Zara McDermott returned to Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night time for the primary dwell present after she spoke out about her ‘extremely distressing’ time on the final collection.
The previous Love Island star, 27, took to the Strictly dancefloor final 12 months earlier than changing into embroiled in scandal after footage {of professional} companion Graziano Di Prima bodily and verbally ‘abusing her’ was unearthed by BBC staff.
However Zara has clearly put her previous expertise behind her to cheer on pal Pete Wicks – who she met through her boyfriend Sam Thompson.
Zara and Sam appeared happier than ever as they posed for pictures carrying matching T-shirts with TOWIE star Pete’s face printed on the entrance.
The couple additionally rocked coordinated blue denim denims with numerous footage of Pete and enormous black letters studying, ‘Vote Pete Wicks’ written down the leg.
Zara McDermott has returned to Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night time for the primary dwell present after being abused on the BBC present final 12 months
The previous Love Island star took to the Strictly dancefloor final 12 months earlier than changing into embroiled in scandal after footage of her skilled companion Graziano Di Prima ‘abusing her’ was unearthed by BBC employees
Actuality star Zara and I’m A Celeb winner Sam additionally donned matching black caps with Pete’s face printed on the entrance as they posed for numerous pictures exterior the BBC studio.
Pete is about to take to the dancefloor alongside skilled companion Jowita Przystał.
Pete signed up for the present simply days after it emerged his good friend Zara, was bodily and verbally abused by Graziano whereas on final 12 months’s collection.
But Pete insisted it hadn’t stopped Zara supporting him as he told MailOnline: ‘Zara loves the present, and she or he’s been an enormous assist so she is going to in all probability be my primary fan.’
When it was recommended Zara may train him some strikes, he quipped: ‘It’s my companion that’s going to show me every little thing so I’m simply excited to get going.’
Pete beforehand opened up about how Zara had been the driving drive behind him deciding to enroll.
Throughout an look on ITV‘s Lorraine on Monday, he admitted: ‘Zara was the one which type of pushed me to do that as a result of she loves the present. I used to be fairly trustworthy concerning the reality I had by no means truly seen it.
‘The primary time I noticed Strictly was the primary dwell present final 12 months when Zara was on and I simply thought wow, that is superb – however I by no means imagined myself doing it. Sequins, all that stuff, just isn’t essentially my type.’
However Zara has clearly put her previous expertise behind her to cheer on pal Pete Wicks – who she met by way of her boyfriend Sam Thompson
Zara and Sam appeared happier than ever as they posed for pictures carrying matching T-shirts, denims and baseball caps with TOWIE star Pete’s face printed on the entrance
Pete is about to take to the dancefloor tonight alongside skilled companion Jowita Przystał
He added: ‘I’m petrified. I am like a Ferrari from the waist down and Volvo from the highest half. I’ve received the hips however nothing else.’
Pete’s Strictly look got here as a shock to some viewers, given his friendship with Zara, and her boyfriend Sam Thompson, following her unfavourable expertise.
Nevertheless, breaking her silence on Instagram, the documentary maker threw her assist behind Pete saying it ‘made her so completely satisfied.’
Re-posting the official announcement, Zara wrote: ‘I’ve by no means been so excited. Love you.’
In a remark, she added: ‘This makes me so completely satisfied. You’re going to have the most effective time. I’m so pleased with you. I can’t wait to see you in some sparkles and possibly even some scorching pants.’
Sam additionally shared: ‘No phrases. So pleased with you… the content material we’re going to make that you do not even learn about but.’
It follows stunning stories Zara carried out on the present with a ‘fractured’ leg following an harm in coaching and wanted painkillers to get through ten-hour rehearsals.
The most recent revelation comes after skilled dancer Graziano, 30, admitted to kicking Zara during their sessions, causing him to be sacked from the BBC series.
There have been claims that his abusive behaviour was caught on video, in clips Zara acknowledged had been ‘extremely distressing to look at.’
Pete signed up for the present simply days after it emerged his good friend Zara, 27, was bodily and verbally abused by her skilled dance companion Graziano Di Prima whereas on final 12 months’s collection; pictured L-R Graziano, Sam, Zara and Pete
Following the incident Graziano was sacked from the BBC present
But Pete insisted it hadn’t stopped Zara supporting him as he advised MailOnline: ‘ Zara loves the present, and she or he’s been an enormous assist so she is going to in all probability be my primary fan.’
A supply advised MailOnline: ‘Zara is so completely satisfied for Pete touchdown the Strictly gig.
‘Her expertise on the present was so particular person – she hopes nobody will undergo the identical once more.’
They added: ‘She is aware of that Pete could have a tremendous time and will even impress the judges, he is extremely hardworking and individual, and can thrive within the surroundings, which may be intense, however he performs greatest when he is challenged and beneath strain.
‘Zara does not need something that occurred to her to taint his Strictly journey and backs Pete even if it is a bit close to home.’
Pete joined Sam within the Strictly studio viewers final 12 months and collectively they wore patterned shirts embellished with Zara’s face to indicate their assist.
They posed for images alongside Zara and Graziano, who has since fled to his native Sicily within the wake of his Strictly axing.
Actuality stars Sam and Pete grew to become buddies following their look on E4 present Celebs Go Dating in 2019 and have since hosted podcast Staying Related collectively.
In addition to their podcast, the pair’s working relationship sees them prank one another in viral social media movies based mostly round Sam’s enthusiasm and eagerness to please juxtaposed with Pete’s moodiness.
Zara usually options within the clips, which has seen the trio carry out enjoyable dance routines for his or her big mix following.
In latest months, the dancing competitors has been hit by a wave of scandals , with Giovanni Pernice being probed after his companion Amanda Abbington accused him of abusive behaviour
The Sun revealed Zara wanted painkillers to get by way of ten-hour coaching periods after breaking a leg bone on Strictly.
A supply advised the publication the TV star danced through the present’s Halloween week with a fractured leg, and it was ‘literal horror in each sense of the phrase.’
An X-ray revealed extreme ligament injury plus a stress fracture on her left tibia.
Present bosses realized the total extent of the harm solely two weeks in the past when Zara spoke to non-public investigators amid the inquiry into Graziano’s behaviour.
It is not the one scandal to have hit the present, with Giovanni Pernice being probed after his superstar companion Amanda Abbington accused him of abusive behaviour,
The scandal unfolded in January when it was revealed that Amanda had requested BBC bosses for rehearsal footage after claiming she suffered PTSD as a result of appearing on Strictly.
She later claimed Giovanni had bruised her foot throughout coaching.
Giovanni strenuously denies the allegations.
The Strictly Come Dancing 2024 launch present will air on Saturday 14th September at 19:20 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.