'Zara was asked if she was OK ....she was clearly too scared to speak up

WORRIED BBC producers spoke to Strictly Come Dancing contestant Zara McDermott after witnessing her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima being verbally abusive in rehearsals, it is claimed.

- Tom Bryant

But she told them she was fine and the matter was considered resolved, show insiders said.

Meanwhile, Zara has described what she said were harrowing experiences behind the scenes on the hit BBC One dance contest.

Distressing

She said some footage of her during training sessions last year were "incredibly distressing to watch".

Graziano, 30, was axed from the show over claims of gross misconduct and said his will to win may have affected his training style. A Strictly source said: "In hindsight, Zara was clearly too scared to speak up and it's heartbreaking that the full extent of what was happening wasn't apparent."