ZARA McDermott has returned to Strictly Come Dancing in a shock move tonight.
The Love Island star, 27, has put her troubling experience on the BBC series - which saw her professional partner Graziano Di Prima axed - to one side to appear in the audience supporting her friend TOWIE star Pete Wicks, 36.
Viewers were stunned to see Zara sitting in the audience after the scandal that threatened to destroy the long-running show.
She was seen briefly in the audience before the camera suddenly cut away from her.
One fan wrote: “not the camera cutting away quickly when it was closing in on zara mcdermot💀💀💀 #Strictly”
A second said: “I knew Sam would be in the audience, surprised at Zara though... cameraman quickly cut away #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing”
Another added: “It’s giving producers panicking that it’s showing Zara so they went to Fleurs hair in panic #Strictly”
The star posted her return on Instagram, writing: "So excited!!!! Team Pete!!!!"
But tonight it was clearly all put aside with Zara sitting in the audience with her boyfriend Sam Thompson to support his best friend Pete.
The former Made In Chelsea star often jokes about being in a "throuple" with Pete, since he's best friends with her her boyfriend, Sam Thompson, 31.
Previously, Zara broke her silence with a lengthy comment on the alleged "physical incidents."
Graziano was fired by the BBC following claims he hit, spat at and kicked at his former celebrity partner.
The Sun also revealed that Zara had broken a leg bone in a tough training session during the show last year.
Graziano has since returned to his normal job, working for £6 an hour on a farm in his native Italy.
Yet he has hit back at the "shocking" way the pair's friendship came to an end.
He told how "these vile, false allegations ruined my life in a matter of minutes — professionally, financially, psychologically and reputationally."
Zara recently broke her silence on Pete signing up for the hit BBC series.
A source told MailOnline: "Zara is so happy for Pete landing the Strictly gig.
"Her experience on the show was so individual – she hopes no one will go through the same again.
"She knows that Pete will have an amazing time and could even impress the judges, he's incredibly hardworking and a good person, and will thrive in the environment, which can be intense, but he performs best when he's challenged and under pressure.
"Zara doesn't want anything that happened to her to taint his Strictly journey and backs Pete even if it is a bit close to home."
