After he was linked to his Celebs Go Dating co-star Kerry Katona, the TOWIE star is all praise for her
The pair set tongues wagging earlier this month when they were spotted getting close at the launch of Celebs Go Dating, and now Pete Wicks has opened up to Closer about his feelings for his co-star Kerry Katona.
Pete, 30, says, "Kerry's absolutely amazing – we get on really well, we're good pals now. It's nice to meet people from different walks of life. She's so lovely and a great girl. I think she just needs a nice guy to treat her right. She deserves to find someone.”
But he’s quick to play down any rumours of a romance between them, admitting he’s not sure what sort of woman he should be dating.
"We're just friends!" laughs Pete. "I want to improve my dating game so I can find The One. I need to look outside the box and go for people that are different to what I've normally gone for."
CHECK OUT Kerry Katona's husbands and boyfriends - where are they now?
Kerry Katona's husbands and boyfriends - where are they now?
Kerry Katona and Brian McFadden
Kerry shot to fame in 1999, as 1/3 of pop band Atomic Kitten. It wasn't long before Kerry was swept into her first high-profile relationship – thanks to a well-timed tour with Irish crooners Westlife.During the tour, Kerry met Brian McFadden. Three months later he asked her to marry him.Shortly after he popped the question, Brian was quoted as saying: "Everything I plan, everything I do, revolves around Kerry. When I wake up in the morning, she's the first person I call."I've written a song about her called Fragile Heart. I write songs for Kerry every day, I get so much emotion thinking about her."It wasn't long before Kerry and Brian welcomed their first child: in August 2001, daughter Molly was born.
Kerry Katona and Brian McFadden
They married in the celebrity wedding of the year in 2002, surrounded by friends, family and a collection of the country's biggest celebrities.Just a year after becoming husband and wife, Kerry and Brian's second daughter, Lily-Sue, was born. But a lavish wedding and two babies weren't enough to keep them together.In 2004 they shocked fans with the announcement of their separation, and to say things didn't end amicably would be an understatement.
Kerry Katona and Brian McFadden
They've both since moved on and Brian admitted to The Irish Sun that his relationship with his ex-wife is the best it has ever been. He explained: "We don't speak about everyday stuff but we do work closely with anything to do with our kids, the same as most separated parents it's always about the kids."Our relationship is the best it has ever been. There are no fights or arguments, it's all good now. It's taken a long time to get there but I'm glad it's like that."
Brian McFadden now
After splitting with Kerry, Brian went on to date Delta Goodrem for seven years, before marrying Vogue Williams in 2011. It was to last though and years after their divorce, he has now moved on to PE teacher Danielle Parkinson.Things appear to be moving in the right direction because after Kerry Katona shared a photo of herself with Danielle, she then told OK! magazine that Brian's new girlfriend is "an absolute diamond".
Kerry Katona and Ziggy aka Zak Lichman
Back in 2007 it was reported that Kerry and Ziggy once dated. A source told Reveal magazine: "Zak loves partying and is a big character on the club scene, so they had a real laugh together. "It didn't last long because Kerry was definitely still on the rebound. She wanted to keep their relationship secret in case she got back together with Brian."However Kez has since denied it which is a shame because he's fit.
Ziggy aka Zak Lichman now
It's safe to say that long gone are his reality TV days and now Ziggy - who goes by his real name Zac Lichman - is a doorman at a fancy club in the West End.
Kerry Katona and Dan Corsi
Kerry dated Northern Line boyband member Dan Corsi however things didn't work out and they soon split.
Dan Corsi now
Following his days back in the 90s in the boyband Northern Line, Dan is now a DJ.
Kerry Katona and Dave Cunningham
Soon after Kerry was engaged again – this time to Dave Cunningham. However their happiness was short lived, and they split after having huge bust-up in Spain.It was reported at the time that Dave had been seeing his ex-girlfriend behind Kerry's back, leaving her heartbroken.A source told the People: "Because her private life has been made public before, she made a pact not to discuss the split. She is desperately trying to put on a brave face."It's bad enough dealing with a traumatic break-up under normal circumstances never mind dealing with it when you're Kerry Katona."Again it wasn't long before Kerry had found comfort in the arms of a new man.
Dave Cunningham now
Since their split Dave has been pretty M.I.A and despite their breakup it seemed that Kerry was still fond of him. She explained to Closer magazine how close he was to her daughters Molly and Lilly-Sue: "I don't know what Brian's doing from one day to the next - the girls hardly see him."They'd started to call Dave dad. He's so wonderful to the girls. He's been a dad to them and done so many amazing things because their dad isn't around."
Kerry Katona and Mark Croft
Kerry and taxi driver Mark Croft married on Valentine's Day 2007. But their marriage was a controversial one – during their time together, Kerry, who was once worth an estimated £6.8 million, was declared bankrupt.Mark and Kerry have two children together, daughter Heidi and son Maxwell.
Kerry Katona and Mark Croft
It was also during her marriage to Mark that Kerry made her infamous This Morning appearance, when her slurring and erratic behaviour sparked concern with host Phillip Schofield and with viewers.Later it was revealed that Kerry was battling a cocaine addiction, and she's since admitted that she'd go on 'three-day coke binges' with Mark.She said: "I hated my life. I'd lie in bed for three days in a row doing cocaine with Mark. We did coke in our en suite and had a lock on the door. The kids knew if the bathroom door was locked they mustn't come in."
Kerry Katona and Mark Croft
Kerry and Mark split in 2010, two years after she was declared bankrupt, and he later publicly admitted he 'bled her dry'.During an interview with the Daily Star, Kerry confessed she'd almost ended her life while married to Mark.But, she says having the names of her eldest daughters tattooed on her wrists stopped her, as it stopped her from self-harming."If I was ever to do that it would mean cutting through my kids' names. And what a selfish mother I would be to do that. Like any mother, my first love and priority are my children, above everything and everybody."
