EXCLUSIVEThe secret father of Pete Wicks revealed: Close to his mum, the Strictly stars estranged dad waltzed out of his life when he was 11... now Pete says hes driven show the man he has nothing to do with what hes achieved on his own
Each time Pete Wicks waltzes onto the Strictly dancefloor, hes cheered on by members of his close family.
Each time Pete Wicks waltzes onto the Strictly dancefloor, hes cheered on by members of his close family.
But there is one noticeable absence from his guestlist - the reality stars estranged father, Trevor.
MailOnline can reveal the identity of the Strictly favourites father for the first time courtesy of these exclusive pictures.
Trevor moved to the Middle East when Pete was a youngster shortly after his marriage split from the former Towie stars mother, Tracy.
He now lives in Doha, Qatar, with his Filipino wife of nearly 11 years, Maria.
They document their lives in the Middle East on Facebook, particularly Maria who has posted numerous snaps of the pairs Christmases, birthdays, anniversaries, plus weddings theyve attended and holidays theyve shared.
Pete Wicks secret father is today revealed by MailOnline as Trevor Wicks who left the Strictly star when he was 11 years old after Trevors marriage to Petes mum ended. Trevor later moved to the Middle East and now lives in Doha with his wife of 11 years, Maria (pictured together)
Pete is very close to his mother Tracy (pictured) and describes her as his strongest woman. Pete is especially protective of her after she had a tough time following her marriage break-up
Pete is pictured here at a birthday party when he was 11 - around the time his parents separated. Writing in his recently released autobiography, Never Enough, Pete revealed the pair were once close while growing in Essex - and he would do anything to impress him
Pete has taken Strictly by storm with his dance partner Jowita Przysta (pictured). He says he used to try and make his dad proud by playing football and other sports - but now he says he is driven to show him what he has achieved without his father in his life
But there is no sign of Pete in any of the pictures, and certainly no messages of support for the wannabe dancer as he competes on the biggest show on British television.
And the simple reason behind that is because Pete has no relationship with his father - and hasnt seen him for years.
Speaking to Jamie Laing on his Private Parts podcast earlier this year, Pete said: I have nothing to do with him, dont speak to him at all.
My dads not a bad person - hes a good guy. We just dont have a relationship and thats the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. We dont have a relationship and thats that. Not much I can do about it.
Writing in his recently released autobiography, Never Enough, Pete, 36, revealed the pair were once close while growing in East London and Essex - and he would do anything to impress his dad.
He said: My main goal in my life was to make my dad proud. I played every sport in the book, and my dad loved that.
Hed always come and watch my matches and races, and hed tell me what I did well and also what I needed to improve on.
His criticisms werent particularly mean, but they made me want to do better. I was so keen to impress him.
In tough times, Petes mum Tracy turned to alcohol splitting from Petes dad - and Pete became a paper boy at 12 to help with their dire financial situation as he grew up in Essex
Pete has often spoken about his love for his mother, Tracy, and grandmother Doreen (pictured) who he says was his best friend - and compared her to the nan from Catherine Tate
Of his relationship with his father, Pete said: My dads not a bad person - hes a good guy. We just dont have a relationship and thats the way the cookie crumbles sometimes
When Petes dad Trevor (pictured with his wife) left the family home in East London after Tracys affair with one of his friends, initially father and son kept in contact and enjoyed a holiday in Egypt. But since then they have drifted apart and now have no relationship at all
Pete added: Hed say he was proud of me and that meant the absolute world.
However, the bond between them began to thaw after Trevor and his mum Tracy split up.
Pete was unaware their marriage had been on the rocks for some time and according to the Strictly star, Tracy was having an affair with an acquaintance called Tony, her current partner, at the time of the break up.
When Tonys marriage broke down, he moved in with Tracy and Pete, while Petes dad moved to his own place a 30-minute drive away.
Pete said: I just wanted my dad. I wanted to go and live with him instead, but he didnt want me. At least thats the way I saw it.
Pete says he rarely enjoyed visiting his dad on occasional weekends, saying it felt awkward and weird.
But during a scuba diving holiday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, when he was 13, they grew close again - but the trip, and that reengagement, was a one-off.
Trevor later moved to the Middle East and Pete says hes visited him just a couple of times and their relationship is now non-existent.
Indeed, his decision to move across the world and away from Pete hit him hard.
Opening up about his father during an appearance on E4 Celebs Go Dating, Pete said: My dad is a good man.
My mum and dad split up when I was younger - 11 or so - and Ive barely seen him since.
Still bitter over his choice to emigrate, Pete added: And I understand that things were difficult for him at the time but I wasnt enough for him to stay, was I?
However, despite drifting apart from his dad, Pete admits he still strives to impress him, but for different reasons now.
He explains in Never Enough: I still really want to impress my parents, especially my dad.
Its like when you break up with a partner, and you want to go to the gym and look good to show them what youre missing.
I think its the same thing when you become estranged from a parent.
It was a motivating force for me, deep down - like, Look at me now, Dad. Look how well Ive done without you.
Petes relationship with his mum, Tracy (pictured) by contrast, is incredibly strong, and the pair grew closer after his parents split - and she is cheering him on through Strictly
Pete often takes to Instagram to gently mock his beloved mother who is the number one woman in his life... this is mother and son at a Mexican restaurant
Petes relationship with his mum, by contrast, is incredibly strong, and the pair grew closer after his parents split.
He describes Tracy as his strongest woman and Petes become especially protective after he saved her life after she had a difficult time when he was just 12, following her marriage break-up
Pete admits his abandonment issues is a big reason why hes never settled down.
Speaking to the High Performance podcast, he explained: As soon as that kind of closeness develops, Im like, Right Im off then, its a case of leaving before someone leaves you.
Reflecting further, he mentioned: Again [abandonment issues], thats a really common thing, but youre basically self-sabotaging and this is the control freak part, at least Im in control of that.
Pete is currently a 50-1 outsider with the bookies to win the BBC1 dance contest.
Pete, 36, and his dance partner Jowita, 30, have fuelled rumours of a possible romance with their obvious on-screen chemistry and flirty comments towards one another
The dance pairing wowed viewers with their Samba performance to George of the Jungle
Hes formed a close bond with dance partner Jowita Pretzel, 30, so much so theyve sparked rumours the pair could actually be dating.
As well as family members, hes being cheered on by close friend Sam Thompson, 32. the Im A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! winner who co-hosts the Staying Relevant podcast with Pete.
Speaking about how proud he is of his best friends efforts on the dancefloor, Sam told OK!: Its been so exciting! I had no idea he could move so well — those hips.
Theres nothing I love more than embarrassing Pete, so getting to turn up in week one wearing a full Pete Wicks-themed outfit made it even more enjoyable.
Thats me every Saturday night for the foreseeable, cheering my best mate on.
