Strictly Come Dancing star could head straight to I’m A Celebrity after elimination

A Strictly Come Dancing star could be making their way Down Under to the I’m A Celebrity jungle after their elimination.

It doesn’t look like Pete Wicks will be voted out of the ballroom competition any time soon, after quickly become a fan-favourite, but his best mate Sam Thompson has claimed the Towie star could be returning to Australia for the end of the ITV series.

Last year, after Sam was crowned King of the Jungle, Pete was there to welcome him for an emotional reunion on the bridge.

And now Sam is returning to the camp for a very different role, joining Joel Dommett and Kemi Rodgers in hosting a new spin-off show, I’m A Celebrity Unpacked.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 32, has joined some of the celebrities like Danny Jones and Alan Halsall landing in Brisbane, and shared how much he’ll be missing his girlfriend, Love Island star Zara McDermott, who took part in Strictly last year and so couldn’t join Sam in Australia when he won the competition.

When asked who he’d be missing more, Zara or Pete, Sam replied: ‘Probably Zara because Pete is so stressed with Strictly!

‘I’ve never seen a man so stressed with his dancing because he’s having to learn a whole new skill.

‘I’ve got to say my girlfriend, I don’t want to get in trouble!’

Sam added: ‘Pete did say if he gets booted out of Strictly he might come out and see me! We’ll get to have another bridge reunion.’

It’s also been reported that Maura Higgins, who was spotted kissing Pete with the pair sparking romance rumours, could also be heading into the jungle, so a bridge reunion for the new couple could also be on the cards.

While I’m A Celebrity is expected to last three weeks, Strictly will be finishing on December 14, so Pete will have to be booted out in the next couple of weeks to make the trip across the world in time.

And that’s certainly not looking likely, as it’s safe to say the reality star and podcast host has won the hearts of the nation.

When his Freddie Mercury performance during Icons week landed him at the bottom of the leaderboard, fans made sure he wasn’t in the bottom two, while last week, Pete and pro dance partner Jowita Pryzstal scored their highest score yet, 36, after an emotional performance dedicated to his nan.

Showing a new side to him after the bad boy image he’s portrayed for so many years, Pete broke down in tears over the tribute to his loved one.

He told viewers: ‘This is the one dance that I’ve wanted to do since the start of this and this is the tribute to the person that matters to me more than anyone. And that’s my nan.

‘My nan, my mum and I were as close as you could really imagine. When my mum was in dark places, it was my nan I would turn to. She was just the rock for everyone.’

He continued: ‘This is my tribute to my nan who would have absolutely loved to experience this journey with me. This is my way of her being part of that adventure.’