Pete Wicks Recounts the Fateful Night That Changed His Life in New Memoir
At the tender age of twelve, Pete Wicks faced a night that would shape his future in profound ways. In his newly released memoir, “Never Enough,” the “Strictly Come Dancing” star shares the heart-wrenching tale of finding his mother, Tracy, in a life-threatening state one evening in their kitchen.
The event unfolded swiftly when young Pete, sensing something was amiss, discovered his mother after she had attempted to take her own life. The urgency of the moment saw him reaching out to his grandmother Doreen before he frantically dialed for an ambulance, desperate to save his mother. He remembers the terrifying moment vividly, recounting, “Before that, she had seemed almost possessed; it was like my mum had gone and someone (or something) else had taken over her body.”
As he approached his mother, the severity of the situation became heartbreakingly clear. “But when I came over to her, it’s like she woke up. She looked up at me with eyes full of tears,” Pete recalls. Tracy’s repeated apologies echoed in the room as Pete tried to console her, telling her it was okay, despite his own panic.
This life-altering night is detailed in Pete’s memoir, where he reflects on the lasting impact such a traumatic experience has had on him. This event turned him into a fiercely protective son, as he describes his mother as “the strongest woman I know and my hero.”
Raised in Harlow, Essex, by his mother Tracy and grandmother Doreen following his parents’ separation, Pete also explores his feelings of guilt and self-blame from that night. He admits, “I didn’t say it, but I believed it was my fault… If it was anyone’s fault, it was mine.”
Despite the harrowing experience, Tracy recovered swiftly, left the hospital, and reassured her son that such an incident would never recur, describing it as a “moment of madness.” Pete’s memoir not only recounts the events of that fateful night but also delves into the profound emotional aftermath and growth that followed, offering a raw and intimate glimpse into the challenges and resilience of his family life.