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STRICTLY Come Dancing fans have branded one of this year’s celebrities as “fake” after he made his show debut.
Viewers of the BBC One series have laid into the star and accused him of pulling a “power move” to impress the judges during the competition.
Pete Wicks, 36, took to the ballroom on Saturday night in the first group dance after it was revealed he has been partnered with Jowita Przystał.
The Only Way Is Essex star was also told that he and Jowita will be performing a Paso Doble when the competition properly gets underway this weekend.
But eagle-eyed fans are convinced Pete – who claims to be clueless when it comes to dance – isn’t being entirely honest about his skills.
Sharing their thoughts on a Strictly forum, one viewer said: “My mate reckons Pete being the only one doing the paso in Week One is a ‘power move’ and indicates he’s better than he’s trying to let on in his pre show interviews.
“It shows they’re quietly confident because they could run the risk of negative comparisons to Nigel [Harman’s] from last year if it’s a bit naff!”
Agreeing, another said: “I tend to agree, I feel in his intro video he is making out he going to be awful but kind of knows he isn’t.”
Referencing Pete’s song – Firestarter by The Prodigy – a third chimed in: “Pete and Shayne have the pick of the songs for me. In terms of making an impact with the audience.”
Pete’s dance floor rival Shayne Ward will be performing to Stevie Wonder’s Do I Do with his professional partner Nancy Xu.
During last weekend’s Strictly launch show, Pete was quick to share his ignorance about dancing with the cameras.
“Strictly, it’s a whole new world because I have absolutely zero rhythm. But I love a challenge,” he said.
“I think people’s opinion of me is that I’m overly confident but this is going to be the most vulnerable I have ever been and I am petrified. I just want to get past week 1. If I can get past week 2…”
Later, Pete was seen sitting next to Jowita as they were told what their first dance and song are.
Pete had told Jowita that he “isn’t flexible”, so she said: “If you really want to win, I have a schedule already sorted. So Monday, 4.30am we go to yoga. Then pilates. Then after that, we go to ballet.”
He scoffed: “Oh don’t be so ridiculous!”
Pete told Jowita he loves the song Firestarter but asked the studio – including his fellow competitors and host Claudia Winkleman: “What’s a paso doble?”
Claudia said to him: “Never mind, you’ll find out. You’re going to be fine.”
Pete is among 15 celebrities taking part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Here's who is matched with who this series...
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas
JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe
Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec
Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova
Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones
Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones
With the BBC hoping this year’s series goes off without a hitch, they have been forced to add new duty of care procedures into rehearsals.
After an official complaint was lodged against Giovanni Pernice in May by his 2023 partner Amanda Abbington, a probe into the professional dancers’ conduct has been ongoing.
This has led to the series implementing chaperones in the rehearsal rooms with the celebrities and dancers while they prepare for each week.
Last Friday, Pete was spotted with his chaperone as he left dance training in London.
While the results of the probe are yet to be announced, it is believed the BBC were eager to put the situation to bed before the series kicked off last weekend.
MONEY expert, Martin Lewis, has issued an urgent warning to hundreds of thousands of pensioners who are missing out on “superpower” benefit, worth £3,900 a year.
The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com expressed his concerns following the Winter Fuel Payments cut.
“The targeting of Winter Fuel Payments is too narrow with the winter we have coming,” he claimed.
New figures showed that millions of people will get a rise of £460 to their state pension next year under what’s known as the “triple lock” guarantee.
Essentially, the full state pension figure will rise from £11,502.40 to £11,962 per year.
Weekly, this means an additional £9 per week due to an increase from £221.20 to £230.
However, the energy price cap is likely to grow by 10% this October and remain high throughout the winter.
Martin warns this simply won’t be enough to help pensioners afford their energy bills, as the rise will come into place from April next year.
While energy bills are around £100 cheaper than last year, Martin fears that pensioners who don’t claim Pension Credit won’t get the £300 Cost of Living Payment, nor the £300 Winter Fuel Payment.
This means they will still face paying £500 more than they did in 2023.
Ultimately, Martin worries that those just above the threshold will be the “hardest hit”.
It is believed around 880,000 pensioners qualify for the “superpower” benefit, however, few are claiming the handout.
The money expert recognises these are the people who need the help the most, but “due to difficulties in the system” they won’t receive it.
Martin wrote on X, formerly called Twitter: “They are very hard to reach and will be under huge financial pressure.
