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Privacy NoticeStrictly Come Dancing professional Graziano Di Prima confirmed at the weekend that he has been axed from the BBC One series. It comes after he had allegedly been confronted by the BBC this week, according to the Mail on Sunday, due to his treatment of Zara McDermott during their time on the show. It was said that footage showing the dancer’s treatment of Zara has “reduced people to tears”, following claims of misconduct. Speaking to The Sun, a source said: “The footage has reduced those who have seen it to tears.” They went on to add: “As part of a wider BBC investigation reports of Graziano’s behaviour came from multiple third-party sources.” OK! has contacted Graziano Di Prima and Zara McDermott’s representatives for comment. He has previously said: “I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly.”
The duo looked back on their time on the show shortly after their exit
(Image: BBC)
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Although this footage has not been seen by the public, fans have seen clips of the two in rehearsals before, on the Strictly spin off show, It Takes Two, in 2023. The programme shares exclusive interviews and backstage gossip from the world of Strictly. During their departure on Week 6, they shared a lookback with host Fleur East, showing their best live performances. It also showed footage of some of their best moments in rehearsals, as they prepared for dances such as the Quickstep and Paso Doble. On It Takes Two, the former Love Island star could be heard saying on a voiceover: “I think the main thing I need to work on is to let go a bit more and not hold back.”
Graziano and Zara dancing
(Image: BBC)
As the footage was playing on screen Zara and Graziano could be seen emotionally hugging in the It Takes Two studio, as well as bursting into laughter at certain moments. At the end, when asked what she would miss the most by host Fleur East, when pointing to Graziano, Zara said: “This person here. And not spending everyday with him. I said I wasn’t going to cry but here I am again.” “This human being right here is what I will miss the most because he is the most special and beautiful soul in the world.” It has since been claimed Zara was not the individual who made the complaints against Graziano but a member of the production team.
Zara and Graziano looked back on their ‘best bits’ after their departure in 2023
(Image: BBC)
Graziano took to Instagram to address his exit after reports emerged on Saturday. “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. While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s only right for the sake of the show that I step away. I am saddened that I wasn’t allowed to offer a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the sensitivity of the situation,” he wrote. “There’s more to this story that I am unable to discuss at this time, but I am committed to being strong for my family and friends. I wish the Strictly family nothing but success in the future,” he added. The BBC said in a statement: “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 and robust duty of care procedures, and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate.”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnZara McdermottStrictly Come Dancing