Kym Marsh defends sacked Strictly Come Dancing pro Graziano Di Prima in latest twist in bullying scandal

STRICTLY star Kym Marsh has defended dance pro Graziano Di Prima after he was axed for kicking another celebrity.

The actress, 48, was partnered with the Sicilian in 2022 and leapt to support him amid the show’s scandal.

Graziano, 30, was sacked by the BBC in July after a video showed him kicking Zara McDermott during training for last year’s series.

Kym said: “I’m reluctant to talk too much about someone else’s experience. I had one of the best times of my life doing that show and it was amazing.

"I didn’t have any experiences like we’ve heard. It definitely, definitely did not represent what I had experienced, no.”

Asked if she was surprised to hear the allegations levelled at Graziano, Kym responded: “Yeah.”

Kym, currently appearing as Cruella de Vil in stage musical 101 Dalmatians, added: “I’ll always have tremendously fond memories.”

The Sun revealed last month that training room footage depicting Graziano’s treatment of Zara had reduced those that saw it to tears .

The Love Island star, 27, said the scenes were “incredibly distressing”.

At the weekend, Graziano said: “These vile, false allegations ruined my life.” It comes as last year’s runner-up Bobby Brazier admitted Strictly’s 12-hour days did sometimes lead to “bickering”.

Last night, Arsenal star Paul Merson, 56, Olympian Sam Quek, 35, and TV’s Nick Knowles, 61, were confirmed as the final contenders for this winter’s Strictly.