READ MORE: Inside the Strictly Come Dancing curse: All the couples torn apart and the new romances formed by the BBC show over 20 scandalous years
Strictly Come Dancing 2023 LIVE: Follow all the updates for the first show of this year’s series

By Ruth Francis for Mailonline

Contents

Strictly 2023: Week Four Leaderboard Share or comment on this article: Strictly’s Zara McDermott breaks down as she returns to show after admitting dance-off left her feeling ‘sad and upset’ – and viewers brand her performance a ‘huge improvement’

Published: 5:25 PM EDT, October 14, 2023 | Updated: 5:25 PM EDT, October 14, 2023

She found herself in the dreaded dance-off last week.

And Zara McDermott, 26, found it hard to hold back the tears on Saturday night as she finished her performance for week four of the live show.

Before taking the stage, Zara told the camera that the past week had been “the biggest mix of emotions” but that she was grateful the judges had saved her.

This week the former Love Islander danced the Viennese Waltz with her partner Graziano Di Prima, 29, but couldn’t contain the emotions of the past week as she stood by his side.

After Claudia asked if participating in the dance-off was good motivation, Zara-shake replied: ‘I could have looked at it two ways. I really could have made it happen this week. I could have used it as a way to find more fire. I worked so hard this week.”

Emotional: Zara McDermott, 26, found it hard to hold back the tears on Saturday night after finishing her performance for week four of the live show

Grateful: Before taking to the stage, Zara, who works with Graziano Di Prima, 29, (pictured right) told the camera that last week was ‘the biggest mix of emotions’ but that she was grateful to have been saved

Angry: Zara covered her eyes and wiped away tears as she finished dancing the Vienesse Waltz, a week after competing

Fighting back tears and breathing, Zara added: ‘This man has been my absolute rock this week, keeping me so positive in a week that could have been quite emotional, so I feel really lucky.

‘I did that dance. It’s my favorite dance in the world ever. And yes, I feel goo. I feel fine.’

Despite some judges describing Zara’s performance as ‘gorgeous’ and ‘beautiful’, with Shirley even saying it was her ‘best dance yet’, Craig said he thought it was ‘a little bush kangaroo and by that I mean bouncy with it and go down’. -ness’.

Fans flocked to X – formally known as Twitter – to praise the documentary maker for her performance.

One user said: ‘Zara went the extra mile this week – that was pretty amazing. She deserves NOT to be in the dance-off this week.”

Another said: ‘I think Zara is doing really well here but for some reason she’s not getting public support.’

A third said: ‘Zara’s best yet. Not flawless, but a huge improvement and a nice routine.’

A fourth wrote: ‘Loved Zara! What an improvement! And the dress is that of dreams’.

Dance queen: Zara called Graziano her ‘absolute rock’ and said he kept her so positive in a week it could have been quite emotional

Negative thoughts: Before the live show, Zara said she was ‘gutted and sad’ because she was at the bottom two hours before the live show

Criticism: Despite some judges describing Zara’s performance as ‘gorgeous’ and ‘beautiful’, Craig said he thought she was ‘a little bush kangaroo and by that I mean skippy’

Convenient: The TV personality who scored 28 has banned her boyfriend Sam Thompson from participating so he can vote from home on his phone and let his followers do the same

Support: Fans flocked to X – formally known as Twitter – to praise the documentary maker for her performance

Strictly 2023: Week Four Leaderboard

Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin – Cha Cha Cha to Million Dollar Bill by Whitney Houston – 37 points out of 40

Nigel Harman and Katya Jones – Salsa to Suavemente by Elvis Crespo – 33 points out of 40

Adam Thomas and Luba Mushtuk – Waltz to I Wonder Why’ by Curtis Stigers – 32 points out of 40

Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice – Foxtrot to Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac – 31 points out of 40

Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington – Rumba to Rise Like a Phoenix by Conchita – 31 points out of 40

Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell – Tango to Fashion by David Bowie – 30 points out of 40

Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe – Jive to Feel It Still by Portugal. The man – 29 points out of 40

Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola – Samba to Copacabana by Barry Manilow – 28 points out of 40

Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima – Viennese Walt to You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me by Brenda Lee – 28 points out of 40

Angela Scanlon and Carlos Gu – Viennese waltz for You Are the Reason by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis – 28 points out of 40

Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Lauren Oakley – Paso Doble to By the Way by Red Hot Chili Peppers – 28 points out of 40

Eddie Kadi and Karen Hauer – American Smooth to Sex Bomb by Tom Jones – 24 points out of 40

Jody Cundy and Jowita Przystał – Salsa to Samba de Janeiro by Bellini – 19 points out of 40

It comes after Zara said she was ‘gutted and sad’ hours before the live show.

She spoke out on Instagram before taking the stage, telling her followers: ‘HAPPY SATURDAY EVERYONE. Tonight is strictly night. Only 11 hours left and we will perform our Vienesse Waltz live.

‘I tried not to let last week’s results bring me down, even though last Saturday I was quietly gutted and sad to be in the bottom two.

‘This week and especially today I am channeling FULL OF CONFIDENCE. I’ve been up since five in the morning going through the choreography in my head, telling myself positive things and telling myself that I can absolutely do this.”

She added, “This routine tonight is my favorite. It is an emotional, beautiful and incredible choreography by my partner @grazianodiprima. I’ve also always told myself that this is what Strictly is all about.’

As the TV personality scored 28, Made In Chelsea’s Sam Thompson supported her from home so he could vote for his girlfriend via his phone and let his followers do the same.