Zara McDermott has reportedly stated she doesn’t want her horror experience on Strictly to taint her pal Pete Wicks, now that he’s signed up for the show himself.

Last year on Strictly, Zara McDermott danced with an undiagnosed broken leg during her Halloween performance with Graziano di Prima, and her pro partner kicked her at least once.

He has been fired for “gross misconduct” and admitted the attack, but Zara is determined that her experience won’t overshadow her close friend Pete Wicks, who will star on the show this year.

The reality TV star hosts a podcast with her boyfriend Sam Thompson called Staying Relevant – and now it could be his turn to step into the limelight and showcase his dancefloor skills.

Zara suffered brutal trolling about her performances online – as well as playful ribbing from Sam, who claimed that she wasn’t a good dancer.

However, she persevered – amid a gruelling training regime and a very difficult experience with Graziano – and managed to cling on until week six.

A source has now claimed that, despite everything, she is “so happy” to see her pal landing a prestigious place on the BBC show. “Her experience on the show was so individual – she hopes no one will go through the same again,” the source told Mail Online.

“She knows that Pete will have an amazing time and could even impress the judges. He’s incredibly hardworking and a good person, and will thrive in the environment, which can be intense, but he performs best when he’s challenged and under pressure.”

They added: “Zara doesn’t want anything that happened to her to taint his Strictly journey and backs Pete even if it is a bit close to home.”

Pete has been a friend of Sam’s since the pair met on Celebs Go Dating five years ago and they went on to become work colleagues too, particularly through their podcast.

Sam, Pete and Zara, who previously joked about being in a throuple together, socialised on numerous occasions with Graziano and are not thought to have known about Zara’s abuse ordeal.

She later revealed that she’d kept the kicking episode quiet and feared that if she went public, she might have been “victim blamed”.

Graziano was sacked from the show and has since fled to his native Sicily where he was thought to have taken on a farm job “digging trenches” among the olive groves.

New reports suggest that he has been hospitalised so he can benefit from “medical supervision” and is being “monitored hourly”.

Meanwhile, Zara said she was “resilient” and had opted not to speak up at the time as she was fearful of a “public backlash”.

“I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming,” she wrote in an Instagram statement, before clarifying that she has now found the courage and “strength to face these fears”.
Zara McDermott’s experience on Strictly Come Dancing was undeniably harrowing, but she is determined not to let it overshadow her friend Pete Wicks as he embarks on his own journey on the show. Despite dancing with a broken leg and enduring a traumatic incident with her former partner, Zara is now focusing on supporting Pete as he showcases his dancefloor skills on the BBC program.

Pete, known for his hard work and dedication, is expected to thrive in the intense environment of Strictly Come Dancing. Zara, who faced backlash and trolling during her time on the show, is thrilled to see Pete taking on this challenge and hopes for nothing but success for him. She wants to ensure that Pete’s experience on the show is positive and free from any negativity that she may have encountered.

Zara’s resilience in the face of adversity is truly admirable. Despite her initial hesitations to speak out about her experience, she has now found the strength to confront her fears and stand up for herself. Her decision to support Pete wholeheartedly demonstrates her loyalty and determination to not let her past experiences affect those around her.As Zara and Pete continue to support each other through their respective endeavors, it is clear that their bond is unbreakable.

Their friendship, along with the support of Zara’s boyfriend Sam Thompson, shines as a beacon of positivity and strength in the face of adversity. We can all learn from Zara’s courage and resilience as she paves the way for a brighter future for herself and those around her. Stay tuned for more inspirational stories and updates as we continue to provide valuable content for our readers. Source: Los Angeles Times1