Strictly's Graziano says 'incredible' Zara McDermott 'never stops' in rehearsals
Strictly Come Dancing professional Graziano Di Prima has gushed over Zara McDermott – saying she gives "150%" and "never stops" in rehearsals.
Graziano, 29, and Zara, 26, were in the dreaded dance off in the second elimination of the series so far – but were saved by judges as Nikita Kanda and Gorka Marquez left the competition.
Speaking at the Pride of Britain Awards as the pre-recorded Strictly Come Dancing results show aired on BBC One tonight, Graziano gave a shining review of Zara's work ethic. Graziano told Zara in front of the Mirror: "You've been incredible."
He then added: "She gives me 150%, she never stops. The only 30 second break she takes is for water. Even when she has water she's practicing the steps I've never had a student like that I'm so, so proud of her."
Zara added: "I know I need to put in the extra effort because of my lack of experience, I need to go that extra mile."
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Strictly's Graziano says Zara 'gives 150%' and 'never stops' (Daily Mirror)
Zara said her lack of dance experience means she has to 'put in extra effort' (BBC/Ray Burmiston)The former Love Island star turned documentary marker also admitted she has no dance experience – unlike some of her fellow Strictly competitors including Angela Rippon and Layton Williams.
She said of her time on the show: "I am soaking in every single second. For me... for someone who has literally zero dance experience, never performed I don't have that side to me at all, I'm literally starting from scratch."
Zara also gushed over her professional dance partner as she said: "He is just incredible, the most patient, kind, lovely person – he really is and I think the relationship you build, pro and someone like me it's just so special because, bless his heart he's got to teach me from scratch and I don't have the most natural rhythm, I'm not the most natural dancer."
Despite being in the bottom two this week, Zara said she feels the judges are seeing an improvement.
"I think the performances speak for themselves I think the judges are seeing that improvement," she said.
Zara said Graziano is 'kind' and 'patient' (BBC)The TV star also said performing a routine in front of the judges is very different to performing it during the week in rehearsals – which can make it "hard" to judge if she is growing as a dancer.
She explained: "It's sometimes hard because we're together five days a week, doing that rehearsal and we see the routine go from a little seedling all the way to being ready to do it, but then the judges see it for the first time.
"It's a very different experience doing it just us, getting his [Graziano's] feedback and then getting their feedback. But the scores are going up and up every week and that's all we can really hope for because I literally started at zero."
Zara revealed she felt she had improved hugely from when she first starting rehearsing to her first live performance.
"If I performed that Cha Cha on my first day I would've literally got zero so to be here I'm really over the moon and happy with how it's going."
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