Strictly star takes swipe at Zara McDermott after Graziano Di Prima ‘kicked and hit’ her

Edwina Currie has seemingly taken aim at Zara McDermott after saying influencers ‘don’t realise how much hard work goes into’ working on Strictly Come Dancing.

The former MP, 77, appeared on the long-running BBC dancing series in 2011, where she was paired with professional dancer Vincent Simone.

However, they were the first couple to be eliminated that season.

More than a decade after her brief stint on the show, Edwina has questioned the work ethic of social media stars who are cast on the series.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Thursday alongside Reverend Richard Coles to discuss their experiences on Strictly, the pair were asked about their time on the show following reports that professional dancer Graziano Di Prima ‘hit and kicked’ partner Zara.

Before appearing on Strictly last year, 27-year-old Zara had starred on Love Island, The X Factor: Celebrity and Made in Chelsea before going on to front a string of documentaries.

After being asked by hosts Richard Madeley and Charlotte Hawkins whether she was ‘surprised’ by what had been reported in recent days, Edwina said it was ‘rather sad’.

‘I suspect what has happened is that the programme has changed over the years. I was on it in 2011 and the programme was seen then as entertainment and my partner was Vincent Simone, who was absolutely lovely and we’ve stayed in touch,’ she responded.

‘In those days people were just there for entertainment and celebrities were people like John Sergeant, who never made any points about trying to dance and Ann Widdicombe who knew she couldn’t, and I think the audience absolutely loved it and I they still love it when there are people who aren’t dancers who do well.’

However she then turned her attention to influencers, who she said were now part of the regular line-up of stars being cast.

‘I think one of the issues today is that they have a lot on influencers. People who become famous for having beautiful eyebrows and lounging around on sofas in lovely places,’ she said.

‘I don’t think they realise how much hard work goes into doing something like Strictly. They’ve signed up for it, they are supposed to do it and I think that they find it very tough.’

Meanwhile Reverend Richard, who appeared on the show in 2017, said he ‘wasn’t entirely surprised’ at what he’d been hearing about the show.

‘I think Strictly, for all of the glitter and the showbiz, is actually a competition…I think sometimes contestants coming onto the show are surprised and dismayed at how intense that relationship can get in the rehearsal spaces particularly,’ he said.

He then praised his partner Dianne Buswell, saying they remained friends today, but said he thought some people did ‘struggle’ appearing on the series.

However, he added he’d never seen any concerning behaviour himself and said he always found Giovanni Pernice ‘charming and delightful and easy to get on with’.

‘You would sometimes see tears and tantrums, but I think that is partly to do with the intensity of the experience people had in the rehearsal rooms. It’s very physical and in some ways, it is quite brutal. There is a lot behind the glitter I think.’

Sharing a statement on social media earlier this week, Zara said she ‘fully understood the level of commitment and hard work’ required to compete on Strictly, but that her experience in the rehearsal room led to ‘particular incidents’ that were ‘very distressing’.

She went on to write that she had initially been reluctant to speak out, fearing ‘public backlash’ and ‘victim shaming’.

Their comments come after it was reported this week that a third Strictly Come Dancing professional has reportedly been named as a ‘person of interest’ in the wake of abuse and bullying allegations overshadowing the show.

Graziano, 30, was axed from the show last week over reports he verbally and physically abused Zara during last year’s season.

This came a few weeks after Giovanni Pernice, 33, announced he would not appear on the upcoming season, with the BBC currently carrying out an investigation after reports he’d displayed inappropriate and controlling behaviour, which he has denied.

Metro.co.uk has contacted representatives for Edwina Currie and Zara McDermott for comment.