14 October 2023 , 11:25
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Strictly Come Dancing star Zara McDermott has made a desperate plea to fans hours before her return to the dance floor after a heartbreaking week.
In an update this morning, the 26-year-old former Love Islander turned BBC documentary presenter said that she was sadden to have been plunged into the bottom two following the public vote, alongside her professional dance partner, Italian Graziano Di Prima. The duo found themselves in the dance-off against presenter Nikita Kanda and her dance partner Gorka Márquez. Ultimately, the judges voted to save Zara and Graziano - sending Nikita and Gorka home.
This time around, Zara has said that she has woken early and been going through her dance moves in her head before meeting up with Graziano for the dress rehearsal. She is determined to not be going through the dance off again and is hoping her Viennese Waltz will impress both judges and the viewing public so that she gets enough points to get through to next week's shows.
Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima are hoping to avoid the dreaded dance-off this week on Strictly (PA)
Strictly's Zara McDermott issues emotional plea after scary moment (Instagram/zara_mcdermott)Posting on her Instagram Stories on Saturday morning, Zara addressed her worries and concerns following last week's performance and her hopes for this weeks waltz.
She wrote to her 1.8 million followers: "Happy Saturday everyone & it's Strictly night tonight. Only 11 hours and we will be performing our Viennese Waltz live. I’ve tried not to let last weeks results get me down, even though I was quietly gutted and sad last Saturday to be in the bottom two. However, this week and ESPECIALLY today I am channelling FULL CONFIDENCE!
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"I’ve been up since 5am, going over the choreography in my head, telling myself positive things, and telling myself that I absolutely can do this. This routine tonight is my favourite. It’s emotional, beautiful, and incredible choreography by my partner @grazianodiprima."
Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima, during their appearance on the live show on Saturday for BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing (PA)The Strictly star continued: "I also keep telling myself, this is what Strictly is all about, and I’ve done the scariest part last week which was the dance off. For someone who’s a complete novice, not only to dancing, but also to performing, I believe that even getting on that stage and performing live in front of millions is an achievement in itself."
This follows a jokey spat in the week between Zara and Graziano over the cooking of carbonara, with the Italian disgusted with the reality star wanting to add cream to the dish, which is traditionally made with cheese and eggs.
After rebuffing Zara's demands for cream to be added to the sauce, he then suggested Brits would be horrified if someone added barbecue sauce to a Sunday roast - however Zara insisted: “I wouldn’t be as angry as you, though. This is the thing. You don’t … You guys get so offended about the cream in the carbonara.”