The air is crisp with autumn promise, but inside the bustling rehoming centres of Dogs Trust, warmth radiates from wagging tails and stories of second chances. Enter Pete Wicks, the tattooed heartthrob from The Only Way Is Essex who traded Essex glamour for Strictly sequins, now leaping back into the spotlight with a project that tugs at every dog lover’s soul. “He’s back!” the headlines scream, and they’re not wrong. Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake returns triumphantly with its second series, premiering tonight on UKTV’s U&W channel – and if the first run melted hearts, this one promises to shatter them into a million joyful pieces.

Filmed across nine Dogs Trust centres – from the familiar Basildon hub in Essex to the windswept Ballymena in Northern Ireland – this brand-new instalment dives deeper into the raw, unfiltered world of canine rescue. Pete, the self-proclaimed “dog whisperer” with two rescue French Bulldogs of his own, isn’t just presenting; he’s immersing, rehabilitating, and occasionally, yes, crying on camera. “This series? It’s the heartbreak, the joy – everything,” Pete shared in an exclusive interview, his voice cracking just a little. “We’ve got stories that’ll have you reaching for the tissues one minute and cheering the next. These dogs… they teach you what real resilience looks like.”

As the clock ticks toward the 9pm premiere, let’s rewind the reel on Pete’s journey from TOWIE bad boy to animal advocate extraordinaire. Because this isn’t just a TV comeback; it’s a love letter to the underdogs – both four-legged and two – who remind us that redemption is always within reach.

From Essex Nights to Strictly Lights: Pete Wicks’ Unlikely Path to Stardom

Peter James Wicks burst onto our screens in 2015 as the brooding, inked-up newcomer on ITV’s The Only Way Is Essex. At 26, with a cheeky grin and a penchant for drama, Pete quickly became the show’s resident heartbreaker – think steamy Marbella hookups, explosive rows with co-stars like Megan McKenna, and enough shirtless beach scenes to fuel a thousand fan edits. But beneath the spray tans and party antics, there was a vulnerability that endeared him to viewers. “TOWIE was my university,” Pete reflected in a 2023 podcast episode of Staying Relevant, the hit show he co-hosts with best mate Sam Thompson. “It taught me about fame, failure, and figuring out who you really are.”

Born on April 1, 1988, in Harlow, Essex, Pete’s early life was far from the scripted glamour of reality TV. Raised by his single mother after his father’s early passing, he navigated a tough childhood marked by bullying and a stutter that made school a battlefield. “Kids can be cruel,” he’s said, “but animals? They just love you back, no questions asked.” That mantra took root early; at 19, Pete adopted his first rescue dog, a scruffy mutt that became his shadow through the chaos of adolescence. Little did he know, that bond would one day define his career pivot.

TOWIE catapulted Pete to fame, but it wasn’t all rosé and red carpets. By 2018, after seven series, he stepped away, citing burnout and a desire for substance over superficiality. “I was partying to numb the noise,” he admitted in a raw Staying Relevant episode. Enter the podcast revolution: Launched in 2021 with Sam – the Made in Chelsea alum and King of the Jungle – Staying Relevant became a haven for honest chats on mental health, masculinity, and mishaps. With over 100 million downloads, it’s not just banter; it’s therapy in stereo, tackling everything from Pete’s anxiety battles to Sam’s ADHD journey. Critics hail it as “the anti-TOWIE,” a space where vulnerability is the real flex.

Then came 2024: Strictly Come Dancing. Paired with Polish pro Jowita Przystal, Pete swapped Essex swagger for salsa steps, waltzing his way to the semi-finals. “I can’t dance, but I can feel,” he quipped after their emotional paso doble. Their chemistry sparked romance rumors (denied, of course), but more importantly, it showcased Pete’s growth – from party boy to poised performer. Off the dancefloor, he was penning My F**ked Up Life (2024), a memoir that bared his soul on loss, love, and learning to love himself. “Writing it was like therapy on steroids,” Pete laughed. “And yeah, there are dog chapters. Lots of them.”

It’s this evolution that makes Pete the perfect ambassador for Dogs Trust. Appointed in 2023, he’s not just lending his name; he’s living the cause. His Frenchies, Eric (adopted from Basildon in 2016) and Peggy (rescued in 2020), are family – furry therapists who’ve pulled him through dark days. “Dogs don’t judge your tattoos or your tantrums,” Pete often says. “They just wag.” When UKTV approached him for For Dogs’ Sake, it wasn’t a gig; it was destiny.

The Magic of Series One: A Paws-itive Phenomenon That Broke Records

When Pete Wicks: For Dogs’ Sake debuted on January 7, 2025, no one expected it to become U&W’s highest-rated unscripted premiere since 2016. Across four 60-minute episodes, Pete traded his mic for a mop, immersing himself in the daily grind at Basildon’s Dogs Trust centre. From donning “ghostbuster” PPE to weigh at-risk newborn pups to holding vigil during pug Murphy’s life-saving biopsy, the series was a masterclass in empathy. “I was terrified on day one,” Pete confessed in episode one. “But these dogs? They make you brave.”

