Pete Wicks left feeling 'utterly alone' after heartbreaking loss

Former TOWIE star Pete Wicks has opened up on how the loss of his beloved nan affected him after previously labelling her his soul mate

Pete Wicks has candidly opened up about the loss of his beloved nan.

The 36-year-old The Only Way Is Essex star's close relationship with his nan was well known. Sadly, Doreen died in 2022, leaving Pete devastated. Now, he has further opened up on the effects he dealt with following his sad loss. In his memoir Never Enough, Pete said her death was "the hardest thing" he's ever had to face.

Speaking to Paul C Brunson on his We Need To Talk podcast, Pete revealed how her passing made him realise he had to be his own "safety net," but how he also has to let people help him at times. Pete told the presenter: "I went straight into… shutdown…because I needed to…and, you know, even over the past couple of months, I’m probably sadder than I ever have been about it. But that’s because I’m starting to open up rather than just shutting down."

Doreen's death led Pete to drop out of filming episodes of TOWIE at the time. He took a step back from filming as the cast and crew jetted off to the Dominican Republic to record sun-soaked instalments. He previously told the Radio Times magazine: "I lost my nan two years ago, and it's the worst thing that's ever happened to me. I didn't get a chance to make her proud before she died. Trying new things is important to me, because hopefully, she's watching, and she'll be proud."

It led to him taking part in Strictly where he has was paired with professional dancer Jowita Przystał. The duo performed a mesmerising dance to Simply The Best by Tina Turner. He admitted prior to the routine: "I feel more pressure this week than any other. This is my way of her being part of that adventure."

After expertly performing it, he was seen fighting back the tears. Speaking to host Claudia Winkleman, Pete said: "Been a tough week, but the one person I wish was here is my nan and she's not so it's the one way for her being here."

Elsewhere in the podcast, Pete described his friendship with Sam Thompson as a "brotherhood". He confessed the duo share "so much off camera as well" that the public doesn't see. He said their relationship goes beyond work and admitted Sam is known to call him "three, four times a day".

He added this behaviour demonstrates why "we have such a strong friendship," before adding: "I love him like he calls me...we talk about everything and anything and...that is a private part of a public relationship".

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