Strictly Challenging: Pete Wicks Reveals the Grueling Demands of Ballroom Dancing

Pete Wicks, the reality TV star known for his appearances on The Only Way Is Essex, has found himself in the midst of a unique challenge. While he's no stranger to the rigors of reality television, having previously participated in the grueling Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Wicks has now discovered that the demands of Strictly Come Dancing are far more taxing on his body and mind.

Pushing the Limits: Wicks' Surprising Admission About Strictly vs. SAS

Strictly Trumps SAS in Difficulty

In a candid interview with Loose Women, Wicks revealed that his experience on Strictly Come Dancing has been significantly more challenging than his previous forays into the world of Celebrity SAS. Despite the intense physical and mental demands of the SAS selection process, Wicks found that the rigors of ballroom dancing have pushed him even further out of his comfort zone."Strictly. It's the toughest, by far. I did SAS twice. This is harder. It's more intense and it's so far out of my comfort zone," Wicks admitted, highlighting the unique challenges posed by the Strictly competition.

Struggling with the Physicality of Dance

Wicks, who has never been a particularly active individual, has found that his body is not as agile as it needs to be for the intricate movements required in Strictly. He candidly acknowledged, "I'm learning my body doesn't move very well. Unlike Shakira, my hips do lie. I haven't moved like the way you have to for dance for years and years and years. It's very, very difficult."The reality TV star, known for his laidback demeanor, has had to push himself to the limits, enduring physical discomfort as he trains to master the Samba and other dance styles. "My back and hips were in pain from learning this week's Samba," he revealed, underscoring the toll the Strictly regimen has taken on his body.

Embracing the Unfamiliar

Adding to the challenge, Wicks confessed that he had never seen the film that his Strictly movie week dance is inspired by, George of the Jungle, nor was he familiar with the song he would be performing to. "I was really excited because I love movies, so we're doing a film I've never seen before to a song I've never heard before," he said, highlighting the steep learning curve he's faced.Despite these obstacles, Wicks is embracing the opportunity to step out of his comfort zone and channel a completely different personality for his movie week performance. "I'm basically channelling Sam Thompson. He'll be there watching this week," he joked, alluding to the comedic nature of his upcoming routine.

Strictly's Unique Demands Compared to SAS

Wicks' perspective on the relative difficulty of Strictly and SAS is echoed by former Strictly pro AJ Pritchard, who has firsthand experience with both shows. Pritchard, who appeared in the 2022 series of Celebrity SAS, acknowledged that while the SAS selection process is undoubtedly grueling, the demands of Strictly are even more taxing."Being a professional dancer you are a life coach, you are the driving force, you are the person that puts it all together and holds it together when it's going wrong so mentally and physically, Strictly is a hell of a lot longer at six months," Pritchard explained.He further emphasized that if the SAS course were to be extended to a similar duration, it would likely be just as challenging as Strictly. However, the sheer length of the Strictly competition, combined with the multifaceted responsibilities of a professional dancer, make it the more demanding of the two experiences.As Wicks continues his Strictly journey, he's embracing the opportunity to push himself beyond his limits and explore a side of himself that he's never fully tapped into before. With his determination and the support of his partner, Jowita Przystal, the reality TV star is poised to continue defying expectations and showcasing his growth as a dancer on the national stage.