Strictly star drops huge hint he’s been partnered with Zara McDermott as he tells her boyfriend ‘she’s safe with me’

STRICTLY pro Neil Jones has dropped a huge hint he will dance with Love Island star Zara McDermott when the show returns later this year.

Neil, who is expecting his first child with his Love Island star fiancée Chyna Mills, has only ever been partnered with two celebrities despite joining Strictly seven years ago.

Yesterday, Neil commented on a video of Zara’s boyfriend Sam Thompson chatting about her stint on Strictly.

He was interview by new Strictly It Takes two host Fleur East together on Hits Radio about Zara entering the dance competition, and she asked him: “I need to ask are you ready for this?

“The first think I have to ask you is are you a jealous person?”

Sam replied: “If you’re off dancing with someone else, as long as I’m playing Fifa I’m cool.”

Fleur also asked if Sam was prepared to “date a new version” of Zara every week.

She said: “One week she’ll be in waltz vibe, next week she’ll be in salsa vibe” and off camera, someone else added: “Next week she’ll be in an affair with Neil.”

Sam replied: “Who is Neil?”

Neil reacted to the post on Instagram and stoked the rumour mill, writing: “Don’t worry @samthompsonuk you are definitely safe with me.”

Fans reacted to Neil’s comment and one raved: “Does this mean you have a celebrity partner this year? You and Alex where amazing!”

Another said: “spoiler alert!”

Sam and Zara briefly split in 2020 when she confessed to cheating on him during her stint on The X Factor: Celebrity.

The hunk came fifth on Strictly with footballer Alex Scott in 2019 but was part of the first couple to be eliminated when he was paired with EastEnders legend Nina Wadia two years later.

Meanwhile, Zara has made history as the first Love Island star to enter Strictly.

Zara joins the likes of Strictly’s oldest-ever star Angela Rippon and Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington.