HE may rank as the lowest-scoring celeb left in Strictly Come Dancing by some margin.
But it was Pete Wicks’ astonishing trousers, not his shonky steps, that caused collective gasps on sofas around Britain during the show’s Blackpool special on Saturday.
The reality star’s not-so-secret weapon was hard to miss during a male- stripper-inspired Cha-Cha-Cha, which saw him gyrate around the iconic Tower Ballroom in spray-on-tight pink PVC trousers to Nineties hit I’m Too Sexy.
Following the eye-popping routine, little doubt remained as to why the 36-year-old dodged the dance-off yet again, despite landing bottom of the leaderboard with dance pro partner Jowita Przystal, 30.
He was styled as a saucy tram driver for Strictly’s annual outing to the seaside resort — and it seemed female viewers were all aboard on a ride that could take the Towie favourite all the way to the final.
Even head judge Shirley Ballas was so overcome by Pete’s revealing attire that she quickly found herself at the centre of a sexism row following her breathless commentary on his performance.
And it wasn’t his Cuban Breaks getting Shirley in a fluster.
Giggling like a schoolgirl, the 64-year-old could barely compose herself enough to critique the routine.
Egging her on, Pete asked her: “Shirley, how do you feel darling? I feel great!”
She replied: “I’ll have to calm myself down. Well, do you know what, you had some very nice isolation.”
Quick as a flash he responded: “Isolation of what?”
And so it went on. Shirley elaborated: “Your hips swinging left and right . . . I mean it was very entertaining.
"I don’t think I’m going to forget this evening for as long as I live, darling.”
But some fans were furious that the usually technique-obsessed panelist scored the haphazard routine a generous eight.
Fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood, 59, panned the routine as “uncoordinated” and “fighting every rhythm” giving it only four points.
He added: “The trousers are quite shocking.”
Some slammed Shirley for “objectifying” Pete, claiming there would be outrage if a male judge made bawdy comments about a female contestant and overmarked their performance in a similar way.
On X, formerly Twitter, one fan said: “I was really uncomfortable with the judges comments about Pete & Jowita.
"So much focus on his tight trousers instead of actually judging the dancing.
"Wouldn’t fly for a female contestant! Gross.”
But Shirley doubled down on her controversial remark yesterday.
Appearing on ITV talk show Loose Women she openly confessed to being “caught off guard” by Pete’s trousers.
And it seems she is not alone.
For the past nine weeks the public vote has helped Pete dodge the dance-off as he regularly languished at the lower end of the leaderboard.
Each week the judges’ scores are combined with the public vote, meaning even a couple who have scored poorly can be carried through by their popularity among viewers.
But some fans are frustrated that his success comes at the expense of other, arguably more talented dancers such as Montell Douglas.
The 38-year-old Gladiator bagged fourth place on Saturday’s leaderboard with dance partner Johannes Radebe, 37.
But following the public vote, the pair found themselves in the dance-off for the second time.
Despite scoring four judges’ points more than Pete, GoCompare opera singer Wynne Evans, 52, exited at the weekend with dance partner Katya Jones, 35.
Indeed, Pete’s seemingly unstoppable march through the rounds is inexplicable to some and the star has emerged as the most divisive celebrity this series.
One Strictly viewer @AbbyWalk19 wrote on X: “One question, who the heck is voting for Pete?!”
Another remarked on the platform: “Pete through, that’s ridiculous.
"Someone must have spent a lot of money on the phone lines. Worst dance of the night.”
No one seems more shocked by his success than Pete himself.
He and Jowita looked stunned during Sunday night’s results show, when presenter Tess Daly announced to the eight million viewers that the public had voted him through again.
The couple had been so convinced they would be out, they had reportedly prepared their leaving speeches.
Pete, of course, took the chance to blow an air-kiss to his adoring fans at home.
'PASSIONATE FAN BASES'
Co-host Claudia Winkleman said the public loved to see him dance.
Pete replied: “I don’t know why. I don’t even want to see me dance. I cannot believe we are still here.”
Prior to his saucy turn on Strictly, Pete would likely have been largely unknown among many of the show’s stalwart fans.
The social media influencer and TV personality first found notoriety on scripted reality show The Only Way Is Essex in 2015.
He has since appeared on a raft of reality shows including SAS: Who Dares Wins, Celebs Go Dating and The Real Full Monty.
But perhaps even more influential than that is the hoards of celebrity pals he has gathered during his decade in showbiz — who he has mobilised as a social media army.
A source said: “Beyond soap stars, Strictly has never seen such an effective campaign as Pete’s.
“His celebrity pals span reality TV, music, social media stars and beyond and all of them love him.
“Every Sunday night that reality telly army is canvassing for votes for Pete and urging their own passionate fan bases to back their mate.”
One of his most ardent supporters is his best friend, Made In Chelsea’s Sam Thompson, 32, who won I’m A Celebrity last year and now fronts its spin-off show, Unpacked.
Sam’s girlfriend, former Strictly contestant Zara McDermott, 27, has also been supporting him on social media and collectively they have 4.6 million Instagram followers.
Another of Pete’s besties is Vicky Pattison, 37, who has been campaigning to her 5.5million online followers.
The BBC One dance contest is set to broaden Pete’s appeal even further with his Saturday night turns on the dancefloor helping him become a housewives’ favourite.
But the Essex lothario is also a hit with the ladies outside of the ballroom, his list of exes include Towie regulars Megan McKenna, 32, and Chloe Sims, 43.
He is believed to be dating former Love Island finalist Maura Higgins, 33, who has jetted out to appear on telly’s other reality behemoth I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.’
Pete and Maura have denied they are in a relationship but have been spotted together at bars and restaurants around London and last week they attended a classical concert at the London Palladium together.
Recently Maura also posted a TikTok video of her in Pete’s arms as he displayed an impressive dance move by lifting her off the ground.
But such is Pete’s magnetic chemistry with his Strictly partner Jowita that rumours have swirled of a romance between them.
Jowita has gushed about him in interviews, saying: “Pete is such a gentleman.
"He puts his arms in a frame and holds me and always likes to be in contact with me.”
Pete introduced his dance partner to his mum and he in turn met the Polish dancer’s brother.
It has been reported that if Pete gets the boot from Strictly soon, he will jet to Australia to meet Maura on the famous rope bridge when she exits the jungle.
But if he continues his sizzling Strictly run, it might be Maura watching him lift the Glitterball trophy.
