Exclusive
NEW STRICTLY BOMBSHELL
Strictly’s Zara McDermott secretly danced with a BROKEN LEG after injury in brutal training with Graziano Di Prima
Watch Zara dance throught he pain in the video above - before the pair lost out in the dance-off
STRICTLY’S Zara McDermott broke a leg bone in tough training for the last series.
But the star, 27, was unaware and danced on in pain with partner Graziano Di Prima until they were eliminated.
6
6
6
Zara only recently revealed the injury to the show inquiry.
After the injury, Zara needed painkillers to get through ten-hour training sessions.
The ex-Love Islander told her pro partner — disgraced Graziano Di Prima — of her agony ahead of last series’ Halloween special.
The pair agreed to plough on before losing a dance-off — with Zara then going to hospital.
READ MORE ON STRICTLY SCANDAL
An insider explained: “Zara had started getting injured in the build-up to the Halloween dance then something went on the morning, meaning she danced with a fractured leg all that week.
“It was a literal horror show in every sense of the word.”
An X-ray revealed severe ligament damage plus a stress fracture on her left tibia.
Show bosses learned the full extent of the injury only two weeks ago when
Most read in News TV
Graziano was sacked earlier this month after admitting kicking Zara once at rehearsals.
Sources close to Zara said: “She started developing a really bad, niggly pain in her left leg at training. The pain got worse and by the last few weeks, she was in agony, popping painkillers before, during and after sessions.
Graziano Di Prima has been dramatically axed as allegations of abuse arise
It was only after she left the show, and the pain became agonising, that she was referred to hospital and a hairline stress fracture was discovered in her tibia alongside ligament damage.
Inside source
“She made Graziano aware of her discomfort but he was pretty adamant they needed to crack on.
“Obviously they both wanted to get the highest scores possible, and unfortunately she pushed through the pain.
“She wasn’t seen to by medics on site, and production weren’t aware of the extent of her injury.
HOW CRISIS UNFOLDED
THE Sun has led the way on Strictly’s biggest scandal yet.
Last September, we revealed Amanda Abbington threatening to quit the show over rows with partner Giovanni Pernice.
In October, she confirmed our story, quitting and citing a medical reason.
At the start of this year, The Sun on Sunday revealed she had PTSD as a result of her show training.
In May, we revealed Gio had quit and broke the news “several” celebrities had instructed top lawyers over the dancer’s behaviour.
And this month we told how pro Graziano Di Prima was sacked over shocking clashes with celeb partner Zara McDermott, caught on film.
“By the time of her last dance, she was in a lot of pain and limping through the moves.
“She can’t watch it back as it brings back too many agonising memories.” Zara and Graziano were eliminated in a dance-off with Emmerdale actor Adam Thomas and pro Luba Mushtuk.
Didn’t want to make a fuss
The source went on: “It was only after she left the show, and the pain became agonising, that she was referred to hospital and a hairline stress fracture was discovered in her tibia alongside ligament damage.
“Zara didn’t want to make a fuss, so didn’t alert anyone at the BBC until two weeks ago.”
Zara, who wore a moon boot for almost three months earlier this year, is understood to have told investigators about the “beyond” rigorous training which caused a stress fracture.
However, last night a source close to Graziano claimed he encouraged her to take breaks, and she wanted to continue training.
The revelation comes less than a week after Paralympian Will Bayley revealed he was left with a life-changing injury after jumping from a box at rehearsals.
After hearing his leg crack, and suffering “horrific pain”, he was given an ice pack instead of being taken to hospital.
Will — forced to quit the 2019 series with knee ligament damage — claims that he warned producers the jump was too dangerous but was ignored,
The BBC has endured a deeply uncomfortable two months over the show. In May The Sun revealed pro Giovanni Pernice was quitting, and that several celebrities had come forward to raise concern about his behaviour.
Over the past few weeks, others have come forward with their own horror stories on Strictly.
Earlier this week the corporation’s director general, Tim Davie, apologised for any duty of care breaches — and insisted new protocols were in place to protect future contestants.
A spokesman for Zara declined to comment last night.
Meanwhile, former Towie star Pete Wicks, 36, was unveiled as the latest celebrity to sign up for the new series.
He joins DIY SOS star Nick Knowles, 61 — revealed by The Sun yesterday — plus EastEnders’ Jamie Borthwick, 30.
A source said: “Pete is excited to get started. He isn’t much of a dancer but that’s what the BBC loved about him.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"They wanted the show to feel more like it did in the beginning.
"Pete will also attract younger viewers who have followed his career since Towie.”
6
6
6
Topics