Pete Wicks and Jowita Przysta? became two of the most-followed couples from Strictly Come Dancing 2024. Pete was known for being a reality TV star with no experience in dancing. Jowita, on the other hand, was a dancer and winner of Strictly before. It was their rehearsals, performances, sense of humour, and chemistry that won over the hearts of fans. Even though both of them claimed at first that their relationship is nothing more than friendship, speculation about them being together remained throughout the whole season. The relationship of Pete and Jowita gained momentum after the competition as they showed up again together.
Instant Bio
| Profile Detail | Pete Wicks | Jowita Przystał |
| Full Name | Peter James Wicks | Jowita Maria Przystał |
| Date of Birth | 1 November 1988 | 22 August 1994 |
| Age | 37 in 2026 | 32 in 2026 |
| Birthplace | Harlow, Essex, England | Kraków, Poland |
| Nationality | British | Polish |
| Citizenship | British | Polish |
| Profession | Television personality, presenter, author, podcaster | Professional ballroom and Latin dancer |
| Famous For | The Only Way Is Essex, reality television, podcasting | Strictly Come Dancing, The Greatest Dancer |
| Parents | Limited reliable public information | Not widely documented publicly |
| Siblings | Limited reliable public information | Not widely documented publicly |
| Education | Not widely documented | Formal education not widely documented; extensive dance training |
| Career Beginning | Joined The Only Way Is Essex in 2015 | Began ballroom dancing at age 12; professional competition followed |
| Major Breakthrough | The Only Way Is Essex | Winning The Greatest Dancer in 2020 |
| Major Television Work | TOWIE, Celebs Go Dating, Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity SAS, Strictly Come Dancing | The Greatest Dancer, Strictly Come Dancing |
| Major Film Work | No major film career publicly documented | No major film career publicly documented |
| Production Company or Major Business Work | Staying Relevant podcast and publishing work | Dance performance and choreography work |
| Major Awards | No major individual television award win publicly documented | The Greatest Dancer winner; Strictly Glitterball winner |
| Major Achievements | Established long-running television and podcast career | Polish Open Latin Champion; won The Greatest Dancer and Strictly |
| Spouse | None publicly confirmed | None publicly confirmed |
| Marital Status | Not publicly married | Not publicly married |
| Marriage Year | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Previous Marriages | None publicly documented | None publicly documented |
| Children | None publicly confirmed | None publicly confirmed |
How Their Strictly Partnership Began
Pete joined the 2024 series of Strictly Come Dancing as a celebrity contestant, having previously built a career through The Only Way Is Essex and other reality programmes. Jowita, meanwhile, was already established within the Strictly professional cast after joining the show in 2021. She had won The Greatest Dancer in 2020 and later lifted the Strictly trophy with Hamza Yassin in 2022. Their pairing therefore brought together a television personality learning dance and a professional dancer with considerable competitive experience.
From the opening weeks, their partnership attracted attention beyond the dancing itself. Pete openly discussed enjoying the rehearsal process, while Jowita helped him develop techniques that were unfamiliar to him. Their relaxed communication and humour translated naturally to television, making their training footage particularly engaging. The pair also developed a recognisable performance identity as Pete became more comfortable on the dance floor.
Their chemistry became especially noticeable during interviews and appearances on It Takes Two. Pete said that being in the rehearsal room with Jowita was his favourite part of the experience and praised the way she made him happy. Jowita also spoke positively about their connection and his progress as a learner. These comments helped fuel interest while still stopping short of confirming a romantic relationship.
The partnership also produced several memorable performances during the competition. Their Couple’s Choice routine at Blackpool was among the performances that attracted significant attention, while later dances demonstrated how far Pete had progressed from his starting point. By the closing stages, the pair had become one of the season’s most recognisable celebrity-professional partnerships. Their journey ultimately continued into the semi-final stage.
What Happened Between Pete and Jowita
The public story of Pete Wicks and Jowita developed largely because viewers noticed their closeness during the 2024 competition. Their affectionate behaviour, frequent laughter and strong performance connection created speculation that they might be more than dance partners. Pete’s best friend Sam Thompson even discussed the possibility publicly, saying he believed Pete cared deeply about Jowita. However, these comments were observations from someone close to Pete rather than confirmation from the pair themselves.
Pete later addressed the rumours directly during an appearance on This Morning. He rejected the idea that they were in a romantic “love bubble” and explained that their chemistry came from becoming very good friends. He also described Jowita as one of the most amazing people he had met. This statement was important because it established that, during the competition, Pete was publicly presenting their relationship as a close friendship.
Jowita’s own interactions with Pete continued to attract attention, particularly when the pair appeared together on It Takes Two. Their comfortable body language and playful conversations became regular subjects of entertainment coverage. Yet it is important to distinguish visible chemistry from a confirmed relationship, especially when discussing private matters involving public figures. During the 2024 series, the strongest confirmed description from Pete remained that they were very close friends.
