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24th November 2023
05:19pm GMT
Sam Thompson's best friend, Pete Wicks, has asked viewers of 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!' to 'embrace' Sam's excitable personality.
The 'Made In Chelsea' star made his jungle debut on Sunday and has been a positive and cheerful force within the camp.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Pete defended comments by spectators that labelled Sam as 'annoying' and 'attention seeking' and asked viewers to try and enjoy his postive persona.
The former 'TOWIE' star added that it has only been a number of months since his 'Staying Relevant' co-host was diagnosed with ADHD and autism.
Sam underwent a series of tests in his Channel 4 documentary 'Is This ADHD?' before confirming the diagnosis, something which was a 'weight lifted off is shoulders.'
Living in the jungle is something that Pete thinks will be a struggle for his pal and has asked viewers to lean into his fun-loving personality and get to know the real Sam.
"Sam is a grower, not a shower, let's put it that way. I know he got a bit of grief on the first night for being over the top but that is him and that's the reason that everyone loves him.
"I think he's a superstar just the way he is. It just takes a bit of time if you're not used to it. It's like having a big child... that's how he sees me, I like to think it's brotherly, but I think he sees me as his dad," Pete shares.
Although, he adds that his friend can be 'obviously aggravating' but that he loves him exactly as he is and hopes he can 'continue being the happy puppy that he is'.
He also wanted to highlight that ADHD and autism should not be seen 'as a bad thing'.
"Sam struggles with boredom and a lot of things because of his ADHD and autism but that shouldn't be seen as a bad thing. I have read a lot of comments and it's something that I believe shouldn't define him.
"People should embrace that because he's entertaining and that's what the show is about. He should be defined by the fact that he's a really fun, positive guy and that's his personality aside from having ADHD and autism," Pete explains.
While Sam has yet to be chosen by the public toi take part in a bushtucker trial, his 'TOWIE' friend predicts he will 'scream like a little girl' but will remain steadfast to win stars so his campmates have meals.
'The only thing that will get to Sam is that he's a massive worrier and sometimes he can try too hard, which is what he's been doing already.
'He wants everyone to like him, and he will want the audience to like him and because he has no idea what people are saying in the outside world, if he starts to overthink that then it will get to him if he has a bad day," Pete shares.
The entire lineup are currently split into two camps competing with eachother, with Sam finding himself on the winning team with Jamie Lynn Spears, Nella Rose, Fred Sirieix, and Danielle Harold, under coach Frank Dettori.
The other camp consists of Josie Gibson, Grace Dent, Marvin Humes, Nigel Farage, and Nick Pickard, under the coaching of Tony Bellew.
