Pete Wicks confessed he felt “awkward” sitting in the Strictly Come Dancingaudience when he turned up to cheer on his mate Vicky Pattison.

The reality telly favourite made it to the semi-finals last year alongside dance partner Jowita Przystal. Pete got everyone talking when he and Jowita shared a steamy snog on stage in front of a packed O2 Arena last month.

Their romance has set tongues wagging, with cameras constantly focused on his face throughout the evening as he settled into his audience seat to back former Geordie Shore favourite Vicky, who’s taking part in the 2025 series.

Chatting on his Staying Relevant podcast, he revealed to co-host Sam Thompson: “I got so awkward. Bear in mind I wasn’t drunk either. I was driving so I was sober. So I was even more awkward.

“I didn’t know what to do. So, I went over the top and I started shouting ‘Yay!’ And then I thought, why am I doing that?” reports Wales Online.

“I’ve seen the clip, and I look f*****g mental… I look possessed.”

Pete made his way back to the BBC’s Elstree Studios as an audience member for this year’s opening live show.

Jowita has been matched with TV and radio host Ross King, and Pete seemed to confirm his relationship with the Polish professional dancer following their passionate kiss at the O2.

Pete has backed his mate Vicky, who’s been partnered with Kai Widdrington, to go far in this year’s series.

He revealed: “I have never seen anyone so f*****g nervous. There were tears. There was all sorts before before she’d even f*****g got there.

“She is scared of her own shadow the f*****g woman. It is mental. But she absolutely smashed it out of the park.”

Pete is confident that Vicky will continue to impress on the dance floor, stating: “I would bet my house that she’s not going anywhere. That’s the first stage completed. You weren’t the first out.”

According to Pete, Vicky has a natural talent for dancing. He revealed: “I know Vic well. And the biggest problem she’s going to have is nerves… I saw her dance before the live show. She’s actually a good dancer.”

Before her performance, Pete encouraged Vicky by saying: “You’ve already f*****g surpassed anything I f*****g did. Imagine how nervous I was. I can’t dance… But you can actually you’ve actually got something to back this up. So you just need to go out and do what you’ve done before.”

Vicky followed his advice and scored an impressive 24 points for her foxtrot to Sam Fender’sRein Me In. However, a less successful salsa to Dizzee Rascal’s Bonkers resulted in former Apprentice contestant Thomas Skinner being the first celebrity to be eliminated this year.