Pete Wicks has insisted Zara McDermott ‘loves Strictly’ and will be his ‘number one fan’ when he competes.
The TOWIE star, 36, signed up for the show just days after it emerged his friend Zara, 27, was physically and verbally abused by her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima while on last year’s series.
Yet Pete insisted it hadn’t stopped Zara supporting him as he told MailOnline: ‘Zara loves the show, and she’s been a massive support so she will probably be my number one fan.’
When it was suggested Zara could teach him some moves, he quipped: ‘It’s my partner that’s going to teach me everything so I’m just excited to get going.’
Pete previously opened up about how Zara had been the driving force behind him deciding to sign up.
Pete Wicks has insisted Zara McDermott ‘loves Strictly ‘ and will be his ‘number one fan’ when he competes
Graziano Di Prima was sacked over reports he verbally and physically abused Zara during rehearsals
During an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine on Monday, he admitted: ‘Zara was the one that kind of pushed me to do this because she loves the show. I was quite honest about the fact I had never actually seen it.
‘The first time I saw Strictly was the first live show last year when Zara was on and I just thought wow, this is amazing – but I never imagined myself doing it. Sequins, all that stuff, is not necessarily my style.’
He added: ‘I am petrified. I’m like a Ferrari from the waist down and Volvo from the top half. I’ve got the hips but nothing else.’
Pete’s Strictly appearance came as a surprise to some viewers, given his friendship with Zara, and her boyfriend Sam Thompson, following her negative experience.