Zara McDermott has to leave Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals early

Zara McDermott has to leave Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals early due to a medical emergency

Zara McDermott had to leave Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals early to accompany her boyfriend Sam Thompson to hospital with kidney problems.

The former Love Island star, 26, is partnering Graziano Di Prima in the current series and is hoping not to end up in the bottom two for a third time this weekend.

But for Zara, love comes first as the star left her training time to be with 31-year-old Sam, who feared he might be suffering from kidney disease.

Speaking to Pete Wicks on her Staying Relevant podcast, Sam said: “You came to me when I thought I was dying and you were literally there for me.”

“Even though I knew there was nothing wrong with you,” Pete replied.

Horror: Zara McDermott had to leave Strictly rehearsals early to accompany her boyfriend Sam Thompson to hospital with kidney problems (pictured with Graziano Di Prima)

Horror: Zara McDermott had to leave Strictly rehearsals early to accompany her boyfriend Sam Thompson to hospital with kidney problems (pictured with Graziano Di Prima)

Show: The former Love Island star, 26, is partnering Graziano Di Prima in the current series and is hoping not to end up in the bottom two for a third time this weekend

Show: The former Love Island star, 26, is partnering Graziano Di Prima in the current series and is hoping not to end up in the bottom two for a third time this weekend

Sam then revealed that he made Zara drop out of her Strictly rehearsals because he thought there was something seriously wrong with him.

“Do you want to know something worse?” Sam said. “I made Zara leave her Strictly training early to see me at the doctor and all the guy had to say was, ‘Yeah, you’re fine.'”

This came after Sam admitted he “could have done more” for Zara after she narrowly avoided elimination for the second time.

After failing to impress with their pasodoble in the third week, the pair ended up back in the bottom two on Sunday night – only to be saved at the expense of comedian Eddie Kadi and professional partner Karen Hauer.

Sam revealed he had been distracted by another priority during the week – but would come back “stronger” on Saturday to support her performance.

On his Hits UK radio show with Sam Thompson, he told his listeners: “Zara was in the dance off again!” This happens all too often and it is very difficult to accept her as a friend because she comes back completely exhausted and has worked so hard.

“I have to be honest with you, even though I could have done a little more!”

“Rugby and the World Cup have distracted me a bit and I haven’t gotten quite as far with my usual Instagram efforts, but I’ll come back stronger this week!”

Couple: But love comes first for Zara as the star left her training to be with 31-year-old Sam who feared he might be suffering from kidney disease

Couple: But love comes first for Zara as the star left her training to be with 31-year-old Sam who feared he might be suffering from kidney disease

Sam said:

Sam said: “I made Zara leave her Strictly training early to see me at the doctor and it was just up to the guy to say, ‘Yeah, you’re fine.'”

“We’re not going down without a fight, baby!”

Sam wasn’t in the audience on Saturday to support Zara as she only gets two tickets and her friends and family work on a ‘rota system’.

Zara and Graziano narrowly avoided elimination after scoring 28 points for their American Smooth to LeeAnn Rimes’ Can’t Fight The Moonlight.