BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Zara McDermott defended as she distracts herself from axe as she surprises with new photoshoot

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Zara McDermott has thrown herself back into work as she distracts herself from her Strictly Come Dancing axe. The former Love Island star became the fifth celebrity contestant to be eliminated from the BBC One contest last weekend following the epic Halloween special.

Zara and her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima lost their chance to lift the Glitterball trophy later this year after their Charleston dance to Jeepers Creepers by Al Donahue and his Orchestra failed to impress the judges.

Following the usual public vote, Zara and Graziano faced Waterloo Road’s Adam Thomas and Luba Mushtuk in the dance-off. And while she had come back triumphant from two previous dance-offs, Zara, who made history as the first former Love Island contestant to take part in the hit dance show, was unable to snatch victory for a third time. READ MORE: Adam Thomas on 'frustrating' part of BBC Strictly Come Dancing journey as Luba Mushtuk brands him 'best partner' READ MORE: Read more of today's top stories from the Manchester Evening News After her exit, Zara shared a video of the moment her Strictly journey came to an end as Graziano told her he was "so proud" and that she was what Strictly "is all about".

Alongside the clip, she penned: "You have no idea how much your words meant to me @grazianodiprima. "'You get out what you put in' has always been my motto as my dad has said it to me since I could talk….