STRICTLY Come Dancing fans have been left wiping away their tears after Pete Wicks struggled not to cry following his moving performance.
The Towie star, 36, was overcome with emotion when performing a contemporary dance in tribute to his late-nan Doreen.
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Pete and his professional partner Jowita Przystal had danced their Couples’ Choice to Tina Turner’s hit Simply The Best, which was Doreen’s favourite song.
But as Pete desperately tried not to break down after their dance had come to an end, fans found themselves sobbing.
One wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “No one will be surprised to know I’m in absolute bits watching Pete Wicks and Jowita. His vulnerability. Crying. Again.”
Another added: “Pete almost crying is destroying me, what a beautiful beautiful tribute for his nan.”
A third said: “Pete holding back his tears has got me crying… he did fantastic his nanna would be proud.”
And someone else admitted: “I’m sobbing at pete and jowita- that was beautiful.”
Once Pete and Jowita had finished their performance, Strictly host Tess Daly told him: “Thank you, Pete. Beautiful. There was so much emotion in that dance.
With his lip wobbling, he replied: “Yeah, it was a tough, tough week.”
Pete continued to struggle once he and Jowita were in the Clauditorium speaking to Claudia Winkleman.
He said: “It’s been a tough week but, um, the one person I wish was here was my nan and she’s not. So that was my way of her being here.”
Claudia reached out to touch Pete’s arm and told him: “I’m so sorry.”
Jowita then told Claudia how she and their choreographer had worked hard to ensure their dance was “special”.
“As much as it meant to Pete, it meant to me as well,” she admitted.
“I think everyone has lost somebody they loved in their life and I wish, I wish I could meet your grandma.
“But I met her through all the stories we shared with you and your mum and we hope that we made Tracy very proud.”
The pair received a total score of 36, with head judge Shirley Ballas awarding them a top score of 10.
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Shirley had previously told Pete how moved she had been by their dance and he looked on the brink as she held up her 10 paddle.
Pete’s nan died in 2022. She had helped raise the star alongside his mother Tracy, who had divorced from Pete’s dad when he was a child.
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