Pete Wicks is an English television personality, podcaster, presenter, animal welfare advocate and former reality television star best known for appearing on The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE). His distinctive long hair, extensive tattoos, outspoken personality and reputation for being one of British reality television’s more unconventional personalities have made him a recognizable figure in UK entertainment.
Born Peter James Wicks on November 1, 1988, Pete Wicks is from Harlow, Essex. He entered mainstream television in 2015 when he joined The Only Way Is Essex, quickly becoming one of the show’s most recognizable male cast members. His television career later expanded into Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls, Celebs Go Dating, Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and Strictly Come Dancing.
In recent years, Wicks has successfully moved beyond reality television. His Staying Relevant podcast with best friend Sam Thompson has become an award-winning entertainment franchise, while his work with Dogs Trust on Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake has given him a more serious public identity as an advocate for animal welfare. In 2026, his personal life has also returned to the headlines after he and longtime friend Olivia Attwood confirmed their relationship publicly.
Pete Wicks Profile Summary
| Fact | Details |
| Full Name | Peter James Wicks |
| Popular Name | Pete Wicks |
| Date of Birth | November 1, 1988 |
| Age | 37 years old in 2026 |
| Place of Birth | Harlow, Essex, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Television personality, podcaster, presenter, animal welfare advocate |
| Best Known For | The Only Way Is Essex, Staying Relevant, Strictly Come Dancing, For Dogs’ Sake |
| Education | Details of his formal education are not widely documented |
| Previous Career | Medical recruitment |
| Relationship Status | In a relationship with Olivia Attwood |
| Children | No publicly confirmed children |
| Religion | Not reliably documented |
| Height | Commonly reported at around 6 ft 3 in, although this is not officially verified |
| Known For | Tattoos, long hair, reality television, podcasting and dog rescue |
| Podcast | Staying Relevant with Sam Thompson |
| Television Show | Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
| Current Status | Active television personality, podcaster and animal welfare advocate |
Pete Wicks Early Life
Pete Wicks was born on November 1, 1988, in Harlow, Essex, where he grew up. Although he would eventually become associated with glamorous reality television and celebrity culture, his early professional life was considerably removed from show business. Before becoming a television personality, Wicks worked in medical recruitment.
Wicks has spoken publicly about his family and his close relationship with his grandmother Doreen. She was one of the most important people in his life and, according to Wicks, acted as his “best friend and closest confidant.” Her death in 2022 had a profound effect on him. In a 2026 interview, he explained that his rescue dogs helped him through what he described as a particularly dark period.
His relationship with animals had already become an important part of his life long before it became a television storyline. Wicks has adopted numerous rescue dogs over the years and has become particularly associated with French bulldogs. His affection for dogs eventually developed into one of the most significant second chapters of his career, transforming an aspect of his private life into a television and advocacy platform.
Pete Wicks Education
There is relatively little detailed public information about Pete Wicks’ formal education. Unlike some British television personalities whose university backgrounds are extensively documented, Wicks has generally discussed his career and personal experiences rather than providing a detailed account of his academic history.
His professional background before television was in medical recruitment. This suggests that he initially followed a conventional employment route rather than entering entertainment immediately after school. His later transition into reality television was therefore a major career change.
Wicks’ eventual career has largely been built around practical media experience rather than formal broadcasting qualifications. Television, podcasting, live entertainment and documentary work have allowed him to develop skills in presenting, interviewing and entertainment through years of public exposure.
Pete Wicks Career
Medical Recruitment
Before becoming famous, Pete Wicks worked in medical recruitment. This period of his life preceded his entry into reality television and is important because it shows that his career did not begin with an established position in the entertainment industry.
His recruitment career gave him experience dealing with people and communicating professionally, although little detailed information about the length or exact nature of the job has been made public.
Wicks eventually left this career behind when opportunities in television began to emerge.
The Only Way Is Essex
Pete Wicks joined The Only Way Is Essex in 2015 during its fifteenth series. The ITVBe reality programme had already established itself as one of Britain’s most recognizable reality television franchises, and Wicks quickly became one of its most recognizable personalities.
His appearance was markedly different from the polished image often associated with male reality stars. His long hair, tattoos, facial hair, casual clothing and outspoken personality gave him a distinctive visual identity.
Wicks’ romantic relationships also became part of the show’s storylines. His relationship with Megan McKenna between 2016 and 2017 received considerable attention, while his wider dating life continued to attract interest after his departure from the main TOWIE cast.
TOWIE gave Wicks the public platform from which he could build a career beyond reality television. Although he became famous through the programme, he eventually demonstrated that he could remain relevant without being permanently tied to the show.
Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls
In 2018, Wicks participated in Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls. The programme placed celebrities in challenging conditions and required them to survive with limited resources.
The experience offered audiences a different side of Wicks from the reality-TV personality seen on TOWIE. His appearance demonstrated his willingness to take on physically and psychologically demanding entertainment formats.
Celebs Go Dating
Wicks joined Celebs Go Dating in 2019 and later returned to the franchise during the COVID-19 pandemic for Celebs Go Virtual Dating. He subsequently appeared on the programme again in 2022.
Dating television became closely associated with Wicks because of the public interest in his romantic life. His reputation as a single, outspoken reality personality made him a natural fit for programmes built around celebrity relationships.
His appearances also reinforced his reputation for being candid about dating, relationships and the difficulties of finding a long-term partner while living under constant public scrutiny.
Celebrity MasterChef
In 2020, Wicks entered the kitchen for Celebrity MasterChef. The BBC cooking competition placed him alongside other celebrities and tested contestants through a series of professional-style culinary challenges.
The programme helped demonstrate the versatility of his television career. By this point, he was no longer dependent solely on reality-dating or TOWIE-related programming and was increasingly appearing across different television formats.
The Celebrity Circle
In 2021, Wicks appeared on The Celebrity Circle alongside his close friend Sam Thompson. The pair competed for charity and adopted another celebrity’s identity as part of the programme’s catfishing format.
Wicks and Thompson finished as runners-up. The experience was significant for another reason because their friendship had already become an important part of Wicks’ public identity.
Their partnership would eventually lead to one of the most successful projects of Wicks’ career: Staying Relevant.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins
In 2022, Wicks participated in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. The programme is known for its physically demanding challenges and military-style selection exercises.
Wicks was medically withdrawn from the competition after suffering an injury. Despite not completing the programme, the appearance contributed to the growing perception that he was willing to put himself through difficult experiences rather than remaining within the safer boundaries of conventional celebrity television.
The Underdog: Josh Must Win
In 2024, Wicks appeared on Channel 4’s The Underdog: Josh Must Win, alongside personalities including Nick Grimshaw, Vicky Pattison and Amber Rose Gill.
The programme continued his transition toward broader entertainment rather than simply appearing as a former TOWIE cast member.
Strictly Come Dancing
One of the biggest television moments of Wicks’ career came in 2024 when he competed on the twenty-second series of Strictly Come Dancing.
He was partnered with Polish professional dancer Jowita Przystał. Their partnership quickly became one of the most talked-about pairings of the series, partly because of their contrasting personalities and strong on-screen chemistry.
Wicks was not initially viewed as one of the obvious technical favourites. However, he improved considerably throughout the competition and eventually reached the semi-final.
His partnership with Jowita also generated intense romantic speculation. Wicks initially rejected the idea that they were romantically involved, describing their connection as a strong friendship and saying that their chemistry helped their dancing.
The pair continued to attract attention after the show, including a performance at Wicks’ Staying Relevant live show at London’s O2 Arena that appeared to include a kiss. In 2025, reports again linked the pair romantically, although Wicks’ later relationship with Olivia Attwood made clear that the two had not become his long-term romantic partners.
Staying Relevant Podcast
Perhaps Wicks’ most important post-TOWIE achievement has been Staying Relevant, the podcast he co-hosts with Sam Thompson.
The podcast launched in 2022 and is built around the friendship between Wicks and Thompson. Rather than functioning as a conventional celebrity interview programme, the show revolves around their conversations, arguments, jokes, stories and experiences in the entertainment industry.
The chemistry between the two presenters became a major reason for the podcast’s success. Wicks typically brings a more cynical and outspoken personality to the partnership, while Thompson is known for his energetic and chaotic style.
The podcast became a major commercial and entertainment success. It won the TRIC Award for Best Podcast in 2025 and repeated that success in 2026, giving Wicks two consecutive years of recognition in the category.
The programme has also expanded beyond audio into live shows, social media content and publishing. By 2026, Staying Relevant had become an established entertainment brand rather than simply another celebrity podcast.
Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake
Wicks’ work with dogs has become one of the most important parts of his modern career.
In 2024, UKTV commissioned Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake, a documentary series produced by BBC Studios Entertainment in partnership with Dogs Trust. The programme follows Wicks as he works alongside animal welfare professionals to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome vulnerable dogs.
The programme revealed a much softer side of Wicks than the abrasive reality-TV persona that initially made him famous. His genuine affection for animals became central to the programme, and the show received strong audience and industry support.
