Pete Wicks calls Strictly's Jowita Przystał 'most important person' after romance rumours

Pete Wicks may have been an unexpected face on Strictly Come Dancing, but the former TOWIE star surprised everyone, including himself, by dancing his way to the semi-finals.

Reflecting on his journey, Pete has credited his professional partner Jowita Przystał not only for his success on the show, but for becoming a key figure in his life.

The reality TV star was paired up with the Strictly professional last Autumn and while sparks flew at the very beginning, Pete was he was stunned at how important Jowita quickly became to him in his life.

For Pete, the key to making it to the semi-finals of Strictly Come Dancing was all thanks to his partner Jowita, who he says helped change his life for the better.

“A lot of that [making it to the semi-finals] if I'm totally honest, is down to Jowita,” he said. “She was the best partner I could have had... she's become one of the most important in my life. She's one of my best mates, and I adore her. She had to put up with me, she dragged me through it, because it certainly wasn't the dancing."

Though his performances were known for their humor, Pete approached the whole experience with surprising seriousness after quickly realising how much it meant to him.

“I didn't take myself too seriously but I took the show really seriously, and I took the process really seriously, I took the learning really seriously,” he told Mail Online. “I didn't really enjoy learning things, and that was my favourite part of the whole thing.”

It comes after Pete previously said that Jowita will be his "friend for life" as he settled romance rumours surrounding the pair. Back in December, the TOWIE star left the competition after exceeding everyone's expectations. At the time, he told Jowita the 'experience wouldn't have been anything without her'.

Taking to Instagram, shortly after his Strictly journey ended, Pete posted: "This experience wouldn’t have been anything without Jowita. She believed in me since the first day and never stopped. She supported me, listened to me, made me laugh and cry but most of all she made me believe in myself when I didn’t think I could do it.

"We did everything our way, and for me that was the right way. I’m so sorry that I couldn’t get you to a final, I tried my best and you deserve to be there. The show may have ended for us but one thing won’t, you will always have a friend in me."

The emotional tribute came after months of swirling romance rumours surrounding the pair. Pete and Jowita had been sharing plenty of quality time together outside the Strictly rehearsal studios - and their cosy bond has set tongues wagging.

In another Instagram post which was shared while he was still in the competition, Pete heaped praise on his dance partner, gushing: "I've been struggling to think of what to say and it's not often I'm lost for words. I am so overwhelmed and blessed to have had your support over the past three months, I never expected it and I have never taken it for granted."

Although some took his statement to be of a romantic nature, Pete later shut down such rumours, telling Lorraine Kelly: "We've said from day one that we're really good friends, but they just want to do what they want to do."

At the same time, Pete was said to be dating former Love Island star Maura Higgins who was appearing on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! while Pete was on Strictly.

Maura spoke about "someone special" in the jungle but just weeks later, the Irish beauty made a savage dig at the TOWIE star on Valentines Day when she was asked of his whereabouts.

Maura clapped back at the time: "I dunno. Probably out cheating." Pete's representatives later said that the reality TV star was left 'deeply hurt' by Maura's claims as their romance came crumbling down.

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