Reality television personality Pete Wicks has confirmed he will be spending the festive period in solitary fashion once again this year, choosing to turn down invitations to celebrate with his closest friends and family.
A Festive Season of Hibernation
The 37-year-old former star of The Only Way Is Essex has made no secret of his disdain for Christmas, stating he would prefer to "hibernate" from 1 December until 1 January if he could. This marks another year in a longstanding tradition for Wicks, who has spent multiple Christmases by himself.
Despite receiving heartfelt invitations from his best friend, Sam Thompson, and even Sam's mother, Wicks has politely declined. "Every year, he invites me to his, and his mum invites me, too," Pete told heat magazine. "They think I'm Tiny Tim, like a little orphan. What they don't realise is that I choose to spend Christmas on my own."
Plans for a Quiet Christmas with Eric
Wicks plans to see the day through with the company of his beloved rescue dog, Eric. His festive menu is likely to be far from traditional. "I imagine I'll sit on my own with Eric and have a Pot Noodle," he revealed. However, he is considering a change of scenery this year, hinting he "might go away for Christmas" after what he described as a "heavy year."
His aversion to the season was recently tested while filming a Christmas special for his dog-focused series, For Dogs' Sake. The episode, which airs on Monday, required him to wear festive knitwear during an August heatwave. "Wearing Christmas jumpers in August was a struggle," he admitted. "30C heat in cheap knitwear is not a good way forward. I despise Christmas – I think everyone knows that – but I love dogs."
Looking Ahead to 2026
As the new year approaches, Pete Wicks is setting his sights on personal and professional goals. While sceptical of New Year's resolutions, he confessed to having some habits he wishes to break. "I've got some bad habits I need to break – like smoking," he said. "I would like to try to knock that on the head – but I say that every year, and it hasn't worked so far."
Professionally, his main priorities are clear. He is eager to secure another series of For Dogs' Sake and to develop more projects with his Staying Relevant podcast co-host, Sam Thompson. "Sam and I have got some very exciting things happening, too," Wicks teased. "We may go back on tour." Above all, he expressed a desire to find more time for himself in the coming year.
