing, Pete voiced his worries about his dancing skills.

"I never imagined I would find myself in this situation," he mentioned in a pre-recorded clip, noting that his family and friends believed he would 'screw up' during the show.

"I have the flexibility of a rigid stick," he joked.

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"I have to admit that I don't have much rhythm or a natural talent for dancing, which can be a bit of an issue."

Once the performance concluded, the moment arrived for the four judges – Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and the famously hard-to-satisfy Craig Revel Horwood – to express their opinions.

"Honestly, Pete, I'm a bit at a loss for words," Shirley said, before pointing out that he appeared to rely on just one technique.

"Pasodoble consists of many twists and various moves, and it felt like the same patterns were repeating repeatedly," she added.

When the audience began to boo, Shirley told them to 'hold on a second,' suggesting that she might have some good news to share. However, that turned out not to be true.

I didn't feel that the footwork was a true representation of the pasodoble, but I plan to keep practicing and come back next week ready to improve. However, it just wasn't really my style, sweetheart.

Next was Anton's evaluation, during which the judge admitted that the performance made him feel 'anxious'.

"You managed to complete the routine, and it's not that you struggle with the movements or the choreography, but it's the timing and the music that make you feel anxious," he said.

Without hesitation, Pete chimed in, saying, "I really can't keep a beat, my friend!"

After suggesting he avoid loudly counting out the steps and to instead let the music guide him, Anton mentioned that he needed to focus on improving both his timing and musicality.

Craig remarked that Pete's arms seemed 'neglected and out of control,' before adding a harsh comment: 'It looked as if you were taking a leisurely walk through the Port Talbot steelworks.'

“However, I truly admire your persistence and the way you shared your narrative.”

Nevertheless, Motsi mentioned that there was a lack of technique and that she found it captivating.

"I was completely captivated; it was a fresh take on the dance. But I can see the intensity in your eyes—it's truly mesmerizing, so hold onto that!"

When it was time to receive their scores, Pete and Jowita received ratings of 4, 5, 3, and 5 from Craig, Motsi, Shirley, and Anton.

People following the events from home also expressed their opinions on social media.

"Shirley quieting the crowd's boos when she criticized Pete, only to stick to her guns after, is the height of comedy," user thesugarsuga shared on X.

"Pete doesn't handle criticism very gracefully, does he?" RoomMrs remarked.

"I give it two weeks before Pete gets so fed up that he hops over to the judge's table and puts Anton and Craig in a headlock," joked katyajcnes.

When Pete was asked about his feelings after the experience, he remained upbeat: "To be completely frank, I enjoyed it. I always thought this might not be the right competition for me, but I've truly loved these past few weeks."

Strictly Come Dancing will be back next Saturday at 6:15 PM on BBC One.

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