Pete Wicks has been granted a brief break from his rigorous Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals for a special reason, according to his close pal Sam Thompson.

Speaking on Lorraine's Monday show, Sam, 32, discussed Pete's journey on the Strictly dance floor, highlighting that he's been a steadfast presence in the audience, supporting 36-year-old Pete each week.

Sam, famed for his Made In Chelsea tenure, is set to co-host the live red carpet at the Pride of Britain awards with Pete. This intrigued stand-in Lorraine host Christine Lampard as she asked: "You and Pete, so he is allowed time off from Strictly then?" to which Sam quipped: "Just about!" This prompted Christine to joke: "He is just about allowed to go and do something else!"

Reflecting upon his support for Pete, Sam expressed: "I think I have [been supportive]! You know what, he came to Australia [when Sam was on I'm A Celebrity] for a good month to be with me. That was the best, I couldn't believe he would do that for me, so I have to go to as many shows as I can", reports .

"He actually gave me a weekend off this past weekend, he said: 'You know what, mate, take it off!' and I was like: 'Thank you!' They are long shows!"

Speaking about Pete's experience in the competition, Sam disclosed: "He's loving it, he's adoring it! I don't think he expected to, to be fair," adding: "He adores it, it's the most beautiful thing to watch, I have to say as a best mate, I'm so proud of him as that is what the show's about. It is about someone who has never danced before."

In a groundbreaking moment for Strictly Come Dancing, Pete and his pro dance partner Jowita Przystal graced the BBC One show with a rumba routine to an Oasis track - marking the first time for such a performance on the show. The pair showcased their rumba to the iconic Don't Look Back In Anger along with several impressive lifts.

Critiquing the ambitious performance, judge Craig Revel Horwood deemed the lifts "totally illegal" within the context of competition, noting they could lead to a "disqualification". Nevertheless, he acknowledged Pete's effort put into the dance.

The weekend also saw former footballer Paul Merson bow out of the competition as the fourth celebrity to exit Strictly Come Dancing.

Despite having to hang up his dancing shoes this Sunday on the BBC show, Paul, 56, remained upbeat. He expressed a sense of triumph, stating that simply learning to dance felt like having "won" for him. Paul had faced JLS's JB Gill with his partner Amy Dowden in the tense dance-off scenario.

Lorraine continues on weekdays at 9am on both ITV and ITV X.