‘I’m not even brushing my hair!’
TOWIE star Pete Wicks on his current grooming regime and why his dogs make the perfect isolation partners
Pete Wicks, aka TOWIE’s Pirate Pete, may have a Lothario reputation but it seems like he’s really grown up in recent years. When we chatted to the 31 year old a few weeks back he’d just pulled an all-nighter – but he wasn’t partying. Instead, he’d taken to the streets to sleep rough with dogs and their owners for the charity he’s a patron of, Dogs On The Streets.
As well as starring on the ITVBe reality show that shot him to fame, Pete has launched his own podcast from the comfort of his home.
Here, he tells us all about that, his bromance with Made In Chelsea’s Sam Thompson and why he hasn’t been to a gym in years…
Hi Pete.You recently said your dogs are keeping you sane in isolation. Have you always been a dog lover?
Definitely. My first dog, Ernest, changed my life. Now I call my dogs “my kids” as they completely depend on me and give me responsibility.That unconditional love does change the way you look at things. I used to only have myself to look after – now I have them.
You’ve changed from staying out all night then…
Exactly. I’m really fortunate that I’ve been given a platform over the last five or six years and it’s nice to try to do some good. Charity work, like the sleep out I did with Dogs On The Streets, makes me realise how lucky I am to have a roof over my head and live the fortunate life I do.
Do your dogs help you meet women?
They do help in terms of attracting women, especially my little Peggy who only has one eye, so everyone wants to know the story. But they also don’t because then the women are more interested in the dogs.
They don’t care about me, they just want to see Eric and Peg!
You were looking for love on Celebs Go Dating and First Dates Hotel. Have you found it?
No. I’m 31 now and I’ve had some relationships that haven’t gone particularly well. I’ve been a bit of a doughnut. But as I’ve got older I’ve started realising that, yes, I do have fun and enjoy being single, but I’m looking for a soulmate. Whether or not I’ll find that, I don’t know, but there’s no point settling for something that isn’t that. I’ve been really busy recently so looking for love isn’t really on my radar.
TOWIE fans seem desperate for you and your co-star Chloe Sims to get together…
Any woman I’m seen with or friends with, I’m linked to. My mum’s even been my mystery woman once when we were pictured together! I think people assume I can’t be friends with a woman, but I can.
How’s your bromance with Sam Thompson going?
The best relationship to come out of Celebs Go Dating is me and Sam. Although it’s sort of a love/ hate relationship – he loves me, I hate him. I’m joking. He’s like a little brother and such a nice geezer. We’re from completely different backgrounds and everyone would have probably thought that we wouldn’t have clicked, but I do love him.
We talk most days… mainly because he doesn’t stop calling me!
What else are you up to?
I started my own podcast. It’s called Pete Wicks: Just a Little Prick. The first one is all about tattoos and the stories behind them. I speak to some familiar and not familiar faces about their tattoos.
What’s your current workout routine like?
Non-existent. I’ve not been to the gym in five years. I should probably start as I’m knocking on a bit now. There are all these young guys floating about in decent nick, whereas I’ve become the Ian Beale of TOWIE!
How about your grooming regime and your famous hair?
Everyone thinks that because it’s long, I must spend a lot of time looking after it. I don’t even brush my hair if I’m honest with you. I give it a wash, though, I’m not dirty! I’m pretty chilled when it comes to things like that. I’d rather spend my time laughing.There are more important things in the world.
Do people still call you Pete The Pirate?
That’s stuck with me forever, I think. When I walk down the street people shout,“Oi, Pirate!”
What other reactions do you get?
Touch wood, I get quite a good reaction. I guess people know I’m pretty normal. I’ve been on TOWIE six years and I still find it weird when people say hello on the street or want a picture. I actually get a bit embarrassed about it.
What’s left on your bucket list?
I’ve always wanted to do a skydive and have one planned with Great Ormond Street. I don’t get scared, so I’m super excited about being able to jump out of a plane.