Yahoo News Zara McDermott's Strictly journey amid Graziano Di Prima allegations
The former Love Islander was a Strictly contestant in 2023, but has hit headlines after training room footage emerged.
Zara McDermott has found herself at the centre of the latest Strictly Come Dancing storm over claims about dance partner Graziano Di Prima's conduct towards her during rehearsals.
The allegations have rocked the BBC show once again as fans had no idea that McDermott had gone through anything difficult during the 2023 series. It comes hot on the heels of a controversy involving Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice.
Former Love Islander McDermott has now spoken out about the claims, saying that taking part in Strictly was "a childhood dream come true" but that she had found some of the scenes from their rehearsal footage "incredibly distressing to watch".
McDermott, who recently made a BBC documentary about online bullying, praised many of the other cast and crew she had worked with on Strictly - here's what happened during her journey on the show.
Joining the Strictly cast
McDermott has said that she has been a Strictly fan since she was seven, so taking part in the show was a dream come true.
Speaking to the show's cameras at the start of training, she shared: "I think Strictly is going to be the biggest challenge of my life. I'm really petrified, but also really excited to prove to myself that I can actually do this."
During the series, she and Di Prima were interviewed at an awards ceremony where she said: "The main thing I'm working on is confidence...I was very scared to start with, if you saw me on the first day I could barely even move myself in a co-ordinated manner. So the fact I'm out there every week performing is just incredible."
Early dance off
She found herself up against her friend Nikita Kanda in just the second elimination of the series, but the judges voted for her and Di Prima to stay in the contest. McDermott said afterwards: "I know I need to put in the extra effort because of my lack of experience, I need to go that extra mile."
She added that she was making the most of training with Di Prima, saying: "Literally I am soaking in every single second...I don't have the most natural rhythm, I'm not the most natural dancer."
However, Di Prima praised her for putting "150%" into training and said "I've never had a student like that" in terms of how much effort she makes to learn the routines.
McDermott also said: "They're not trying to break you they're trying to make you... They want to see you've listened to them and taken it on for the following week so that's all I can do really."
Relationship with Graziano Di Prima
Although claims have now been made about what happened in the pair's training room, Strictly fans would not have guessed anything was amiss during their time competing on the show.
Speaking to ITN at The Pride of Britain Awards which took place during the series, McDermott said: "We're literally having the time of our lives, I've made an absolute best friend in Graz."
Asked how he got on with her boyfriend Sam Thompson, Di Prima said: "I love him to bits, he is our biggest supporter. He comes into the training room (shouting encouragement) I say to him, Sam we are not in a football game here, she needs your support."
Zara McDermott's toe injury
It's clear that McDermott gave her all in training despite sharing many times that she was not a natural performer and in one grisly Instagram update, she showed her fans the toll rehearsals had taken on her feet.
Posting a picture of her injured big toe, she joked on Instagram: "I put this on my close friends but tbh I think the world needs to see this. Half my toe has come off tbh."
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Speaking to Lorraine early in the series, she had said: "The training is tougher than I thought it would be. It’s all about the technicalities, it’s the arms, the legs, the feet, all those things that you have to put together in your brain all at once. But it’s an amazing experience.
Admitting to having sore feet, she said: "You have just got to power through!"
Broken leg reports
McDermott reportedly performed her final week on the show with a broken leg. The TV presenter was allegedly suffering severe pain in her leg and taking painkillers to get her through training. She reportedly went to hospital and after an X-ray was diagnosed with ligament damage and a stress fracture on her left tibia. But she went ahead with performing a Charleston in Halloween Week - and landing in the dance off.
A spokesman for Di Prima told Yahoo UK: "Graziano is currently under medical supervision, with the stress of the situation causing significant concern for his family, who are monitoring him hourly. The unrelenting feeding frenzy over these accusations and his mental state leaves him at this time unable to defend himself."
Yahoo has contacted representatives for McDermott and the BBC for comment.
Strictly exit
The pair were the fifth couple to be eliminated in the 2023 series and had previously survived two dance offs - week three against Nikita Kanda and Gorka Marquez, and week five against Eddie Kadi and Karen Hauer.
Eventually, they were voted out in Halloween Week where their Charleston lost out to Adam Thomas and Luba Mushtuk in the judges' vote.
McDermott said: “I have had the time of my life. Just to be here is incredible. Thank you to the judges and my amazing partner obviously. My fellow contestants are just incredible. It has been the most amazing experience. I can’t believe it’s over but I am going to be here in spirit every week supporting them.”
Di Prima added: “She has been great for me 8:00am till 21:00pm. Never stopping asking just for a half an hour break. She is literally what Strictly is all about. A real novice, coming in, putting all the hard job. You have such a good soul. You are so humble and I say thank you that I found a friend like you. I have learnt so much from you. And your hard work within six weeks. You have never danced before. I am so proud of you. So proud of you honestly."
What did Zara McDermott say about the Strictly controversy?
After the most recent allegations about training room behaviour on the series, McDermott released the following statement on Instagram.
“I felt it was right that I post something regarding the recent media reports. Strictly is one of the most magical shows on TV and one that I dreamt of being on since I was a little girl.
“When I was invited to be a contestant on the show it really was a childhood dream come true. I fully understood the level of commitment and hard work that Strictly was going to be and I dedicated everything to it. I am a resilient person and I was fully prepared to put in whatever it took.
"And so much of my Strictly experience was everything I could have dreamed of. The entire production team and everyone behind the scenes as well as my fellow contestants were so amazing to work with.
“However, my experience inside the training room was very different. Reports have been made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch.
“I have wrestled with the fear of opening up – I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming.
“But after a lot of conversations with those I love, I’ve gained the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show.
“The culture within our society makes it difficult for people to speak up, especially in a world where social media opinions and voices are so loud. This is something I’ve seen through working with countless women on my documentaries.”
What did Graziano Di Prima say about leaving Strictly?
Di Prima also shared his thoughts on what unfolded that led to him being dropped from the pro cast of Strictly, writing the following statement on Instagram.
"I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly.
"My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime. Respecting the BBC HR process, I understand it's best for the show that I step away.
"While there are aspects of this story involving external influences that I can't discuss at this time, I remain committed to being strong for my family and friends.
"I wish the Strictly family and the BBC nothing but success in the future. I also want to thank everyone who has supported my career, both professionally and personally. When the time is right, I will share my story."
What has the BBC said about the claims?
A BBC spokesperson has confirmed that Di Prima will not be in the cast for the 2024 series of Strictly.
They said: "We can confirm that Graziano Di Prima is no longer a part of the line-up of professional dancers for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.
"While we would never comment on individual cases, it is well-known that the BBC has established robust duty of care procedures, and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate."
