Pete Wicks reveals he’s facing worrying surgery after best pal spots worsening health condition
PETE Wicks has revealed he may need to undergo surgery after his best pal spotted his health condition returning.
The TOWIE alum, 37, spoke candidly about issues with his eye and vision, and revealed they started as a kid.
Pete, who admitted his mum affectionately called him Pirate Pete when he was a kid due to his need to wear an eye patch, addressed upcoming appointments on his Staying Relevant podcast.
He told co-host Sam Thompson, 32, in the latest episode: “I may have to go back to having an eye patch.
“I’m going to tell the truth here.
“I used to be called Pirate Pete, it’s a weird nickname, but actually it was my mum that first called me that when I was a kid because I had a lazy eye when I used to get tired.”
As Made In Chelsea alum Sam could be heard giggling in the background, Pete asked: “Why are we laughing at my affliction?
“So I had this eye patch to try to correct it, which it did, so that was great.”
Yet he added: “The bad eye is coming back as I’m getting older, it’s going for a walk.”
Sam then asked: “So what are you going to do?” which prompted Pete to reply: “I have to go and see an eye specialist to see whether or not we can re-train it or whether I am going to have some kind of surgery.”
Sam, clearly misunderstanding the diagnosis, squealed: “They are going to get rid of the eyeball!”
Pete then clarified: “I’m not going to have it removed.”
He then admitted close pal and Love Island alum Liv Attwood had played her part and said: “I’ve started noticing, it was Liv that f***ing noticed it.
“It was Liv that mentioned it then.”
As Pete admitted it was getting worse, Sam conceded: “It is getting quite bad.”
Pete Wicks - reality TV history
PETE Wicks has starred on a variety of reality TV shows in the past - here's a few examples of his screen time
- TOWIE: Pete joined TOWIE in 2015 for his most memorable reality TV role
- Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls: Pete starred on the endurance show in 2018
- Celebs Go Dating: He attempted to find love on the E4 series in 2019
- Celebrity MasterChef: In 2020 he was a contestant on the BBC foodie series
- Tipping Point: Lucky Stars and Celeb SAS: Who Dares Wins: 2022 was a busy year for Pete, when he clocked up these two reality TV shows
- The Real Full Monty: He whipped his kit off for the charity series in 2023
- Strictly: Pete was a fan-favourite on the show back in 2024
Pete then added: “Well great, I’m glad I don’t feel conscious about it.”
He then confirmed his eye appointment would be in a “couple of weeks.”
Back in 2016, Pete suffered a nasty eye injury during filming for TOWIE.
A year later, he was then seen stepping out sporting a black eye.
He was also previously forced to clarify his eye colour with a childhood snap – after his peepers appeared a different colour entirely on his passport photo.
SHOW TEASE
Yet Pete got his own back on Sam for the ribbing about his eye when talk turned to the E4 star’s love life.
Pete called out his pal for being “defensive” about his date to Liv’s birthday party.
It came after Samie Elishi and Sam confirmed they were dating when they shared a steamy kiss.
They were also seen cosying up in their first photo together before they were spotted holding hands in a sweet PDA.
The Sun was first to report how I’m a Celeb winner Sam was moving on from his ex Zara McDermott, 28, after growing close to Samie.
Pete said: “Now you’ve got a date for the night,” which prompted Sam to clap back: “I don’t have a f**king date for the night.”
TOWIE star Pete then interjected: “Me,” as Sam, clearly still on the back foot, said: “Right.”
Pete, then pressing the issue, quizzed: “Who did you think I meant?” to which Sam said: “No one.”
Pete, who had discussed how he organised Liv’s event, then probed: “Why so defensive then? I was just talking about me.”