A STRICTLY celebrity “collapsed” during tough training for the new series of Celeb SAS: Who Dares Wins – and had to be airlifted to safety.

The Channel 4 star – who will also be seen battling for Strictly’s Glitterball trophy on Saturday’s first live programme – “pushed himself way too far” in reality TV’s grittiest show.

A Strictly star 'collapsed' during training for Celeb SAS: Who Dares Wins
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A Strictly star ‘collapsed’ during training for Celeb SAS: Who Dares WinsCredit: PA

Pete Wicks was airlifted to hospital after 'pushing himself too hard'
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Pete Wicks was airlifted to hospital after ‘pushing himself too hard’Credit: Pete Dadds / Channel 4

Fans will see Pete compete in Strictly's first live show today

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Fans will see Pete compete in Strictly’s first live show todayCredit: PA

He is paired with Jowita Przystal
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He is paired with Jowita PrzystalCredit: bbc
Pete Wicks, 36, was forced to quit Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins back in 2022 when he fell unconscious after he jumped from a helicopter.

Now it appears disaster very nearly struck twice.

The Essex lad and former TOWIE star, who recorded his latest series of Celeb SAS months before his current Strictly Come Dancing stint was the subject of huge sympathy from his SAS co-stars for the painful mishap.

Rachel Johnson, who is part of the new Celeb SAS cast line up, told Metro: “Pete Wicks was medevacked off the mountain.

“He collapsed.”

Geordie Simpson’s Marnie Simpson who is also taking on the physcial feat, added: “I felt bad for Pete because coming back the second time, there was so much pressure on him to do even better than the first time, so he pushed himself way too far.”

Recently, Pete was seen bending down in pain as he revealed a current injury.

It came as he prepared to train with professional partner Jowita Przystal.

In video with best pal Sam Thompson he said: “I’ve done me groin!”

Bouncing back from his temporary injury, the couple then continued with their typical jokes and teasing.

Pete Wicks spotted ‘cosying up’ to Strictly pro at NTAs ahead of show launch
Sam joked: “You don’t look much like your Strictly picture”.

“Yeah it’s from five years ago, it’s from the calendar years,” joked Pete.

Previously, on his and Sam’s Staying Relevant podcast, Pete said: “I’m 36, I haven’t been to the gym in ages.

“My ribs are still broken, which is going to be a pain.”

Strictly 2024 pairings

Here’s who is matched with who this series…

Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas
JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe
Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec
Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova
Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones
Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones

Meanwhile, Strictly fans recently branded Pete as “fake” – and suspected he was pulling a “power move.”

It came after Pete and Jowita had their knuckles rapped for breaking a rehearsal room rule.

Pete took to social media to explain that he and Jowita had been ‘told off’ for not posting anything on social media together while rehearsing.

Pete shared: “Right, so, we’ve been told off. We’ve been told off because we haven’t done any social media together from rehearsals.

 

“So today we’re going to do a Q&A. So you can ask Jowita and I anything, and we’re going to answer your questions in our little breaks.

“There aren’t many breaks, to be honest with you, but we will answer any questions. So you can ask us anything.”

Pete was forced to quit Celeb SAS in 2022
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Pete was forced to quit Celeb SAS in 2022Credit: Pete Dadds / Channel 4

It came after fans branded Pete 'fake' for hiding his true dance skills
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It came after fans branded Pete ‘fake’ for hiding his true dance skillsCredit: PA

Pete and Jowita broke a training room rule recently
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Pete and Jowita broke a training room rule recentlyCredit: Simon Jones