Their relationship story changed after the competition. In September 2025, Pete and Jowita appeared together at a live Staying Relevant event at London’s O2 Arena, where they shared several kisses during a dance routine. The performance was widely reported as an apparent confirmation of their romance, with reports saying they were dating. Because the public evidence came through the performance and media reporting, careful wording remains appropriate when describing the status of their private relationship.
Their Careers Beyond Strictly
Pete’s television career began with The Only Way Is Essex in 2015, where he became known for his distinctive personality and relationship storylines. He subsequently appeared on programmes including Celebs Go Dating, Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and The Celebrity Circle. His career expanded beyond reality television through presenting, writing and podcasting. His friendship with Sam Thompson also developed into the successful Staying Relevant podcast.
Pete has also developed a strong public association with animal welfare, particularly through his work involving dogs. His book For the Love of Frenchies focused on the role dogs have played in his life, while later television projects explored his interest in animal welfare. This has given his career a broader direction beyond dating shows and reality television. His Strictly appearance added another major entertainment achievement to an already varied television résumé.
Jowita’s professional background is rooted much more deeply in dance. She and Michael Danilczuk represented Poland in national and international competitions and became Polish Open Latin Champions in 2014. They later performed with Burn the Floor and worked on stage productions before moving to London. Their victory on The Greatest Dancer in 2020 became the major breakthrough that opened the way to her Strictly career.
Jowita subsequently joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional in 2021 and won the competition with Hamza Yassin in 2022. Her later partnerships included Jody Cundy and Pete, followed by Ross King in the 2025 series. Her success demonstrates that her reputation is based on a substantial professional dance career rather than only her association with Pete. She remains recognised as one of the show’s successful professional dancers.
Their Strictly Legacy and Relationship Timeline
The significance of their partnership goes beyond romance speculation because it demonstrated how a celebrity contestant can develop through intensive professional coaching. Pete entered Strictly without an established dance background, yet progressed through several demanding rounds. Jowita’s teaching experience and adaptability helped create a partnership that audiences could follow from week to week. Their journey also showed the importance of entertainment value alongside technical ability on a television dance competition.
Pete and Jowita ultimately left the 2024 competition after facing the dance-off in the results programme broadcast on 8 December. They performed an Argentine Tango before the judges unanimously decided to eliminate them. Their departure meant Pete finished fifth in the competition, while Jowita had reached another semi-final with a celebrity partner. Pete subsequently said that he was extremely glad he had accepted the challenge.
Their post-Strictly story became more significant in 2025 when the pair appeared together again. The O2 Arena performance created a clear contrast with their public position during the 2024 series, when Pete repeatedly described their relationship as friendship. Media reports subsequently described the pair as dating, although details of their private life have remained limited. The most reliable approach is therefore to separate their confirmed television history from claims that have not been directly explained by the couple.
For readers following their story, the key developments can be understood through these milestones:
- 2020: Jowita wins The Greatest Dancer with Michael Danilczuk.
- 2021: Jowita joins Strictly Come Dancing as a professional.
- 2022: Jowita wins Strictly with Hamza Yassin.
- 2024: Pete and Jowita are paired together on Strictly Come Dancing.
- 2024: Their friendship attracts romance speculation during the competition.
- December 2024: Pete and Jowita leave the show at the semi-final stage.
- 2025: They appear together at the Staying Relevant O2 Arena show.
- September 2025: Their on-stage kisses lead to widespread reports that they are dating.
(FAQs)
How did Pete meet Jowita?
Pete met Jowita professionally when they were paired together for the 2024 series of Strictly Come Dancing. Their working relationship developed into a close friendship during months of rehearsals and live performances.
Did Pete and Jowita date?
During Strictly, Pete publicly described them as close friends and denied romance rumours. Later reports said Pete Wicks and Jowita were dating after their 2025 public appearance together.
When did romance rumours begin?
Romance speculation started during the 2024 Strictly series because of their chemistry and affectionate interactions. Both continued to emphasise their friendship at that stage.
Did they reach the final?
No, Pete and Jowita did not reach the 2024 Strictly final. They were eliminated in the semi-final after facing the dance-off.
What does Jowita do now?
Jowita continues working as a professional dancer and television performer. She remains associated with Strictly Come Dancing and has continued building her career through dance performances and related projects.
Conclusion
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał formed an interesting pair on the show Strictly Come Dancing thanks to differences in their backgrounds and a good combination of rehearsal process and performance. While Pete came to the show as a TV presenter and became a dancer, Jowita added her championship background and professionalism. This year’s adventure of the two did not bring them beyond the semi-final stage, but their friendship has become an interesting topic for discussion afterwards. At first Pete denied rumors about their relationship, but then their appearances led to new speculations about their love affair. The best way to understand what happens in their life is to distinguish true facts and media speculations.
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