PETE Wicks has frankly admitted he "disliked" best pal Sam Thompson's ex - and insisted "I prefer him single."
The TOWIE alum, 36, made his no frills remark to his 33-year-old mate's face during the pair's podcast, Staying Relevant.
It comes amid a tough time in Made In Chelsea star Sam's love life, which saw him split with Love Island beauty Samie Elishi in June.
Just weeks later, it was revealed he was dating nutritionist Steph Robinson.
It was also suggested he had grown close to Too Hot To Handle beauty Lucy Syed, 28.
Sam's dating history was put under the spotlight this year after he and Zara McDermott called time on their five year relationship back in January.
The Sun then exclusively reported how Zara had moved on with One Direction star Louis Tomlinson.
Now, in a special birthday episode for Sam on the podcast, his "wish" for BFF Pete to take a lie detector test came true.
Pete was hooked up to a pressure cuff and series of wires as lie detector expert Mark asked him a series of questions - all drummed up by Sam.
One particular question quizzed: "Do you like me more now that I am single?"
Pete answered "yes" with lie detector expert Mark then revealing his response was "truthful."
Another question saw Sam ask: "Have you any disliked any of my previous partners?"
Pete took a second to reply, before he laughed and said "yes."
After he was revealed to be telling the truth Sam squealed: "Yes, truthful!"
He then said: "Who cause you've known a few?"
Yet Pete would not be swayed on the identity of his exes, which have also included MIC star Tiff Watson, giving no indication of who it was.
PETE'S SECRET LOVE
Meanwhile, Pete's love life was also recently put under the spotlight.
In the podcast, he teased details of a secret romance.
In the same lie detector, Sam cheekily asked: "Are you in love with somebody right now?"
Pete answered 'no', but he was proven to be lying after polygrapher examiner Mark insisted he wasn't telling the truth.
Looking at the graph, Mark gave the camera a thumbs down as a sign that Pete hadn't been honest.
Sam screamed: "Ahhh I knew it! And that's all we're going to say," to which Pete replied: "How could you do that to me?"
The former Made In Chelsea star said: "I don't know, it just came to my head, it's a f****** lie.
"Pete's in love with somebody. Find her! Find her!
"Pete's in love secretly and I think I know who it is."
Pete insisted: "You know exactly who it is, I literally told you the f****** story, she's not replied."
The Essex star fumed: "Why would you put that one in there? That was not on the f****** list!"
FRESH START
Sam previously exclusively revealed to The Sun he refuses to be a "yes man" after a "mad two years" and his split with Zara.
Reflecting on his busy year as a Love Island Aftersun host, Hits radio and podcast presenter with Pete and all-round face of showbiz, Sam revealed plans to “stop being a yes man.”
Speaking to The Sun on behalf of M&Ms Couch Confessions, Sam said: “Do you know what, it’s a weird answer, but I think it’s time to take it easy, I really do.
“I’ve been so incredibly lucky, and the last few years have been a whirlwind - from the jungle to Love Island. Just so much stuff.
“So next year, I want to really consolidate and figure out what it is that I want to do, and not just be a yes man. I feel like I’m lucky enough to be in a position where I really can.
“And I want to decide what it is I actually want to do - maybe that’s something really important, and find out what my legacy will be.”
He added: "I'd like to spend a bit of time on myself and actually sort of like, you know, figure out what I- want to do. Self-reflection.
"It’s been a mad two years.”
