Zara McDermott makes surprise return to Strictly for the first live show to support pal Pete Wicks - after breaking her silence on 'distressing incidents' with sacked pro Graziano DiPrima

Zara McDermott returned to Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night for the first live show after she spoke out about her ‘incredibly distressing’ time on the last series.

The former Love Island star, 27, took to the Strictly dancefloor last year before becoming embroiled in scandal after footage of professional partner Graziano Di Prima physically and verbally ‘abusing her’ was unearthed by BBC staff.

But Zara has clearly put her past experience behind her to cheer on pal Pete Wicks – who she met through her boyfriend Sam Thompson.

Zara and Sam looked happier than ever as they posed for photos wearing matching T-shirts with TOWIE star Pete’s face printed on the front.

The couple also rocked coordinated blue denim jeans with a number of pictures of Pete and large black letters reading, ‘Vote Pete Wicks’ written down the leg.

Zara McDermott has returned to Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night for the first live show after being abused on the BBC show last year

The former Love Island star took to the Strictly dancefloor last year before becoming embroiled in scandal after footage of her professional partner Graziano Di Prima ‘abusing her’ was unearthed by BBC staff

Reality star Zara and I’m A Celeb winner Sam also donned matching black caps with Pete’s face printed on the front as they posed for a number of photos outside the BBC studio.

Pete is set to take to the dancefloor alongside professional partner Jowita Przystał.

Pete signed up for the show just days after it emerged his friend Zara, was physically and verbally abused by Graziano while on last year’s series.

Yet Pete insisted it hadn’t stopped Zara supporting him as he told MailOnline: ‘Zara loves the show, and she’s been a massive support so she will probably be my number one fan.’

When it was suggested Zara could teach him some moves, he quipped: ‘It’s my partner that’s going to teach me everything so I’m just excited to get going.’

Pete previously opened up about how Zara had been the driving force behind him deciding to sign up.

During an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine on Monday, he admitted: ‘Zara was the one that kind of pushed me to do this because she loves the show. I was quite honest about the fact I had never actually seen it.

‘The first time I saw Strictly was the first live show last year when Zara was on and I just thought wow, this is amazing – but I never imagined myself doing it. Sequins, all that stuff, is not necessarily my style.’

But Zara has clearly put her past experience behind her to cheer on pal Pete Wicks – who she met through her boyfriend Sam Thompson

Zara and Sam looked happier than ever as they posed for photos wearing matching T-shirts, jeans and baseball caps with TOWIE star Pete’s face printed on the front

Pete is set to take to the dancefloor tonight alongside professional partner Jowita Przystał

He added: ‘I am petrified. I’m like a Ferrari from the waist down and Volvo from the top half. I’ve got the hips but nothing else.’

Pete’s Strictly appearance came as a surprise to some viewers, given his friendship with Zara, and her boyfriend Sam Thompson, following her negative experience.

However, breaking her silence on Instagram, the documentary maker threw her support behind Pete saying it ‘made her so happy.’

Re-posting the official announcement, Zara wrote: ‘I’ve never been so excited. Love you.’

In a comment, she added: ‘This makes me so happy. You’re going to have the best time. I am so proud of you. I cannot wait to see you in some sparkles and maybe even some hot pants.’

Sam also shared: ‘No words. So proud of you… the content we are going to make that you don’t even know about yet.’

It follows shocking reports Zara performed on the show with a ‘fractured’ leg following an injury in training and needed painkillers to get through ten-hour rehearsals.

The latest revelation comes after professional dancer Graziano, 30, admitted to kicking Zara during their sessions, causing him to be sacked from the BBC series.

There were claims that his abusive behaviour was caught on video, in clips Zara stated were ‘incredibly distressing to watch.’

Pete signed up for the show just days after it emerged his friend Zara, 27, was physically and verbally abused by her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima while on last year’s series; pictured L-R Graziano, Sam, Zara and Pete

Following the incident Graziano was sacked from the BBC show

Yet Pete insisted it hadn’t stopped Zara supporting him as he told MailOnline: ‘ Zara loves the show, and she’s been a massive support so she will probably be my number one fan.’

A source told MailOnline: ‘Zara is so happy for Pete landing the Strictly gig.

‘Her experience on the show was so individual – she hopes no one will go through the same again.’

They added: ‘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.

‘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 joined Sam in the Strictly studio audience last year and together they wore patterned shirts embellished with Zara’s face to show their support.

They posed for photographs alongside Zara and Graziano, who has since fled to his native Sicily in the wake of his Strictly axing.

Reality stars Sam and Pete became friends following their appearance on E4 show Celebs Go Dating in 2019 and have since hosted podcast Staying Relevant together.

As well as their podcast, the pair’s working relationship sees them prank each other in viral social media videos based around Sam’s enthusiasm and eagerness to please juxtaposed with Pete’s moodiness.

Zara often features in the clips, which has seen the trio perform fun dance routines for their huge combine following.

In recent months, the dancing competition has been hit by a wave of scandals , with Giovanni Pernice being probed after his partner Amanda Abbington accused him of abusive behaviour

The Sun revealed Zara needed painkillers to get through ten-hour training sessions after breaking a leg bone on Strictly.

A source told the publication the TV star danced during the show’s Halloween week with a fractured leg, and it was ‘literal horror 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 Zara spoke to private investigators amid the inquiry into Graziano’s behaviour.

It’s not the only scandal to have hit the show, with Giovanni Pernice being probed after his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington accused him of abusive behaviour,

The scandal unfolded in January when it was revealed that Amanda had asked 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 during training.

Giovanni strenuously denies the allegations.

The Strictly Come Dancing 2024 launch show will air on Saturday 14th September at 19:20 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.