Pete Wicks takes brief break from Strictly training for heartwarming reason

Pete Wicks' best friend Sam Thompson has revealed the Strictly Come Dancing star has been allowed a break from training for a very special reason - after he made history on the BBC show

Pete Wicks' bestie, Sam Thompson, has revealed the Strictly Come Dancing star has been allowed a brief break from training for a heartwarming reason.

Sam, 32, appeared on Monday's episode of Lorraine, where chat got onto his best friend Pete, 36, who he has been supporting each week on Strictly, and his time on the BBC One show so far.

The former Made In Chelsea star revealed that he would be returning to the Pride of Britain awards as a red-carpet live host alongside Pete. This prompted guest host Christine Lampard to ask: "You and Pete, so he is allowed time off from Strictly then?" to which Sam quipped: "Just about!" This prompted Christine to joke: "He is just about allowed to go and do something else!"

Reflecting on how Pete was there for him when he participated in I'm A Celebrity, Sam expressed his appreciation by aiming to attend as many Strictly live shows as possible to support him, noting how Pete generously gave him a weekend off recently, acknowledging how long the show episodes take to film.

Sam also shared his thoughts on Pete's journey in the competition, saying: "He's loving it, he's adoring it! I don't think he expected to, to be fair," adding: "He adores it, it's the most beautiful thing to watch, I have to say as a best mate, I'm so proud of him as that is what the show's about. It is about someone who has never danced before."

Pete and his professional dance partner Jowita Przystal made history on Strictly Come Dancing by performing a rumba to an Oasis track, specifically Don't Look Back In Anger, which featured several lifts, reports the Mirror.

However, judge Craig Revel Horwood wasn't entirely impressed, describing the lifts as "totally illegal" and mentioning that in a competition they could lead to "disqualification", although he acknowledged the effort Pete put into the routine. In other news from the weekend, ex-footballer Paul Merson was the fourth celebrity to exit Strictly Come Dancing.

Despite his departure from the BBC One show on Sunday, Paul, 56, didn't seem downcast, expressing that he felt like a winner for having learned to dance. He and his dance partner Karen Hauer were up against JLS's JB Gill and Amy Dowden in the tense dance-off.

Lorraine continues on weekdays at 9am on both ITV and ITV X.