TOWIE star Pete Wicks 'signs up for Strictly Come Dancing days after it emerged his close pal Zara McDermott was abused by her professional partner Graziano Di Prima'

The Only Way Is Essex star Pete Wicks has reportedly joined the new series of Strictly Come Dancing. The reality star and podcast host, 36, has signed up for the show just days after it emerged that his close pal Zara McDermott was physically and verbally abused by her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima last year. The Only Way Is Essex star Pete Wicks has reportedly signed up for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing The reality star has signed up for the show just days after it emerged that his close pal Zara McDermott was abused by her dance partner Graziano Di Prima A representative for the BBC told MailOnline that the lineup for Strictly Come Dancing will be announced 'in due course.' Pete is also best friends with Zara's boyfriend Sam Thompson, and the pair are co-hosts of the Staying Relevant podcast Graziano was sacked from Strictly after he was accused of kicking and spitting at former Love Island star Zara It comes after Nick Knowles reportedly joined the lineup for the new series of Strictly, as the show continues to battle a growing number of abuse and misconduct claims The DIY SOS star signed up after months of talks with show bosses, with sources claiming he's 'willing to give anything a crack' On Thursday, Mark Borkowski, a spokesperson for Graziano, told BBC News: 'There is never a time when kicking, or any sense of that is right. Strictly was plunged into further crisis on Wednesday after Amanda Abbington claimed Giovanni Pernice was trying to block the release of up to 50 hours of 'toxic' footage' During a new interview, the actress compared the dance show to 'the trenches' telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left 'horrified' by clips that also allegedly exhibited 'humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature'.