Its success led to additional commissions. In 2025, UKTV announced further series and a Christmas special after the programme became one of U&W’s strongest unscripted launches.
In May 2026, UKTV confirmed a fourth series consisting of eight episodes as well as a two-part overseas special. The new episodes were set to take Wicks beyond the UK, working with Dogs Trust partners internationally to explore rescue and rehabilitation practices in other countries.
Wicks has said that the programme gives him a sense of purpose. In September 2026, he described himself as “the Dogfather” and said he had adopted ten dogs over the years. He also credited his dogs with helping him through the death of his grandmother Doreen.
Animal Welfare Advocacy
Wicks’ involvement with Dogs Trust has gradually changed the way the public views him. While his early fame came from dating stories and reality television, animal welfare has become a genuine professional focus.
The programme allows him to combine entertainment with education about responsible pet ownership, rescue and rehabilitation. Dogs Trust has also emphasized the role of the series in showing the work of people operating behind the scenes at rehoming centres.
This has become one of the clearest examples of Wicks successfully turning a personal passion into a sustained career project.
Pete Wicks Trending: Why Is Pete Wicks Famous?
Pete Wicks is currently trending in September 2026 primarily because of his relationship with fellow television personality Olivia Attwood.
Wicks and Attwood had been friends for years before their relationship became romantic. After months of speculation, Wicks publicly confirmed their relationship in July 2026 by posting affectionate photographs from an Ibiza holiday. Attwood subsequently made the relationship public herself.
The relationship has since become increasingly public. In September 2026, Wicks and Attwood made their first major public appearance as a couple at the National Television Awards, where they appeared together on the red carpet and shared a kiss. They also presented an award together during the ceremony.
The relationship is particularly interesting to reality-TV audiences because Wicks and Attwood had been part of the same wider British reality television world for years. Their friendship predates their romance, making their transition from friends to partners a major entertainment story.
Wicks is also trending for more positive reasons. His For Dogs’ Sake programme continues to grow, with its fourth series and international special confirmed for 2026 and 2027. At the same time, Staying Relevant has remained one of his strongest professional ventures, winning the TRIC Best Podcast award for a second consecutive year.
Pete Wicks Personal Life
Pete Wicks has generally maintained a complicated relationship with public attention around his personal life. His dating history has frequently been discussed in the British entertainment press, particularly during his TOWIE years and his appearances on dating programmes.
He was previously linked romantically to several reality personalities, including Megan McKenna. His relationships and friendships have regularly generated headlines, although Wicks has often insisted that aspects of his private life are more complicated than the public speculation suggests.
His partnership with Jowita Przystał during Strictly Come Dancing generated particularly intense rumours. The pair developed a close friendship and strong performance chemistry, but Wicks initially insisted that they were friends. Their later stage kiss intensified speculation, although the relationship ultimately did not develop into his current partnership.
Wicks’ current girlfriend is Olivia Attwood. The two had been friends for many years before beginning a romantic relationship in 2026. They made their relationship Instagram official in July and have since appeared together publicly.
Pete Wicks Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
Pete Wicks was born on November 1, 1988, making him 37 years old in 2026. He was born in Harlow, Essex, England, and is British.
His religion is not reliably documented in authoritative public sources. Although his personal views and lifestyle have occasionally been discussed in interviews, there is insufficient evidence to confidently identify him with a particular formal religion.
Wicks is widely reported to stand at around 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm), although this measurement is not confirmed by an official profile. His appearance has become a major part of his public identity. His long hair, extensive tattoos, beard, casual fashion and tall frame distinguish him immediately from many of the more conventional male reality-TV personalities.
Pete Wicks Social Media Presence
Social media has played a major role in maintaining Wicks’ popularity after his TOWIE years. His Instagram account has more than two million followers, giving him a substantial audience outside traditional television.
His social-media content frequently features his dogs, television work, podcast appearances, friends, travel and relationship with Olivia Attwood. His online presence also gives fans access to the personality that made him successful on reality television.
The Staying Relevant podcast has its own social platforms as well, where clips from Wicks and Sam Thompson’s conversations are distributed to audiences beyond traditional podcast listeners. This combination of television, podcasting and social media has helped Wicks maintain a strong presence despite leaving his original TOWIE environment behind.
Pete Wicks Net Worth
Pete Wicks’ exact net worth is not publicly verified. His income now comes from several different areas, including television appearances, presenting, podcasting, live entertainment, social-media work and his television projects with Dogs Trust.
His Staying Relevant podcast has become an important commercial property. The podcast has won major industry awards and expanded into live entertainment and publishing, while Wicks’ For Dogs’ Sake programme has been commissioned for multiple series. These projects provide a broader income base than his original reality-TV career.
