Inside Graziano di Prima's life before the Strictly scandal: From being bullied for his love of dancing to his twin's tragic death and attending Europe's notorious dance school

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It was revealed at the weekend that Graziano Di Prima has been axed from Strictly over reports he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara McDermott during last year's series. 

The allegations came to light after members of production presented video of training room incidents to BBC HR executives investigating Graziano's co-star Giovanni Pernice amid bullying accusations from his partner Amanda Abbington. 

However before he joined the cast of Strictly in 2018 the Italian dancer's life was far from the sparkly world of the BBC show. 

Born in Sicily, Graziano was grew up in a Sicilian vineyard and was driving a tractor by the time he was six years-old. 

His life began in tragedy after him and his twin brother were born seven weeks early. 

From being bullied for his love of dancing to his twin's tragic death and attending notorious dance school we take a look at Graziano Di Prima's life before Strictly 

The dancer's life began in tragedy after him and his twin brother were born seven weeks early. Graziano wasn't breathing, however he fortunately survived while his twin brother sadly passed away

Graziano wasn't breathing, however he fortunately survived while his twin brother sadly passed away. 

He previously told Hello! magazine: 'I was born prematurely and had a twin brother, who sadly died.

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'I was so weak that it was uncertain whether I would survive. I was lucky, though, and my parents named me Graziano, which means 'thank you'.'

While his family mourned the loss of his brother, Graziano spent weeks in hospital for premature babies as he was too skinny to be let home and continued to catch fevers. 

As he grew up, it was assumed most of his peers would go into agriculture, however Graziano had different ideas and wanted to make it as a dancer. 

He began dancing when he was six years-old after his mother enrolled him in classes.

Speaking in an interview with The Express he said: 'My parents worked on the land all day for a humble income,' as he admitted that he 'never' had enough money for luxuries like fashionable trainers.

'My mum would never buy me Nike shoes. She would say: 'We [have to] save money for dancing!''

The professional dancer, 30, was axed from the BBC show last week over reports he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara McDermott , 27, during last year's series

Born in Sicily, Graziano was grew up in a Sicilian vineyard and was driving a tractor by the time he was six years-old

As he grew up, it was assumed most of his peers would go into agriculture, however Graziano had different ideas and wanted to make it as a dancer (pictured with his mum Giovanna) 

Graziano pictured with his elder brother Piero 

Graziano helped his parents on the farm from an early age, however as his passion for dancing grew he began to face bullying for both his hobby and his long dark locks. 

Committed to dancing some of his competitions were a 12 hour drive away as he told the publication he felt like he was living two lives: 'I was living two lives. At school, I was just a normal kid but outside, I was dreaming about dancing.'

Graziano went on to attend one of Europe's biggest dance schools, Team Diablo, near Bologna in northern Italy, where Giovanni Pernice also attended. 

Students who attended Team Diablo, which has 11,000 members, faced up to 12 hours of training per day, and were drilled to repeat steps on a loop in a bid to perfect their routines.

Stars who have attended the school, have also shared how they lost dangerous amounts of weight, after restricting their diets in a bid to keep up with their rivals.

Joanne Clifton, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 alongside Ore Oduba, previously shared that she was hospitalised due to her concerning weight loss after drinking up to '10 espressos a day'.

Graziano helped his parents on the farm from an early age, however as his passion for dancing grew he began to face bullying for both his hobby and his long dark locks (pictured with his dad Filippo) 

The star is planning to move back home to Italy to rebuild his life, after his departure from Strictly

In an interview with The Telegraph, Diablo's teachers stand by the school's gruelling teaching methods, with Anna Matus saying: 'They can be here for eight hours, sometimes 12 hours a day. They are athletes, they are competitors.'

Simone Cané, who is the director of the Paladanze school, which is affiliated with Team Diablo, said: 'To be successful in this business you have to put in the training, the athletic preparation and make many sacrifices. 

'When you are dancing as a couple, your partner also has to operate the same way.'

After his time at the dance school, Graziano went on to pursue his career in dance and joined the Strictly team in 2018 where he was partnered with Vick Hope. 

He then didn't receive another celebrity partner until 2021 when he was paired up with Loose Women panellist Judi Love. 

He was later teamed with Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh with whom he reached the quarter finals, before being paired with Zara in what would be his last series. 

Graziano and his wife Giada Lini, 34, have been together since 2015, and married in 2022.

After his time at the dance school, Graziano went on to pursue his career in dance and joined the Strictly team in 2018 where he was partnered with Vick Hope

. He then didn't receive another celebrity partner until 2021 when he was paired up with Loose Women panellist Judi Love

He was later teamed with Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh with whom he reached the quarter finals, before being paired with Zara in what would be his last series

In 2019, Graziano, who had turned 25 just days before proposed to Giada, then 28, during the Burn The Floor dance tour's performance in Watford.

Oti Mabuse revealed the happy event to her Instagram followers, and Kevin Clifton was also there.

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The couple had both joined Strictly the year before, and Giada told Hello! Magazine if she was concerned about 'Italian Stallion' Graziano falling prey to 'the Strictly curse'.

She said: 'I come from the same background so I understand that if you dance together you have to be very close. I’m not jealous of that.'

Originally from Venice, Giada is a Showdance Latin World Champion finalist and a teacher at the International Dance Bassano school and academy.

During her brief spell on Strictly, she never had a celebrity partner, but appeared in several group numbers.

Then, in 2021, Giada got her first big break on Italy's Dancing With The Stars and was partnered with retired footballer Fabio Galante.

Following a two-year delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Graziano and Giada finally married in Sicily in July 2022.

The 90-minute Catholic service took place within the Mediterranean island's Basilica della Madonna della Catena, a historic church situated in the quant village of Castiglione di Sicilia.

Originally from Venice, Giada is a Showdance Latin World Champion finalist and a teacher at the International Dance Bassano school and academy 

Following a two-year delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Graziano and Giada finally married in Sicily in July 2022 

A select group of 200 guests attended the ceremony, among them fellow Strictly stars Nadiya Bychkova, Karim Zeroual and Chizzy Akudolu.

In 2023, Graziano shared that he and Giada will wait 'a few years' to start a family because dancing careers 'don't last very long'.

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Strictly's Graziano Di Prima 'flees the UK to start a new life in Italy'

Speaking at the Bat Out of Hell press night at the Peacock Theatre in London - which runs until the 1st of April - Graziano insisted that he and Giada are 'giving priority' to their careers.

He exclusively told MailOnline: 'We are giving priority to our careers. Our career is not long, so we are going to wait a few years before we think about a family, because I want to still dance, and she wants to still do Dancing With The Stars, but obviously we are thinking about it.'  

The star is planning to move back home to Italy to rebuild his life, after his departure from Strictly.

Insiders have now revealed that Graziano is already packing up his life in the UK and plans to start again in Italy alongside his wife Giada, a fellow dancer who stars on the Italian version of Strictly.

A source explained how the dancer, who is planning to sue the BBC following his sacking, has gone into hiding, claiming: 'Graziano is petrified and in a bad place'.

'He is being supported by his wife Giada and they are planning to pack up and move back to Italy. This has killed his career dead and he knows it,' the insider told The Sun. 

'Going back to Italy for a new beginning is what is best for him and Giada.'