Ex TOWIE star Pete Wicks has opened up about a little-known health condition he’s endured since he was a child.
Pete, 36, caught the eye of many a Strictly Come Dancing fan last year as he smouldered his way through the BBC One dance series.
But now the Celebs Go Dating veteran has revealed he has had eye problems himself – and may need to undergo an op.
Pete Wicks health news
Speaking on the Staying Relevant podcast, Pete confessed he may also need to make use of an eye patch in the future.
That’s because Pete apparently lived with a ‘lazy eye’ when he was younger. And his mum gave him the nickname ‘Pirate Pete’ back in the day when he wore the covering over his eye previously.
The patch helped Pete when he was a child. But, he shared, it has started to “go for a walk” as he ages – and led to Pete seeking medical advice about how best to sort the matter.
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‘Bullied at school’
Pete explained: “I may have to go back to having an eye patch. I used to be called ‘Pirate Pete’ because I looked like I’d washed up on a desert island. But actually it was my mum who first called me that when I was a kid because I had a lazy eye.
“When I used to get tired or whatever… I had an eye patch to try and correct it, and it did. I spent about six months [wearing it].”
Pete also claimed he was teased at school over his look. However, he reckons he would “punch the [blank] out of them” for mocking him.
I have to go and see an eye specialist.
Pete went on: “But the bad eye is coming back. As I’m getting older, it’s starting to go for a little walk now and then. So, I have to go and see an eye specialist about whether or not we can retrain it, or if I’m going to have to have some sort of surgery.”
‘Not going to be great is it?’
Pete continued by noting he has an appointment for his eye to be examined in upcoming weeks.
However, it seems he is dreading to going back to having a patch over the eye causing him an issue.
“If I have get the eye patch again, it’s not going to be great is it?” Pete pondered.
He added: “I almost want to say skip the eye patch and go straight for the surgery.”
Meanwhile, podcast co-host Sam Thompson didn’t seem particularly sympathetic to Pete’s plight.
He bantered away: “I think we’ve all noticed the lazy eye mate, to be honest. You can see around corners.”
Read more: Pete Wicks ‘lands second series’ of For Dogs’ Sake: ‘A worthy successor to Paul O’Grady’
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