Jowita Przystal dodges Lorraine Kelly as Pete Wicks kisses dominate chat ahead of Strictly live shows

Strictly Come Dancing professional Jowita Przystal found herself dodging a direct personal question from Lorraine Kelly on Monday, as the week’s romance chatter surrounding Pete Wicks continued to swirl. Przystal sat with presenter Ross King on Lorraine’s sofa to discuss her newly announced pairing for the BBC ballroom contest, a partnership revealed during the weekend’s launch show. But the interview quickly returned to the headlines that erupted from a live moment the night before: a reunion with former celebrity partner Pete Wicks during a special live edition of the Staying Relevant podcast at the O2 Arena.

Pete and Wicks, who has long featured as a close friend of Przystal’s, performed a dance that was originally planned for last year’s Strictly final. The routine, staged for raucous cheers from the crowd, included not one but three cheeky kisses between the two, a moment that sparked fervent speculation among fans about a real-life romance between the pair. The moment added a new layer to the weekend’s show, which had already generated buzz for introducing Przystal’s return to the competition with a new celebrity partner.

By Sunday night, however, another strand of the story complicated the narrative: Pete was later photographed sharing a kiss with a mystery woman at The Maine Mayfair in London. The following morning, Lorraine pressed Przystal about whether she had seen Pete over the weekend, given the public rekindling of interest in their on-stage moment. The presenter offered a warm compliment about Pete, but Przystal chose to steer the conversation back toward the competition and her current role.

“I love Pete Wicks, he’s an angel,” Lorraine began, prompting Przystal to reply with a polite nod and a smile. “But last year, you took someone who really couldn’t dance and you made him look good! He got so far in the competition. I know you saw him at the weekend! And you know what, you did really well with him, you really did.”

Przystal shifted the focus to her own partnership, emphasizing the work behind the performances. “Aww, thank you!” she said. “It’s the hard work, and I think the commitment you put in, that’s all that matters. The celebrities come from all different backgrounds and they all have different abilities. That’s okay, but the beauty of that show is to take someone who has no idea and no clue how to dance, and then to go out and perform. It’s quite overwhelming, but also beautiful. To see the smile after each dance we do, to see the smile on the face, it makes me feel like I’m in the right place at the right time, and I’m doing the best job ever.”

On Monday, the dialogue moved back to the here and now. Przystal and Ross King discussed their new pairing for the BBC ballroom contest, with the duo confirming a performance to Katy Perry’s California Gurls as the live shows approach. “I’m loving every single minute of it, I really am,” Ross said of their rehearsals, underscoring the excitement surrounding the season’s restart.

The live shows, scheduled to begin this Saturday, mark Przystal’s first appearance with her new celebrity partner on the Strictly stage. The launch episode that introduced their pairing provided a fresh lens on how the dancer adapts to a new partner’s style while maintaining the high-energy performances fans expect. The dynamic between Przystal and her partner will be under scrutiny as judges and audiences gauge how quickly they can build rapport on the dance floor.

As part of the broader Strictly conversation, bookmakers published odds for the Glitterball Trophy. Ross and Jowita’s duo sat well back in the field, with odds around 66/1 to win. Former rugby star Chris Robshaw followed at 50/1, and ex-footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink stood at 33/1. At the top end of the market, Lewis Cope, who many Emmerdale fans know as Nicky Miligan, led the pack at 5/2. Former Love Island participant Dani Dyer and model Ellie Goldstein shared the joint-second spot at 9/2, reflecting the mix of rising and established personalities in the competition’s lineup.

The program’s presenters and participants alike have stressed the fun and challenge of the new pairing. The weekend launch had already given audiences a sense of the show’s evolving cast dynamics, with Przystal’s comments underscoring her commitment to guiding a partner through the process of learning to dance from a non-dancer background. The show continues to emphasize that the journey is as much about personal growth and teamwork as it is about competition, a theme that resonates with fans who tune in week after week for performances that can be both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX, a detail that helps fans follow the ongoing developments as they unfold during the season. The mix of live performances, on-stage pairings, and off-script moments has kept the culture and entertainment beat lively through the early days of the new Strictly cycle, with Przystal’s evolving role at the center of the conversations surrounding celebrity partners, romantic rumors, and the ever-present pressure of competition on the ballroom stage.