“These are therefore people the govt said should be helped but due to difficulties in the system won’t be.
“These are the people I’m most worried about, some of whom may end up choosing between heating and eating.”
At the start of September, Martin urged pensioners to claim the “superpower” benefit worth £3,900 a year.
Pension Credit gives people who are over the age of 66 and on a low income extra money to help with their living and housing costs.
The money is paid in addition to the state pension.
Up to 2.2 million people are eligible to claim the cash, which also entitles them to a host of other vital perks, including the Winter Fuel Payment.
In a recent MSE newsletter, Martin said: “The Government’s cut Winter Fuel Payments for millions of pensioners. Now, only the poorest, those on pension credit, will get them.
“Yet 880,000 who are due it don’t claim.”
It is essential that those who are entitled to Pension Credit make a claim this year.
This is because in July the Government announced that only those who claim Pension Credit will receive the Winter Fuel Allowance, which is worth up to £300 a year.
Pension Credit opens the door to a host of other benefits, such as Cost of Living Payments, Council Tax discounts and the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
Those who claim are also entitled to a free TV licence, help with NHS dental treatment and glasses.
Following the Government’s announcement, Pension Credit claims have doubled.
Around 38,500 claims have been made in the last five weeks since the automatic payment for all was axed, new figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveal.
In the five weeks preceding the shock move, there were 17,900 claims.
But despite the increase and a new push by the government to get those eligible to claim the benefit, it is estimated that around 880,000 people are still missing out.
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
HUNDREDS of thousands of pensioners are missing out on Pension Credit.The Sun's Assistant Consumer Editor Lana Clements explains why it's imperative to apply for the benefit.
Pension Credit is designed to top up the income of the UK’s poorest pensioners.
In itself the payment is a vital lifeline for older people with little income.
It will take weekly income up to to £218.15 if you’re single or joint income to £332.95.
Yet, an estimated 800,000 don’t claim this support. Not only are they missing on this cash, but far more extra support that is unlocked when claiming Pension Credit.
With the winter fuel payment – worth up to £300 now being restricted to pensioners claiming Pension Credit – it’s more important than ever to claim the benefit if you can.
Pension Credit also opens up help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills and even a free TV licence if you are 75 or older.
All this extra support can make a huge difference to the quality of life for a struggling pensioner.
It’s not difficult to apply for Pension Credit, you can do it up to four months before you reach state pension age through the government website or by calling 0800 99 1234.
You’ll just need your National Insurance number, as well as information about income, savings and investments.
MY Mum Your Dad viewers begged Davina McCall to make changes to the line-up after just one episode.
The cast includes a glamorous teacher and radio presenter among the newcomers looking for love.
Davina McCall has once again returned to host the show that gripped the nations’ heart in 2023.
After watching the cast enter the house last night, one viewer said: “Where are all the normal ladies?” as another moaned: “Come on Davina, why are they all tall slim and stunning?”
One more commented: “Where’s the normal people?”
Speaking about the show returning, Davina recently told The Sun: “When I started it, I knew it was a hit.
“I just knew people were going to love it because it’s got everything. It’s got the lols. It’s got the heart. It’s at the heart of it.
“It’s a relationship show. It’s not dating. It’s about the parents’ relationships with their kids, the kids relationship with the other kids, the parents’ relationships with each other, male and female like we’ve got romances.”
My Mum, Your Dad follows a group of parents as they head on a romance retreat.
In the first series, the group had no idea that they were being watched by their children.
However, due to the show’s popularity they were unable to do that for season two and this time the parents are fully aware that they are being watched.
One contestant, Vicky, 50, from South Wales has been plagued with guilt after leaving her first marriage.
The assistant head teacher has spent the last 10 years single and has been focussed on herself and her kids.
“It’s quite hard as you get older to meet somebody. You have a
clearer idea of what you’re looking for and to find all of those things can be difficult,” she said.
“I’ve been having no luck in trying to find someone myself, so I put my faith in ITV to scan the country for potential candidates.”
Her daughter Angharad, 28, thinks her mum needs to “put herself first”.
“She always gets the 3 month ick! I don’t know whether she actually gets the ick or she finds something to have the ick about!
“She’s at the stage in her life where she doesn’t want to compromise, she knows what she wants and once it’s been 3 months she’s figured out whether this is her person or not, then she doesn’t want to waste
anyone’s time.”