In a move that’s left Britain reeling, Pete Wicks—the tattooed bad boy of The Only Way Is Essex—has been unveiled as the new host of ITV’s beloved primetime staple For the Love of Dogs, succeeding the late, great Paul O’Grady. Announced on October 22, 2025, during a tearful tribute special, the casting call has fans speechless and divided: Can the Essex lad, once synonymous with nightclub brawls and heartbreak headlines, step into the paws of a national treasure? Insiders hail him as the “worthy successor,” but whispers grow: Is this a heartfelt handoff, or a risky reboot?

O’Grady, who passed in March 2023 at 67, transformed the show into a Sunday night ritual, blending humor, heart, and hard-hitting animal welfare advocacy. His unscripted charm and cockney wit rescued over 100 dogs on air, raising millions for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. “Paul was irreplaceable,” ITV boss Kevin Lygo admitted at the reveal. “But Pete brings that same raw authenticity—vulnerable, funny, and fiercely passionate about second chances.” Wicks, 37, teared up in his debut clip, cradling a rescued terrier: “Paul showed me it’s okay to be a softie. These pups deserve love like we all do.”

Pete’s journey from TOWIE tearaway to TV sweetheart is the stuff of redemption arcs. Bursting onto screens in 2015 as the inked lothario with a penchant for drama, Wicks navigated scandals—cheating allegations, public breakups, and a 2020 stint in rehab for anxiety. Yet, his Celebs Go Dating vulnerability and podcast Staying Relevant (co-hosted with Sam Thompson) revealed a thoughtful soul. “Pete’s grown up on camera,” says friend and co-star Lydia Bright. “He’s the guy who’d fight for the underdog—literally.” His animal advocacy, sparked by adopting rescue bulldog Boris in 2022, aligns perfectly with the show’s ethos.

Fans are split. #PeteForPaul trended with 800,000 posts, gushing “He’s got the heart—give him a chance!” and “From Essex boy to dog dad icon? Love it!” O’Grady’s devotees, however, cry foul: “Paul was one-of-a-kind—Pete’s a lightweight,” fumed one petition organizer, gathering 20,000 signatures for a recast. Critics like The Sun‘s TV editor slam it as “gimmicky,” fearing Wicks’ tabloid past overshadows the charity focus.

Insiders defend the choice. “Pete’s real—flaws and all—which is what Paul embodied,” a Battersea rep told MailOnline. His debut episode, filmed at Battersea’s Old Windsor center, features Wicks rehoming a pit bull mix, blending laughs with pathos. “I was a mess once; these dogs saved me,” he shares, echoing O’Grady’s ethos.

As the series launches November 10, the debate rages: transformation or tokenism? Wicks’ “bad boy to beloved” arc mirrors Britain’s love for underdogs, but filling O’Grady’s shoes is no small feat. With ratings pressure and charity stakes high, Pete must prove he’s more than Essex flair—he’s the host who can wag the nation’s tail. The proof? In the puddles and paw prints. For the Love of Dogs isn’t just TV; it’s therapy. And Pete Wicks might just be the prescription.