For years they were relegated to making TikTok videos and small reality TV stints… but now older and wiser, Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks are ready to take on a more serious role – and have some very strong words for anyone who doubts them.
The best friends have grown a new fanbase with their social media videos and hit podcast Staying Relevant.
But OG fans will know them best from Made In Chelsea, The Only Way Is Essex, and Celebs Go Dating, where their friendship first blossomed when – as Sam describes – they ‘locked eyes across the room and attached ourselves to each other.’
While neither of them managed to find love on the 2019 series, they left with a strong bromance that has lasted longer than most of the E4’s shows relationships.
Now, they are fast becoming the UK’s next iconic double act and have revealed their plans to ‘crack America’.
During an exclusive interview with , Sam said: ‘We’re going to crack America!’
Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks have revealed their plans to crack America following their recent podcast success
Sam and Pete are currently on the road to bring their podcast, Staying Relevant, to life and the pair will be travelling in style as they splashed out £20,000 on a tour bus
Pete added: ‘I don’t know why he thinks that we’re going to crack America. Sam has been to America, we were out there working together and then Sam stayed for an extra week in order to raise his profile.’
A confident Sam, who was crowned King Of The Jungle during I’m A Celebrity 2023, added: ‘I feel like we’re in a place now where we could be the next James Corden.’
Pete added: ‘Well I don’t really want to be James Corden because not many people like him.’
Sam and Pete are currently on the road to bring their podcast, Staying Relevant, to life and have promised to recreate the banter and chaos their fans are used to.
Staying Relevant was launched by Sam and Pete in 2022. It has recently celebrated over 5 million downloads and has hit (and held) the coveted No.#1 Comedy chart spot on numerous occasions.
Fans will get a chance to see them in cities across the UK including London, Birmingham, Dublin, Plymouth, Manchester, Cardiff, Newcastle and Glasgow.
And the pair will be travelling in style as they splashed out £20,000 on a tour bus, which has been wrapped with their Staying Relevant logo.
Speaking from the bus, the duo explained they each have one rule to follow while travelling on it. Sam is banned from sh***ing on the bus, while Pete isn’t allowed to bring any females onboard.
A confident Sam, who was crowned King Of The Jungle during I’m A Celebrity 2023, added: ‘I feel like we’re in a place now where we could be the next James Corden.’
Despite being kept busy with their podcast, Sam and Pete can also be found covering huge red carpets such as the NTAs and BRITs. The pair have now hit back at people who have criticised reality stars for taking Journalist’s jobs
Sam and Pete are currently on the road to bring their podcast, Staying Relevant, to life and have promised to recreate the banter and chaos their fans are used t.
Pete has regularly discussed the stresses and excitement of taking the podcast to the live stage on the show.
He has kept his fans regularly updated with his important meetings, taxing decisions and lengthy business plans – which he documents all by hand in a notebook.
Despite being kept busy with their podcast, Sam and Pete can also be found covering huge red carpets such as the NTAs and BRITs.
The pair have now hit back at people who have criticised reality stars for taking Journalist’s jobs.
Pete said: ‘The thing for me is, I don’t give a f**k what anyone has to say really. I think it’s a shame because it’s just a bit of a bitter attitude.’
‘We’ve done a couple now, and if we were that bad we wouldn’t keep getting booked for it.’
Sam added: ‘You aren’t going to say no to an opportunity, and you are always going to have people who aren’t the biggest fans. And I know people have journalism degrees and people like me and Pete don’t, but I’m not going to say no because I don’t have that degree.’
Pete continued: ‘If people spent more time focusing on themselves and not on other people then they might get the work.’
And their joint work life doesn’t end there, as they often film Instagram ads together, and are often joined by Sam’s girlfriend Zara McDermott.
They have become known online for playing pranks and filming dances, with Pete’s intolerance for Sam’s joyful personality sending viewers into hysterics.
Speaking on why they still work so well together, despite their very different personalities, Pete explained: ‘We were reaching the end of our life together as a duo, until Sam went in the jungle and I thought I can get another year out of this.
Since his jungle success in , Sam ahs become a regular fixture on popular ITV show This Morning. Despite the programme coming under fire following Phillip Schofield’s affair scandal, Sam is thrilled to be part of the ‘family’
They have become known online for playing pranks and filming dances, with Pete’s intolerance for Sam’s joyful personality sending viewers into hysterics
‘So that’s kind of where we’re at now. Sam being the most relevant man in the country is kind of giving me a new lease of life. As soon as that wears off I’m gonna f**k off.’
Since his jungle success in , Sam ahs become a regular fixture on popular ITV show This Morning.
Despite the programme coming under fire following Phillip Schofield’s affair scandal, Sam is thrilled to be part of the ‘family’.
He said: ‘I adore it, I love daytime TV, I never thought I would be lucky enough to get into it. It’s like a family. I understand I got it because of I’m A Celeb, but all I can do is earn peoples trust and hopefully succeed and do as well as I can.’
Pete cheekily added: ‘Sam has plunged This Morning into chaos on many occasions.’
Sam & Pete are on tour nationwide throughout April for Staying Relevant Live