Filmed over a sweltering Essex summer, the show followed Pete as he shadowed the “unsung heroes” – the carers, behaviourists, vets, and volunteers who turn trauma into triumph. Viewers met Terri, the terrified Lurcher who’d been abused into silence, her eyes wide with fear until Pete’s gentle coaxing coaxed out her first tail wag. There was the litter of Chihuahua siblings surrendered by a heartbroken owner, their tiny frames trembling until adoption day brought belly rubs and beds. And who could forget Flower, the feisty pup who initially snubbed Pete? “She hated me,” he chuckled. “But winning her over? Pure magic.”

The impact was seismic. Within weeks, Dogs Trust reported a 30% surge in adoption applications – their highest ever “Apply to Adopt” enquiries. Footfall at centres spiked, with families queuing to meet the stars of the screen. “Pete’s authenticity shone through,” said Owen Sharp, Dogs Trust CEO. “He didn’t just visit; he volunteered, and viewers felt that.” Nominated for Broadcast Digital Awards in Programme of the Year and Best Popular Factual, the series amassed over 1 million total consumption viewers, topping U’s streaming charts.

Critics were smitten. The Guardian called it “heart-tugging,” praising Pete’s “enthusiastic mucking in.” Radio Times dubbed it a “pick of the day,” while Digital Spy noted Pete “cried several times” – a vulnerability that resonated. “It’s not performative,” Pete explained. “Seeing a dog arrive broken, eyes full of sadness… it hits you.” And the backlash? When Pete quipped, “I prefer dogs to most people – they don’t gossip or ghost,” social media erupted in agreement, not outrage. “Ridiculous criticism,” one X user posted. “Dogs are loyal; people, not always.”

Series one wasn’t just TV; it was a movement. Adoptions soared – little Dave, the Jack Russell with a broken leg featured in episode three, found a forever home with a retired couple inspired by Pete’s plea. “These aren’t stories,” Pete said post-airing. “They’re lives.” The success greenlit not one, but two more series – plus a festive special – proving that in a world of scripted scandals, unfiltered kindness cuts deepest.

Series Two Unleashed: Deeper Dives, Bolder Bonds, and Tears on Tap

“He’s back – and the stories are even more heartwarming!” That’s the tagline buzzing through production circles for series two, a five-episode arc airing Mondays at 9pm on U&W, with all episodes streaming free on U. Premiering tonight, it expands beyond Basildon to eight additional centres: Leeds, Darlington, Canterbury, Kenilworth, Shrewsbury, Cardiff, Shoreham, and Harefield. “We’re going nationwide,” producer Nicole Sullivan revealed. “Pete’s hitting the road, uncovering regional rescues that’ll blow minds.”

What makes this return a game-changer? Depth. Where series one skimmed the surface – intakes, assessments, adoptions – this one plunges into the “why” behind the woes. Episode one kicks off with Queen Bee, a Belgian Malinois seized at the border, heavily pregnant and hollow-eyed from neglect. Pete helps her bond with her 11 wriggly pups, bottle-feeding the runts while sharing his own “dad” stories from Eric and Peggy’s chaotic puppy days. “She was shut down, like I’ve been,” Pete whispers to the camera, his voice thick. “But watch her light up… it’s everything.”

Then there’s Elliot, the Staffie mix surrendered after his owner’s homelessness. Covered in scars from suspected dogfighting rings in Northern Ireland, Elliot arrives at Ballymena snarling at shadows. Pete, drawing on his stutter struggles, spends days in quiet companionship – no treats, just presence. “He judged me at first,” Pete laughs in episode two. “Thought I was another let-down. But we got there.” Cue the montage: tentative sniffs evolving to zoomies in the play yard, Elliot’s tongue lolling in pure joy. It’s cinema for the soul.

Heartbreak looms large too. Episode three spotlights Winter, a scarred Staffie from Basildon, her body a map of illegal fights. “These scars tell a story of survival,” behaviourist Lisa explains as Pete gently grooms her. Viewers will witness the rehab grind: trust exercises, scar tissue massages, and the nail-biting match with a foster family. “I ugly-cried editing this,” admits executive producer Mark Scantlebury. “Pete’s not afraid to show the ugly bits – the no’s before the yes.”

And the laughs? Plentiful. Pete’s “tea rounds” for exhausted staff turn chaotic – spilling brews while dodging darting Dachshunds. In Leeds, he faces a “puppy pile-up” of 12 energetic fosters, emerging covered in slobber and smiles. “I’m a mess, but the good kind,” he quips. The Christmas special, filming wrapped last month, teases festive fosters: decking halls with hounds, matching pups to pantomime performers, and Pete in a Santa suit, beard askew. “Spoiler: Eric and Peggy steal the show,” he teases.

Produced by BBC Studios Entertainment, series two clocks in at 5×60 minutes, blending fly-on-the-wall footage with Pete’s confessional vlogs. “It’s deeper this time,” Pete insists. “We’re tackling puppy farming rings, post-Brexit border seizures, even the mental toll on our heroes. But the wins? Oh, they’re sweeter.” Early screenings have insiders raving: “Even more heartwarming,” one exec gushed. “Pete’s growth is palpable – he’s not just hosting; he’s healing.”

The Unsung Heroes: Spotlight on Dogs Trust’s Frontline Warriors

At the heart of For Dogs’ Sake beats Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, rehoming over 15,000 pooches annually with a “never put a healthy dog down” ethos. Founded in 1891 as the National Canine Defence League, it boasts 21 centres nationwide, from Scotland’s highlands to Wales’ valleys. “We’re more than a shelter,” Sharp emphasizes. “We’re a lifeline.”

Series two shines a fierce light on the humans behind the howls. Meet Lisa, Basildon’s centre manager, a 20-year veteran who’s “hugged more heartbreak than most therapists.” In episode four, she guides Pete through a dawn intake: a hoarder case yielding 20 malnourished mutts. “It’s exhausting,” she admits, tears brimming. “But one wag? Worth it.” Then there’s Dr. Elena, the Leeds vet whose steady hands save sepsis cases, or volunteer Tom from Cardiff, a teen who found purpose post-lockdown via puppy playdates.

Pete amplifies their voices. “These folk are superheroes without capes,” he says, dedicating an episode to the behaviour team’s “trust rebuilds.” Viewers see the science: positive reinforcement for fear-aggressive fosters, scent games for separation anxiety. “It’s not cute clips,” Pete clarifies. “It’s education – responsible ownership starts here.” The series weaves in PSAs: microchipping mandates, the £200m annual cost of pet theft, why “designer” breeds fuel farms. “Pete gets it,” Sharp says. “He’s our megaphone.”

Social ripple? X (formerly Twitter) lights up with #ForDogsSake posts – fans sharing adoption tales, debating “dogs vs. people” (team dogs wins). One viral thread: Terri’s update, the Lurcher from series one now thriving, her adopter crediting Pete’s plea. “He gave her – and us – hope,” the post reads, racking 200k views.

Pete’s Personal Pack: How Furry Friends Fixed a Fractured Heart

Pete’s advocacy isn’t abstract; it’s etched in paw prints. Eric, his 9-year-old Frenchie, arrived from Basildon a quivering wreck – abused, underweight, ears cropped illegally. “He hid under the bed for weeks,” Pete recalls. “But now? He’s my shadow, my sanity.” Peggy joined in 2020, a lockdown rescue whose zoomies pulled Pete from isolation blues. “They’re my boys,” he says, “teaching me loyalty when people flaked.”

This series mirrors that. In Shrewsbury, Pete parallels his stutter therapy with a deaf Dalmatian’s sign training. “Words failed me once,” he narrates. “But connection? That’s universal.” Off-camera, he’s fostered three pups, crediting Dogs Trust for “life hacks” like crate training. His memoir devotes chapters to them: “Dogs don’t care about your Instagram likes. They love your mess.”

Critics once pigeonholed Pete as “Essex eye candy,” but series two cements his shift. “He’s evolved,” Jowita Przystal told us at a screening. “Strictly softened him; dogs grounded him.” Sam Thompson concurs: “Pete’s the softie in wolf’s clothing. This show? His soul on screen.”

Why This Series Matters: Paws for Thought in a Pet-Obsessed World

In 2025, with UK pet ownership at 57% of households, For Dogs’ Sake arrives as a timely tonic. Post-pandemic, adoptions boomed – but so did surrenders, up 23% amid cost-of-living crunches. Pete’s platform combats that: “A dog’s for life, not likes,” he urges, echoing Dogs Trust’s iconic slogan. Series two spotlights crises – 200k dogs at risk yearly from farms, fights, fleabag breeders. “It’s a call to action,” producer Pete Ogden says. “Watch, weep, then adopt.”

Fan frenzy builds: X teases episode stills – Pete cradling pups, Elliot’s triumphant trot – amassing 50k likes. “More emotional than series one,” one insider leaks. “Prepare for ugly cries.” The Christmas special? A yuletide yarn of festive fosters finding homes amid twinkly trees.

A Tail-Wagging Triumph: Pete’s Legacy in the Making

As episode one fades to credits tonight, one truth lingers: Pete Wicks isn’t just back – he’s blooming. From TOWIE tears to Strictly spins, he’s chased reinvention, landing here, knee-deep in kibble and kindness. For Dogs’ Sake series two isn’t mere telly; it’s a testament to tails wagging over trials, proving even the most scarred souls can sparkle.

Tune in at 9pm on U&W – or stream on U – and join the pack. Because in Pete’s words: “Dogs don’t just steal your heart; they mend it.” And this time, the mending? It’s more heartwarming than ever.