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Pete Wicks has been putting on a brave face and refuses to quit Strictly Come Dancing despite competing with three broken ribs.
The former TOWIE star, 36, suffered the brutal injury after being knocked out while filming Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
The reality star filmed the challenge show in July 2023 in New Zealand, marking his second shot at the grueling SAS selection process after he broke his ribs and was forced to quit the show a year before.
Pete was forced to medically withdraw from the competition in 2022 after a stunt went wrong.
The star had been tasked with jumping out of a helicopter into a lake when he knocked himself out with his backpack, hitting the surface at full speed, and was left face down in the water.
Pete Wicks, 36, has been putting on a brave face and refuses to quit Strictly Come Dancing despite competing with three broken ribs (Pete pictured in July)
The TOWIE star filmed for the challenge show in July 2023 in New Zealand – his second shot at the gruelling SAS selection process after he broke his ribs and was forced to quit the show (pictured on the show in 2021)
Unfortunately that injury is still plaguing the star but he refuses to back out of the dancing competition and is determined to give it all he has and get the dances spot on
Luckily he was rescued by the show’s ex-special services staff and its health and safety team who concluded his injuries were a few broken bones.
Unfortunately that injury is still plaguing the star but he refuses to back out of the dancing competition and is determined to give it all he has and get the dances spot on.
He revealed on his Staying Relevant podcast that he is most worried about his ribs while training for the BBC show.
Pete said: ‘I’m 36, and I haven’t been to a gym in eight years.
‘I broke three ribs (in SAS) and my ribs are still broken, which is going to be a pain.’
He added: ‘I feel sorry for whoever my partner is.
‘I have an issue with having to get things right, so I know what people say – when they do these things — that you can practice as much as you want.
‘It’s the worst thing that you can say to someone like me because I will have that poor girl there for 15 hours a day. Literally.
Pete revealed on his Staying Relevant podcast that he is most worried about his ribs while training for the BBC show and is nervous he won’t be able to get the dances right
‘I’ll be saying, “We can just sleep here – you don’t need to go home” because of the fear of getting something wrong on TV or messing up.’
A TV source told The Sun: ‘Channel 4 were fuming when Pete was revealed as part of this year’s Strictly cast.’
‘It’s the second time they’ve been screwed over by another reality show.’
‘After Pete was knocked unconscious and broke his ribs in 2022’s series, his return to try and pass selection was a big deal and the first time [ex-Special Forces lead instructor] Billy Billingham and the directing staff have allowed a celeb to try out twice.’
MailOnline has contacted Channel 4’s representative for comment.
Pete’s place in the Strictly lineup was confirmed earlier this month.
Revealing the news live on Kiss FM Pete claimed he’s feeling ‘excited and absolutely petrified’.
He said: ‘It’s a mixture of excited and absolutely petrified, it’s fear, you can see straight into my soul.’
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