Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks has paid tribute to his pro partner Jowita Przystał after they were eliminated in the latest vote.
The TOWIE star didn't make it to the final after a dance-off with Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec. Following their exit, Pete took to Instagram to thank Jowita for her support on his Strictly journey, saying their friendship will continue outside of the ballroom.
"This experience wouldn't have been anything without Jowita," Pete wrote in the caption.
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"She believed in me since the first day and never stopped. She supported me, listened to me, made me laugh and cry but most of all she made me believe in myself when I didn't think I could do it.
"We did everything our way, and for me that was the right way."
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Pete then told Jowita she would always "have a friend" in him.
"You have become such a special person in my life, and just because that won't continue on a ballroom floor doesn't mean it won't continue," he wrote. "Unfortunately for you, you've gained a friend for life. You will always be my dancing gnome."
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Speaking about his elimination against Tasha, Pete also gave the Love Island star a sweet shout-out, saying she deserved to be in the final.
"I couldn't be happier with the way it ended. There is no one I would have rather been in a dance-off with than Tasha," he wrote. "She is the most beautiful dancer, the most beautiful person inside and out, and I'm so proud of her for making the final because she deserves it so much."
Alongside Tasha and Aljaž, this year's final will also see JB Gill and Lauren Oakley, Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell, and Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola in for a chance to lift the Glitterball Trophy.
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
