BBC Strictly's Pete Wicks' feet heavily strapped as he nervously smokes before live show

Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks took a moment of rest for a smoke break at the show's studios as he attempts to improve his score despite being seen with his feet in bandages

Pete Wicks stepped outside of the Strictly Come Dancing studios for a smoke before the live show.

The former TOWIE star, 36, is preparing to step out onto the dancefloor once again as he nears closer to securing the Glitterball Trophy. He is paired with professional dancer Jowita Przystał, 30, and is set to perform his Couple's Choice routine on Saturday night's show. Pete will be hoping to impress the judges following his disappointing performance last weekend.

It appeared Pete needed a moment as calm as he stepped out in between rehearsals for some fresh air. He could be seen backstage at Strictly's Elstree studio wearing a beige silk shirt half buttoned with a pair of beige trousers. Pete kept his long dark hair scraped back in a half ponytail and stood barefoot.

Bandages could be seen wrapped around both of his feet as he lit a cigarette. Pete chatted to a member of the team as he smoked in the backstage area. Last week, Pete performed a Freddie Mercury salsa for Strictly's much-loved Icons Week as he danced with Jowita to Queen's hit Another One Bites The Dust.

However, during one ambitious lift Pete swung Jowita who came dangerously close to hitting the dance floor. As the pair hugged at the end of their performance, Pete could be heard whispering a heartbreaking apology to Jowita. He said: "I'm sorry, darling. I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry."

Jowita reassured the TOWIE star, telling him everything was OK. But the judges picked up on his mistakes, and despite enjoying his routine, advised him he needs to "get better." Head judge Shirley Ballas said: "You embraced the character of Freddie Mercury so, so well. I'm not going to overjudge this and I'll tell you why.

"You made quite a lot of mistakes, so it wouldn't be fair to, we all know you made mistakes we could see them. But what I was impressed with was how you picked it up. You carried on like a trooper, you did your lifts and thought I'm just going to get on with it and do the job."

She added: "May they vote for you because you were great." Craig Revel Horwood said: "What a terrible shame. It lacked rotation, it lacked fluidity." Motsi Mabuse added: "The dancing needs to get better." Pete's score of 22 landed him at the bottom of the leaderboard, thanks to Craig's score of four, and the others giving him six each.

Speaking to hose Claudia Winkleman following his disappointing performance, Pete said he was 'honoured' to dance as Freddie, adding: "It's probably written in the stars, but I enjoyed it." Later, whilst debriefing with Claudia, Pete shared: "We've had a bit of a tough week. There's been injuries and all sorts this week but listen, we're still here, we got through it. What else can you do." Jowita described him as a "fighter" and said she was "proud" that he kept going in the dance.

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