Zara McDermott thinks her grandma would be "over the moon" if she could see her on 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
Zara McDermott believes her nan is watching over her
The 26-year-old presenter is the first former 'Love Island' contestant to compete on the star-studded BBC Latin and ballroom show and remembered watching the first series of the programme with her late nan as a child, although she admitted that taking part is like "throwing herself in the deep end" because she is "not very good" at dancing to start with.
She told Best magazine: "Pushing myself out of my comfort zone is something I've tried to do the whole of my 20s. I know I'm not very good at dancing. I've never been the girl to even dance in a nightclub in front of friends. This is throwing myself into the deep end.
"I remember watching the first series when I was seven, with my nan. We would replicate the dances in the living room. She's sadly passed away now but she'd be over the moon if she knew I was doing this. I feel like she's looking down on me. She's my little guardian angel. "
However, the BBC Three star and documentary maker - who is competing against the likes of West End star Layton Williams, broadcaster Angela Rippon and former 'Coronation Street' actress Ellie Leach on the show - did go on to add that she has no "natural" ability in dance to start with so thinks she could have the "least" chance of actually lifting the Glitterball Trophy at the end of the series.
She added: "I feel I have the least advantage, I have no natural dance ability. So, the thought of winning is just incredible!"
Tagged in Layton Williams Angela Rippon Zara McDermott