Pete Wicks left barely a dry eye in the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom on Saturday evening after taking on a Couple’s Choice routine dedicated to his late nan.
Along with pro dancer Jowita Przystal, Wicks achieved his best score of the series so far with the routine but remained sombre as he received feedback from the judges.
Ahead of the routine, Wicks and his mum Tracy both told viewers how much his grandmother meant to the reality TV star.
“We were as close as you could imagine… she was the rock for everyone,” Wicks said as he choked back tears during his intro.
Tracy echoed his kind words, branding the relationship between her mother and son as “unique” and that Wicks “adored her”.
Once the pair had completed their Couple’s Choice, Wicks and Przystal joined Daly to receive the verdict from the judges, but it soon became clear Wicks was struggling with the emotions.
BBC Strictly: Pete Wicks dedicated his routine to his late nan
BBC
As Wicks’ lips began to tremble, head judge, Shirley Ballas was first up and admitted she too was “emotional”.
“I am a grandma myself, a nana, and just to see you dedicate that to your beautiful nan… Your dance was not only filled with beautiful moments but your heart and soul shone throughout,” Ballas said before praising his “leading skills”.
Anton Du Beke was next up and branded the routine all “the greatest hits” of Wicks and called the entire thing “beautiful”.
Craig Revel Horwood “loved the sentiment and storytelling” but did add he wanted to see “more flow in the transition work”.
BBC Strictly: Pete Wicks struggled to hold back tears after his performance
BBC
“And when you transfer your weight, I would like to see a bit more technique… it didn’t have a polished finished that it could’ve had technically,” Revel Horwood critiqued.
And Motsi Mabuse applauded Wicks for letting his guard down and “opening up” to show a “different side” to his character.
Wicks struggled to fight back tears throughout the discussion with the judges and became even more tearful when joined Claudia Winkleman to hear the judges’ scores.
“It’s been a tough week and the one person I want to be here is my nan and she’s not,” he said.
Soon after, Revel Horwood gave Wicks an eight, Mabuse and Du Beke opted to hand out nines, while Ballas went one step further and awarded a perfect score of 10.
The score was the best Wicks has achieved so far this series and soon after, social media was flooded with fans in tears at the performance.
BBC Strictly: Pete Wicks left fans in tears
BBC
“Nah I’m not okay after Pete’s dance, absolutely sobbing #strictly,” one fan said on X before a second echoed: “Ooh made me cry, too. Well done, Pete. Lovely interpretation – he did the lifts with ease. #Strictly.”
“For me, out of all the couples choices so far, that was the best #Strictly,” a third said, while a fourth praised: “Pete is doing everything we can to hold it together, bless him x #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.”
Meanwhile, a fifth added: “I am in tears, that was SO beautiful, pete danced with his heart and he really did smash that!!! i’m literally SO unbelievably proud wow – pray he gets the scores he deserves #strictly.”
And a sixth echoed: “Never thought watching Pete Wicks dance would bring a tear to my eye, your Nan would be so proud #strictly.” (sic)
