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<\/p>\nTOWIE star Pete Wicks took a swipe at Sam Thompson's girlfriend Zara McDermott after revealing he – not her – will be greeting him when he leaves I'm A Celeb.<\/p>\n
He said he was originally chosen because she was appearing on Strictly Come Dancing. <\/p>\n
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But Pete, 35, then made another dig at her skills on the BBC dancing competition as he said that "we didn\u2019t realise how bad she was at dancing".<\/p>\n
The former reality star joined X Factor sensation Fleur East\u00a0on her radio show on Hits Radio. <\/p>\n
He was invited onto the breakfast programme to chat about his best friend, Sam Thompson, who he also hosts the Staying Relevant\u00a0podcast with.<\/p>\n
But Pete is due to fly out to Australia tomorrow, ready to meet Sam when he eventually leaves the I'm A Celebrity camp. <\/p>\n
Fleur and her co-hosts James Barr and Matt Haslam chatted to the media personality as they were keen to know is Pete had missed his buddy. <\/p>\n "Absolutely not!" he joked. "No, to be honest, weirdly I actually am, and I didn\u2019t think I would. <\/p>\n "The first week was lovely, I really chilled out and it was nice to have a bit of peace and quiet but now I don\u2019t really know what to do with myself."<\/p>\n Fans were shocked to discover that Sam, 31, chose his podcast colleague and friend to be the first person to greet him as he leaves the jungle. <\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n At every exist, one member of the star's chosen circle will meet them at the end of the famous bridge when they are booted from camp.<\/p>\n Many were surprised that Pete was chosen instead of his longtime girlfriend Zara McDermott. <\/p>\n Pete clarified the decision as he explained: "ITV wanted me to go because I need to protect Ant and Dec from\u00a0Sam\u00a0when he comes out otherwise there could be some sort of restraining order happening!<\/p>\n "It wasn\u2019t a competition with Zara – it was always going to be me!" <\/p>\n In a fresh dig, he added: "To be fair,\u00a0Sam\u00a0and I thought she\u2019d still be in Strictly because we didn\u2019t realise how bad she was at dancing."<\/p>\n Sam later chanted Pete's name during the Locker Shocker\u00a0trial, leading to much confusion with viewers of the competition. <\/p>\n Before heading to the airport, Pete said:\u00a0"Zara messaged me and asked, \u2018What is this about?!\u2019 Obviously, she knows I\u2019m the favourite and she\u2019s used to it by now but I\u2019m hoping he doesn\u2019t do that in bed. That would be slightly weird."\u00a0<\/p>\n This comes after Pete refused to give up his spot on the bridge to Zara after she was axed from Strictly.<\/p>\n Her early exit\u00a0from the BBC ballroom competition meant she became available to fly to\u00a0Australia\u00a0should\u00a0Sam, 31, be voted out of the jungle series.<\/p>\n But ex-Towie\u00a0star\u00a0Pete, who appeared on ITV's Lorraine to discuss Sam's progress in\u00a0I'm A Celeb, has confirmed Sam put him forward for the honour of greeting him, and he's sticking to the original plan.<\/p>\n He told Lorraine Kelly: "Zara could have gone but we obviously thought Zara was still going to be in Strictly.<\/p>\n "Obviously now she could have gone, but I won't give up my place. Listen, first come, first served."<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/grace-op-jk.jpg\")
<\/picture>CASHING IN <\/span><\/p>\nFind out if Grace Dent will receive her full I'm A Celebrity fee<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-bvczq41h7-1700954435061.jpg\")
<\/picture>he's back! <\/span><\/p>\nI'm A Celebrity legend signs big money deal to return to work with Ant and Dec<\/h3>\n
Most read in I\u2019m A Celebrity<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/JW_GRACE_DENT_HOMEBOUND_V2_COMP.jpg\")
<\/picture>I’M OUT OF HERE <\/span><\/p>\nGrace Dent ‘feeling like s**t’ as she races home after quitting I’m A Celeb<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/logo-im-celebrity-get-tv-859390274-4.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/picture>jungle drama <\/span><\/p>\nGrace Dent’s replacement revealed as star QUITS I’m A Celebrity<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/JW_GRACE_DENT_QUITS_V4_COMP.jpg\")
<\/picture>GRACE SPENT <\/span><\/p>\nGrace Dent QUITS I’m A Celeb ‘on medical grounds’ as fans spot moment she broke<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/newspress-collage-en6xnkgng-1701035825569.jpg\")
<\/picture>ROSE WHINE <\/span><\/p>\nI’m A Celeb in ‘sexism’ row as Nella Rose slammed over ‘toxic’ views about men<\/h3>\n
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