Various celebrity websites publish estimates of Wicks’ wealth, but there is no reliable public financial statement establishing a precise figure. Any specific net-worth number should therefore be regarded as an estimate rather than confirmed financial information.
Pete Wicks Legacy
Pete Wicks’ early legacy is tied to the transformation of The Only Way Is Essex from a traditional reality programme into a platform capable of creating long-term entertainment personalities. His unusual appearance and outspoken personality made him one of the most recognizable male figures associated with the franchise.
His later career, however, has become considerably broader. Through Staying Relevant, Wicks demonstrated that his appeal could work outside structured reality television. His partnership with Sam Thompson transformed their friendship into an award-winning media brand that continued to succeed even after the pair had moved beyond their original reality-TV programmes.
His work with Dogs Trust may ultimately become the most meaningful part of his public legacy. Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake has allowed him to use his celebrity platform to highlight animal rescue and responsible pet ownership. The continuing success of the programme and its international expansion show that Wicks has developed a second identity as an animal welfare advocate alongside his entertainment career.
Conclusion
Pete Wicks has built a career that has changed significantly since his breakthrough on The Only Way Is Essex. What began as a reality-TV career based heavily on relationships, nightlife and his distinctive personality has developed into television presenting, podcasting, live entertainment and documentary work.
His partnership with Sam Thompson on Staying Relevant has been particularly important, turning a friendship into an award-winning podcast that has remained successful for several years. At the same time, Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake has given him a more purposeful television role centred on animal rescue and welfare.
In 2026, Wicks remains one of Britain’s most recognizable reality-TV personalities, but his career is no longer defined solely by reality television. His relationship with Olivia Attwood has brought renewed attention to his personal life, while his podcast and animal-welfare work continue to establish him as a broader television and media personality.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pete Wicks
Who is Pete Wicks?
Pete Wicks is an English television personality, presenter, podcaster and animal welfare advocate best known for The Only Way Is Essex, Staying Relevant, Strictly Come Dancing and Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake.
How old is Pete Wicks?
Pete Wicks was born on November 1, 1988. He is 37 years old in 2026.
Where is Pete Wicks from?
Pete Wicks is from Harlow, Essex, England.
What is Pete Wicks famous for?
He first became famous through The Only Way Is Essex. He later became known for Staying Relevant with Sam Thompson, Strictly Come Dancing and his animal welfare programme Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake.
Who is Pete Wicks’ girlfriend?
Pete Wicks is currently in a relationship with Olivia Attwood. The pair made their relationship Instagram official in July 2026 after years of friendship.
Are Pete Wicks and Olivia Attwood dating?
Yes. Pete Wicks and Olivia Attwood publicly confirmed their relationship in 2026 and subsequently made their first major red-carpet appearance together at the National Television Awards.
Were Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał dating?
Wicks and Jowita Przystał developed a close friendship while competing together on Strictly Come Dancing. Their chemistry sparked substantial romance rumours, particularly after a later stage performance, but the two have also described their relationship as a friendship.
Who is Pete Wicks’ best friend?
Sam Thompson is one of Pete Wicks’ closest friends. The pair co-host the successful Staying Relevant podcast, which has won the TRIC Best Podcast award in both 2025 and 2026.
What is Pete Wicks’ podcast?
Pete Wicks co-hosts Staying Relevant with Sam Thompson. The podcast covers celebrity life, friendships, relationships, entertainment and their personal experiences.
Did Pete Wicks win an award for his podcast?
Yes. Staying Relevant won the TRIC Award for Best Podcast in 2025 and again in 2026.
What is Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake?
Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake is a UKTV factual entertainment series in which Wicks works with Dogs Trust to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome dogs. A fourth series and an overseas special were commissioned in 2026.
Why does Pete Wicks love dogs?
Wicks has adopted numerous rescue dogs and has described them as an important part of his life. He has said that his dogs helped him through the difficult period following his grandmother Doreen’s death in 2022.
Did Pete Wicks compete on Strictly Come Dancing?
Yes. He competed on the 2024 series of Strictly Come Dancing with professional dancer Jowita Przystał and reached the semi-final.
Does Pete Wicks have children?
There are no publicly confirmed children associated with Pete Wicks.
What is Pete Wicks’ net worth?
Pete Wicks’ exact net worth is not publicly verified. He earns money through television, podcasting, presenting, live entertainment, social media and other media projects, but no authoritative source provides a confirmed total.
Is Pete Wicks related to Joe Wicks?
No. Despite sharing the surname, Pete Wicks and fitness personality Joe Wicks are not related.