Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks first crossed paths in 2019 on Celebs Go Dating, thrown together as two very different personalities from rival reality worlds. Sam has described their connection as “instant and oddly effortless,” with the pair quickly realising their banter and chemistry worked just as well off camera as it did on screen.
While viewers initially saw them as an unlikely duo, producers and audiences rapidly picked up on the spark between them, helping to turn a one‑off TV meeting into a long-term partnership. Pete has even admitted that he originally “couldn’t stand” Sam, but that first impression vanished once he saw how genuine and self-deprecating Sam was.
Why Their Friendship Surprised Everyone
On paper, Sam Thompson and Pete could not be more different: Sam, the excitable Made in Chelsea super-fan of boy bands and Harry Potter, and Pete, the heavily tattooed TOWIE star with a grumpier, world-weary edge. This contrast is exactly what has fuelled public fascination, with their dynamic often described as a classic “odd couple” bromance that somehow just works.
Sam Thompson paints Pete as the grounded “dad” of the duo, while he sees himself as the chaotic one dancing through life, and fans have embraced that balance as both relatable and hilarious. Their authenticity never pretending to be smoother, cooler or kinder than they really are has helped their friendship feel more real than many manufactured reality TV pairings.
The Staying Relevant Era
Their chemistry soon turned into a brand when they launched the Staying Relevant podcast, a show built around their friendship, career ups and downs, and often brutally honest conversations. The podcast has passed tens of millions of downloads and grown into a wider franchise, including a Sunday Times bestselling book and live shows.
They have taken Staying Relevant on tour across the UK, even performing a sold-out show at London’s O2, proving that their bromance has serious pulling power beyond reality TV. Sam has spoken about wanting to turn the concept into a full-scale TV format, underlining that he sees his partnership with Pete as a long-term creative project, not just a passing podcast.
Sam’s “Transformative” Year and Pete’s Support
Sam Thompson has called the last year one of the most transformative of his life, leaning on Pete throughout major personal and professional changes. He navigated the end of a long-term relationship, opened up publicly about his autism spectrum diagnosis alongside previous ADHD and tic disorder diagnoses, and took on high-profile challenges like his Match Ball Mission charity project.
He also found himself in headline-making situations, including a viral moment where he accidentally called the King “mate,” a slip he later laughed off but admitted was nerve-racking. Through all of this, Sam says Pete was there for every “massive moment,” crediting him with emotional support that he “probably owes more than he can explain.”
The Truth Behind Their Bond
When Sam Thompson “reveals the truth” about his surprising friendship with Pete, the core message is that their connection is much deeper than a polished media double act. He describes Pete as someone whose advice, life experience and blunt honesty have become vital anchors in his life, even as they joke about draining each other’s energy like “dementors.”
Pete, in turn, has admitted that Sam Thompson has changed how he handles his own emotions, pulling him out of his instinct to retreat and deal with problems alone. The two have spoken openly about friendship anxiety, imbalances and jealousy, including Pete confessing to feeling a twinge of jealousy watching Sam bond with new people in the I’m A Celebrity jungle, but always return to the idea that they are strongest together.
Public Persona vs Private Reality
Publicly, the pair lean hard into comedy: roasting each other on air, exaggerating their arguments, and playing up the “chaotic married couple” energy that fans love. Privately, the picture Sam draws is of a friend who shows up in quieter ways, from late-night calls to grounding advice when Sam spirals into overthinking.
Their different emotional styles have become part of their story: Pete retreats when things get tough, while Sam phones everyone he knows for reassurance, especially Pete. That mismatch could easily cause friction, but instead it has become one of the foundations of their bond, as both men learn to meet in the middle.
Flaws, Banter and Gift “Crimes”
Sam Thompson is careful not to paint Pete as some unrealistically perfect best friend, often laughing about his flaws, particularly his terrible record with gifts. Sam Thompson has joked that Pete has “never bought him a present,” even after Sam marked his own I’m A Celebrity jungle success by gifting Pete an expensive bracelet.
Rather than resenting this, Sam turns it into part of their ongoing bit, saying he would be happy with something as simple as doing a TikTok together “like they used to.” That blend of teasing and affection is a recurring theme: they mock each other relentlessly, but the jokes only land because the underlying loyalty is so clear.
Career Highs and Individual Success
Individually, both have carved out significant careers that feed back into their shared story. Sam Thompson won I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2023, cementing his status as a mainstream TV favourite and putting his excitable personality in front of a much wider audience.
Pete has fronted his own shows, including dog-focused series and reality projects, building on his image as the gruff but secretly soft-hearted animal lover. Their separate projects give them new stories and perspectives to bring back into Staying Relevant, which Sam Thompson says keeps the partnership feeling fresh rather than suffocating