Kerry Katona and Mark Croft
Following her split from Mark, Kerry attempted to rebuild her media career and avoided high profile relationships for a few years.Kez has recently admitted that just days before she accepted Mark's proposal she begged ex-husband Brian McFadden to take her back. She's said the only reason she married her second husband was because he was her mum's drug dealer and she "thought she was going to get drugs for free."
Mark Croft now
Where is Mark Croft you ask? Well that's a pretty good question actually. Back in 2015 he was caught 'running a £50,000 cannabis farm' but since then he has fallen off the grid.
Kerry Katona and Steve Alce
It seemed things were great between Kerry and Steve Alce after she told Closer magazine: "'I've never felt such love from somebody in my life. Steve is so perfect and I cant believe how lucky I am."We had an amazing time in Dubai but, after two messy marriages, I'm not desperate to get hitched again."But I'd never say never - Steve recently moved in and I finally feel so happy. We get on so well."However a month later she broke up with him. A source told The Sunday People: "She has made her mind up and Steve's pretty gutted. She is a party girl and loves being outrageous whereas he is a gentlemen."Kerry was smitten at first, she loved that he wasn't interested in all the celebrity glitz and glamour."Since then Steve has continued with his career as an artist.
Kerry Katona and George Kay
But in 2013 she met ex-rugby player George Kay, and it wasn't long before she gave birth to their first daughter together, Dylan-Jorge.George proposed to Kerry at the top of the Blackpool Tower in April 2013, and the got married in September 2014.
Kerry Katona George Kay
However shortly before their nuptials, George was detained under the Mental Health Act after having a 'breakdown' outside their home.At the time neighbours said he was 'running in and out of cars' and screaming "Kerry, they're going to f--king kill me. They are hitting me with a hammer."
Kerry Katona George Kay
Just two months after the wedding, it was reported Kerry and George were already on the rocks, and he himself admitted to Closer that marriage to Kerry 'isn't what he thought it would be'.Their marriage was rocked once again in June, when George was hospitalised with 'signs of a stroke'.According to reports, George's behaviour became too much for Kerry to cope with and the couple briefly split.Soon after they seemed to be firmly back on track, with them renewing their wedding vows to 'save the relationship'.
Kerry Katona George Kay
Following a turbulent and alleged violent relationship, George and Kerry wasn't to last and in June 2017 the pair announced they'd split for the final time. Since then, Kerry has revealed she used to drink three BOTTLES of Cava a night during her marriage to George.
George Kay now
Months after serving Kerry Katona with divorce papers, George moved on and is now dating Miss Manchester pageant winner Fatime Gashi.George sadly passed away in July 2019 aged 39.
Kerry Katona and James Englgish
Just a few months after her bitter split with her third husband, Kerry moved on to stand up comedian James English. Things got slightly bizarre when he spoke out about their relationship in an interview and said he's "using her" for fame, before describing her as "f--ked up".Riiight.A few months after confirming their relationship, Kerry deleted all traces of James on Instagram and announced they'd split by writing a quote about single life.
James English now
The former Glow star has since launched his own podcast called Anything Goes.
Kerry Katona single
Following her not-so-good-luck with me, Kerry Katona started 2018 single and with an INCREDIBLE body. An insider told Closer magazinethat the mum-of-five is happy being single. They explained: "Kerry has always hopped from one relationship to the next, but something has changed and she's now comfortable without a man. "She doesn't want just anyone - she says she'd rather hold out for someone decent, who respects her and can take care of her and the kids. She's learned her lessons from the past."Go Kerry!
Kerry Katona and Ryan Mahoney
In July 2018, Kerry told her Instagram followers that she was "officially spoken for". Her hunky new beau was fitness instructor Ryan Mahoney. The good looking pair apparently met on dating app Bumble.
Ryan Mahoney
Ryan and Kerry split in October 2018 following a make-or-break holiday in Thailand. Kerry had posted a selfie of her and a fit looking Ryan days after ranting about "fat" Brian McFadden .
Mum-of-five Kerry, 38, has suffered three failed marriages and called it quits with toyboy Ryan Mahoney following a make-or-break holiday to Thailand in October.
While Pete has dated a string of celebrities including Jess Wright, Shelby Tribble and had an on/off relationship with his former TOWIE co-star Megan McKenna for 18 months. Last week he was snapped out with Love Island’s Georgia Steele and then with Vicky Pattison.
Pete – who stars on the latest series of the E4 show with Georgia, Chelsee Healey, David Potts, Sam Thompson and ex Megan – believes he and Kerry both need help in dating different people.
READ MORE celeb news
WATCH Jack Fincham, Chris Hughes and Joey Essex reveal their Christmas and New Year plans
He says, “We're all on there because we're not good at dating so the last thing we're going to do is take advice from each other! The problem a lot of us have had is that we're going for the wrong type of people. That's what we need help with, going for the right type of person, and sometimes you don't know who the right type of person is. Most of us doing to show have got checkered pasts.”
Megan and Pete had a notoriously explosive relationship that broke down last year, and although their fiery romance ended badly it looks like they're staying civil for the cameras.
Pete adds, “A lot has happened and a lot has gone on since me and Megan split, it's not a big deal we’re working together. It's obviously a bit unusual we're doing the dating show together, but she's a great girl and hopefully both of us will find someone on the show, you never know!"
Pete's clothing line, Hermano, is available at JD Sports stores and online.
Read even more about Kerry Katona in this week's Closer - out now.