Sam Thompson's Panic Over Pete Wicks' Las Vegas Disappearance
Reality television personality Sam Thompson has disclosed that he genuinely believed his close friend and podcast co-host Pete Wicks had died after the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant vanished for a full day during their work trip to Las Vegas. The alarming incident occurred in 2025 when the duo traveled to the famous entertainment capital for their collaborative podcast duties.
A Friendship Forged on Reality TV
Thompson, aged 33, and Wicks, aged 37, originally met and formed their bond while appearing on the dating show Celebs Go Dating in 2018. Since that initial connection, their friendship has significantly deepened over the years. Wicks notably greeted Thompson on the iconic bridge when Thompson was crowned King of the Jungle during the 2023 series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. Together, they co-host the popular Staying Relevant podcast, which prompted their professional journey to Las Vegas.
The Vegas Trip That Sparked Concern
During a recent appearance on Alan Carr's Life's a Beach podcast, Pete Wicks recounted the details of their Las Vegas excursion. He expressed his fondness for the city, having visited multiple times previously, but humorously noted that traveling there with Thompson was an experience he would not repeat. Wicks explained that after several days of combined work and leisure activities, he felt the need for a personal day off.
"I had to have a day off so I went off radar for 24 hours but I didn't tell anyone, didn't answer the phone, nothing. They thought I'd died," Wicks revealed during the podcast interview. His complete communication blackout and sudden absence prompted immediate worry among Thompson and their entire podcast team. Wicks added, "Because no one had seen me they had to send a search party. Even carers have days off, and that's basically what it's like."
Humorous Aftermath and Dark Jokes
The situation, while initially causing genuine alarm, has since become a source of humorous anecdotes between the two friends. Wicks joked that after just fifteen minutes of his disappearance, Alan Carr appeared visibly frustrated with Thompson. He also quipped about their running joke that he will not survive past the age of forty.
Sam Thompson shared that their production team had even begun contemplating a potential Netflix documentary in the event of Wicks' demise. "Sam keeps saying that if I die he's going to release a documentary, which will be 'The Monster Inside: Pete Wicks,'" Wicks disclosed. Thompson elaborated on the morbid humor, stating, "When it got near the end of the day and we were all like, 'Oh, Pete might have passed away,' and we were like, 'Do you know what? There's no better way for Pete to pass than in Vegas'."
A Constant Friendship Through Life's Challenges
Beyond the comedic Vegas scare, Thompson has publicly praised Wicks for being a steadfast presence during a particularly tumultuous year. Thompson endured a highly publicized breakup with his ex-girlfriend Zara McDermott, completed an exhausting 260-mile run and cycle challenge for Soccer Aid that helped raise an impressive £2 million for charity, and headlined a major event at the O2 Arena with their podcast.
In a heartfelt conversation with The Mirror, Thompson reflected on the strength of their friendship. "We've both been through massive highs, massive lows and career changes. And personal life changes and stuff. Who you are as a person changes as you grow up," he said. "And the one constant that stays there every single time is the fact that we're best mates. And that we will always be there for each other."
Despite neither finding romantic success on the dating show where they met, Thompson credits Wicks with having a profoundly positive influence on his life. He emphasized the reliability of their bond, stating, "I don't know if many friendships get the luxury of meeting someone who you know will be there at any stage of your life. And if I called Pete and said, 'I'm in a really really bad way mentally', he'd be at my front door within seconds."
