Strictly’s Pete Wicks reveals Jowita’s brutal injury as he hits back at judge Craig Revel Horwood’s weekly underscoring
STRICTLY Come dancing star Pete Wicks, 36, has told how his dance partner Jowita Przystal, 30 had a secret injury that affected their performance on Saturday’s live show.
During the podcast chat, it was also asserted that the pair have been consistently under marked and how they need to ‘work on Craig’ in the future.
Speaking on his Staying Relevant podcast, which was recorded ahead of the live show, Pete described how they were struggling with the salsa routine in rehearsals.
He said: “We’ve had a tough week because Jowita has been working with an injury, she got whiplash on Monday.
So if we manage to get through then it will be an absolute miracle but I’ll be over the moon because then it will be couple’s choice and then its one week until Blackpool.”
Then his podcast co-host former Made in Chelsea star, Sam Thompson controversially suggested that Pete and Jowita have been undermarked each week.
He says: “If I look at the numbers, Pete’s Halloween joker dance is the most liked on Youtube, he got a 31 which is still a brilliant score, but there were 9’s flying around for other people and I was so impressed by this dance that I think it should have scored higher.”
Pete then replied: “ We completely respect the judges scores. Obviously I am not the most technical in the competition, but we dance for people at home and try and make everything as entertaining as possible. But everyone is really good in the competition.”
During movie week, Pete’s Viennese waltz performance as the Batman Joker with dance partner Jowita’s Harley Quinn, earned him a standing ovation from Head Judge Shirley Ballas and a score of 31.
But now Pete admits that the pair need to work on impressing Craig Revel Horwood. “Yeah I was very surprised about that, (Shirley’s reaction) we now need to work on Craig.”
Meanwhile following Icons weekend, Pete who performed a salsa dressed as Freddie Mercury, later admitted to feeling overwhelmed by by the public support after he survived to dance again despite a routine riddled with errors.
The former TOWIE star picked up just 22 points after failing to impress the judges with either his footwork or his hip action.
But the plucky pair were sufficiently popular to survive the dance off, leaving Gladiators star Montell Douglas and Olympic hockey player Sam Quek in the bottom two, with Sam being sent home.
Taking to Instagram after Sunday night’s show, he said: “I’m very humbled and a bit overwhelmed. It wasn’t a good night for me and I know just how lucky I am to still be part of the show but thank you everyone.”
“Jowita worked so hard last week and there is no way I would have ever made it this far without her.
“I will bounce back, this week is going to be a bit of an emotional one for me and your support means so much.”
Indeed after he’d learned of his survival during the results show, he even admitted to Claudia that he didn’t feel deserving. He said: “I can’t believe I’m still here and part of me feels like I probably don’t deserve to be here!”
Pete then added: “Thank you, genuinely, thank you everyone.
“I am so happy to still be here!”