Sam Thompson has lifted the lid on his long-running friendship with Pete Wicks, revealing just how crucial the former TOWIE star has been behind the scenes during what he describes as one of the most transformative years of his life.

The pair first met in 2019 while filming Celebs Go Dating, striking up what Thompson calls an “instant and weirdly effortless” connection. Six years on, their dynamic has become one of British entertainment’s most recognisable double acts. Together they have built the hit Staying Relevant podcast, a Sunday Times bestselling book, a nationwide tour and even a sold-out Staying Relevant show at London’s O2, all supported by a fiercely loyal fanbase who affectionately refer to them as a “chaotic married couple”.

This year has given Thompson plenty of reasons to lean on his closest friend. He began 2025 navigating the end of a long-term relationship, completed the gruelling Match Ball Mission charity challenge, and had a surreal brush with royalty when he accidentally called the King “mate”.

The Chelsea native went public with receiving his ASD diagnosis, something he says has lifted “a bit more weight” off his shoulders and helped him “know himself a little bit more”. He has also quietly undergone something of a glow-up, hitting the gym and looking visibly healthier and more confident. He isn’t one to kiss and tell, but his Instagram strongly suggests he has now found happiness with his “peeps”, also known as model and DJ Talitha Balinska.

Speaking to the Standard, Thompson says his bond with Wicks has only deepened as the year has unfolded. “I’ve taken so much from him this year, I’ve sucked his soul dry like a dementor,” he joked, a nod to the soul-stealing creatures from Harry Potter, a franchise Thompson adores and Wicks openly despairs of. “Pete has been there for me through every massive moment. I probably owe him more than I can explain.”

Wicks was also unexpectedly on hand when Thompson helped launch Coca-Cola’s Christmas Makers initiative this week. The initiative celebrates the people who quietly make Christmas happen for everyone else — the organisers, cooks and planners who rarely get thanked.

Thompson was stationed at Spitalfields Market dressed as Santa, holding up a sign offering “free thank yous” to passers-by and surprising nominees with quick calls and voice notes when Wicks suddenly appeared in front of him, joking that he deserved a thank you himself for “putting up with him all year”.

He soon got stuck in helping Thompson deliver the shout-outs, though at one point the Hits Radio presenter tried to tempt the public with “a free hug from Pete Wicks” — an idea Wicks swiftly shut down.

For those who missed him in person, Thompson is also offering a handful of surprise thank-you messages via Instagram in the run-up to Christmas, with followers able to nominate their own “Christmas Maker” on his latest post. Each nomination will also support Coca-Cola’s festive contribution to food charity FareShare, which is helping to provide meals for communities across the UK this winter.

While the moral support Wicks has given him over the years has been immeasurable, the same cannot quite be said for his gift-giving game. Thompson laughs, wracking his brain for a single example. “I do not think he has ever bought me a present,” he says, before recalling how he once bought Wicks a Cartier bracelet as a thank-you after his jungle stint. He is still waiting for anything in return.

Not that Thompson expects anything extravagant. “I ask for pants and socks every single Christmas,” he says. “I will never buy them myself, so I just tell everyone I can never have enough.” His dream gift from Wicks? “A TikTok dance together. Just one more dance like we used to do.”

After a whirlwind of career highs, Thompson says he is ready for a calmer-ish year. “Not every year is going to be like this,” he says. “It has been amazing, but next year I want to spend more time with my family. I have not had a week off.”

One thing is for certain: his and Wicks’ friendship will remain the steady thread running through whatever comes next. Thompson has big ambitions for Staying Relevant, hoping to evolve it into a full-blown variety-style TV show in the future, a natural progression for a double act increasingly in demand.

He also hopes to support neurodiversity charities more closely in the year ahead, saying he wants to “shine a light” on a community he feels more connected to since receiving his ASD diagnosis, alongside his previous ADHD diagnosis.

“It’s been a year of firsts, and I’ve got to say I’m incredibly fortunate,” he concludes with a grin.