It looks like a nerve-wracking week for Pete Wicks, 36, who was spotted stepping outside the set of Strictly Come Dancing for a smoke hours before the live show.
The reality television star will step out on the dancefloor later in another battle for the Glitterball Trophy. Tonight (November 9), Pete will perform his Couple's Choice routine with professional partner Jowita Przystal, 30. They will dance a medium-paced number to The Best by Nicotine Doll. This will be his first dance since his disappointing performance last weekend.
Pete was spotted stepping outside for a cigarette just hours ahead of the show. It looked like he needed some fresh air at Strictly's Elstree studio wearing a beige silk shirt half buttoned with a pair of beige trousers. He was not in costume, and kept his long hair in a half ponytail and even stood outside without any shoes.
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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