Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks have candidly discussed the significant challenges they faced in overcoming the 'stigma' associated with their reality television backgrounds before achieving remarkable success as podcast hosts and entrepreneurs. The duo, who first became close friends after meeting on Celebs Go Dating in 2017, initially rose to fame on separate shows—Sam on Made In Chelsea and Pete on The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE).
From Reality TV to Podcasting Powerhouse
In 2022, seeking to spend more quality time together, they launched their podcast, Staying Relevant. This venture has since evolved far beyond a simple audio show. The pair have established their own company, Staying Relevant Productions, which marked a major milestone with a completely sold-out evening at London's prestigious O2 Arena in September 2024.
The Documentary: Road to the O2
The dramatic journey leading up to that landmark event is chronicled in a new documentary titled Road to the O2, set for release on Monday. The film provides an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at how Sam, 33, and Pete, 37, orchestrated the complex event, navigating various struggles and logistical hurdles along the way.
While their initial fame from reality TV provided a platform and an existing fanbase to launch their podcast, both men have now openly shared that this very past severely impacted their professional credibility within the entertainment industry. They described encountering numerous closed doors and scepticism from established industry figures.
Breaking Down Barriers and Building a Business
Speaking at a London screening for their documentary last week, Sam Thompson reflected on the paradoxical nature of their experience. "It's a weird thing, isn't it?" he said. "You do reality TV, the industry appears in front of your face with all these doors, you try to walk through them and they're very firmly shut. It's a double-edged sword."
Pete Wicks elaborated on the preconceptions they faced. "When you have a reality TV background, you're seen to be the ones that get produced," he explained. "People thought we would fail. We just thought, 'we'll do it ourselves.' It's about having belief." He emphasised their desire to move beyond being just on-screen personalities and learn the craft behind the camera, an opportunity often denied to those from a reality TV lineage.
This resistance, they revealed, was the primary catalyst for them to forge their own path by going into business together. Their independent venture, launched in 2024, was met with doubt, but has since proven its viability and creativity.
A Partnership Forged in Difference
Despite the success of their O2 show, both admit the intense work has aged them. However, they credit their starkly different personalities as the cornerstone of their effective partnership. Sam described their dynamic as essential. "I think when you work this close to somebody, you have to be brothers," he said, noting they are in each other's pockets almost daily.
He portrays himself as the big dreamer, with Pete as the pragmatic executor. "I'm already there in my head... and Pete will then actually find a way," Sam shared. "It's a beautiful thing to have a partner who will make what I've dreamt up a reality."
Pete echoed this sentiment, defining their roles clearly. "Sam is one of the best in the country at making content and marketing. I'm the donkey in the background that works out logistically how we're going to get there," he said, praising Sam's ambition for driving their achievements in their first 18 months of business.
Looking to the Future
As fans prepare to watch the documentary detailing their O2 triumph, Sam and Pete have hinted that an even bigger project is on the horizon for later this year. Their story stands as a testament to perseverance, self-belief, and the power of an unlikely friendship transforming professional stigma into resounding success.
Road to the O2 will be released on Monday at 8pm on the Staying Relevant YouTube channel.
