Zara McDermott reveals the REAL reason she and boyfriend Sam Thompson weren’t affected by the Strictly curse – but hints at backstage clashes with her dance partner

Zara McDermott has revealed the reason she and her boyfriend Sam Thompson did not fall victim to the famous ‘Strictly curse’.

The Love Island star took part in the BBC show earlier this year with professional partner Graziano Di Prima, but they were unfortunately eliminated during Halloween Week.

Zara admitted on the Saving Grace podcast that she “couldn’t understand” how so many couples were affected by the famous curse, and that she was just “really good friends” with Graziano.

She said: ‘It’s really strange. The Strictly Curse is something people talk about that I can’t physically understand.

‘I don’t understand how there is a strict curse. I have become really good friends with my partner.’

Zara hinted she clashed with her dance partner Graziano backstage, admitting she was ‘bickering like siblings’.

She said: ‘You’re quickly becoming like brother and sister and you have a sort of argumentative relationship. There are also usually cameras in the room with you.

‘To me this was not the environment in which something like this could ever happen.

“I think it’s happened in the past, but people have affairs and relationships in the office all the time, so I think it probably doesn’t happen that differently proportionately.”

On Wednesday, Zara was reunited with Sam as he returned to Britain after being crowned the winner of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! 2023.

Radio presenter Sam was crowned the winner in Sunday night’s final, beating Tony Bellew and Nigel Farage, where he emerged with more than 50 percent of the votes.

Zara proudly clutched a few balloons and smiled hugely as she waited for him.

Their emotional reunion saw the couple share a kiss and hold each other’s faces after spending four weeks apart.

The Love Island star took part in the BBC show earlier this year with professional partner Graziano Di Prima, but they were unfortunately eliminated during Halloween Week

Zara admitted on the Saving Grace podcast that she ‘couldn’t understand’ how so many couples were affected by the famous curse

Sam was joined on his flight by his best friend Pete Wicks, who flew out to greet him in the jungle, while Zara stayed at the couple’s London home.

She had previously explained to fans of the show that she would not be in Australia due to her period Come strictly dance.

‘Peter is going. We’ve laughed and joked about this a few times,” she explained in an Instagram post.

‘But in all seriousness; Sam thought I’d still be on Strictly (bless him, the optimism), so Pete cleared his entire diary for 2/3 weeks to be there.’

Previously, Sam shared a photo on his Instagram as he waited for his flight at Brisbane Airport after finally getting his phone back.

Upon his triumphant departure, the radio host admitted he was “overwhelmed with gratitude.”