Pete Wicks was left visibly shaken and in tears during his new show For Dogs’ Sake after a rescue pug named Murphy was diagnosed with cancer—triggering painful memories of his own health scare.
The former TOWIE star, 37, couldn’t hold back his emotions when a vet broke the news on camera. One of Murphy’s growths was found to be cancerous, and due to the dog’s age, chemotherapy wasn’t recommended. As the diagnosis was delivered, Pete had to step outside, overcome with emotion.
Reflecting on the moment, Pete shared that cancer had always been a sensitive topic for him. “It’s close to home,” he admitted, revealing he ignored a testicular lump for three months back in 2023 out of fear. The lump eventually turned out to be benign, but the wait was harrowing. “I didn’t even tell my mum,” he said, confessing that male pride kept him silent.
As he watched the dog navigate a cancer diagnosis with quiet dignity, Pete couldn’t help but be transported back to his own terrifying wait for results. “It brought up some painful memories,” he said. “At the time, I was seeing someone and became self-conscious. Then I thought, ‘What if it is cancer—what would that do to my mum?’”
Pete opened up about his emotional scars during the show, and fans quickly flooded social media with support. One viewer wrote: “So beautiful, I laughed and cried—please make more of this show with Pete!” Another added: “I haven’t felt this moved since Paul O’Grady passed. Pete Wicks was made for this.”
Despite the heartbreak, Pete found solace in knowing Murphy remained unaware of his condition and continued living his best life. “The only saving grace,” Pete said, “is that he doesn’t know. And that’s kind of beautiful.”
