Pete Wicks has revealed why he thinks ITV made the decision to send him out to greet I’m A Celebrity’s Sam Thompson when he leaves the final.

The former TOWIE star, 35, replaced Sam’s, 31, girlfriend Zara McDermott, 26, to go to Australia as she was in Strictly Come Dancing while they had to decide – before she got the boot.

In Pete’s words, despite Zara getting voted off the show quicker than they all thought, the reality star said it was ‘first come, first serve’ so he wasn’t giving up his ticket to down under.

But speaking to HELLO! magazine, Pete revealed another surprising revelation which could explain why he was the chosen one, instead of Zara.

He said: ‘To be honest, I think ITV are sending me out there to protect Ant and Dec for when he comes out, because his obsession is real.

Pete Wicks, 35, has revealed why he thinks ITV made the decision to send him out to greet I’m A Celebrity’s Sam Thompson, 31, when he leaves the final

The former TOWIE star, 35, replaced Sam’s, 31, girlfriend Zara McDermott to go to Australia as she was in Strictly Come Dancing while they had to decide – before she got the boot

‘I think it’s the main reason he’s done the show to be honest with you, just to get close to them, so I think I’m out there for protection.

‘Zara could have gone but we obviously thought Zara was still going to be in Strictly. Obviously now she could have gone, but I won’t give up my place. Listen, first come, first served.’

Last month Zara confirmed the news that Sam took Pete with him to Australia for I’m A Celeb despite her being available after getting the boot from Strictly.

The influencer told Fleur East on the Hits Radio Breakfast Show: ‘When I left Strictly I was like “Shall I pack my case?” and he went “Oh no it’s already been arranged Pete is coming”.’

She continued: ‘When I suggested maybe Pete and I could both go, he said, “No, just Pete!” Maybe I can get Pete to take a cardboard cut-out of me … But you know what it’s fine, absolutely fine.

‘I’ve got all the time in the world to live with him and see him. If he wants Pete at the end of that bridge I respect and appreciate that – also I can’t wait to see that hug!’

Zara was the first former Love Island star to compete on Strictly Come Dancing, and she was eliminated in week six.

Zara and Sam began dating in 2019 and broke up in 2020 when Zara admitted to cheating on him, their viral, teary confrontation captured on Made In Chelsea.

In Pete’s words, despite Zara, 26, getting voted off the show quicker than they all thought, the reality star said it was ‘first come, first serve’ so he wasn’t giving up his ticket to down under

But speaking to HELLO! magazine, Pete revealed another surprising revelation which could explain why he was the chosen one, instead of Zara

He said: ‘To be honest, I think ITV are sending me out there to protect Ant and Dec for when he comes out, because his obsession is real’

He added: ‘I think it’s the main reason he’s done the show to be honest with you, just to get close to them, so I think I’m out there for protection’

Zara was the first former Love Island star to compete on Strictly Come Dancing, and she was eliminated in week six

The two reconciled in October of that year and have remained together since.

Zara recently shared that she is ‘so proud’ of ADHD suffer Sam Thompson for his ‘personal growth’ in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

She said ‘there are so many beautiful things that come along with ADHD’ (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) as she opened up on his time in the jungle.

Speaking on This Morning with hosts Rylan Clark and Emma Willis alongside Dr Nighat on Thursday, Zara reflected on the Made In Chelsea star’s time in camp.

She said: ‘I’m just excited every single day to sit down and watch I’m A Celeb in the evenings. It’s just the absolute highlight of my day.

‘I think he has grown a lot since celebrity Big Brother you know, he is now 31 and he has come just such a long way in his personal growth and I think seeing him open up about his ADHD has made just everyone so proud.

‘I think it’s such a difficult thing to talk openly about because there are so many personal struggles alongside ADHD and a lot of self-confusion but there are so many beautiful things that comes alongside ADHD and I think we’ve seen that in the jungle.

‘There is a lot of stigma around any kind of neurodivergents, it’s really tough to speak about because in some ways it’s this feeling of abnormalities like “why am I not like other people”, but really it’s such a beautiful thing as well.’