Who presents 'Love in the Flesh'? What you need to about Zara McDermott

Zara McDermott is the host of the new BBC Three dating show Love in the Flesh. The eight-part series, which is a cross between Love Island and Catfish, is already proving to be a hit on social media after making its debut at the end of March. It also marks Zara's debut as a presenter for a TV series. 

As fans will know, Zara, 24, is no stranger to reality TV or dating on-screen for that matter, having started her career as a public figure on Love Island, where she was a contestant on season 4 back in 2018. Now, she's guiding a young batch of potential couples: the Love in the Flesh contestants who, like Zara, are hoping to find love in a tropical destination. 

But before we delve into the ups and downs of their relationships on the show, here are some key things to know about Zara... 

Who is Zara McDermott?

We were all introduced to Zara when she was a contestant on Love Island season 4, entering the villa as a bombshell. At the time, Zara, who is now 24,  was a 21-year-old  government advisor from Essex and described herself as "definitely a catch"
who's "definitely got the brains". 

Before entering the villa, she also said: "I'm intelligent, which means I’m quite good at reading people. I’m always analysing people. I fall in love really quickly, which makes me quite serious. I think that if I like someone, I will go for them 100%. That might not be attractive to everyone."

Since leaving Love Island, where she was in a couple with Adam Collard (the two split shortly after leaving the villa together), Zara has appeared on other reality TV shows like The X Factor: Celebrity and Made in Chelsea. 

However, she has now given up life as a reality TV star to focus on her career as a presenter. Last year, she fronted a BBC documentaries about Revenge Porn and Rape Culture, drawing on her own experiences and highlighting the dangers of it. Now, she's working with the BBC once again as the host of Love in the Flesh. 

Who is Zara McDermott's boyfriend?

Zara is dating Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson. The two have been public about their relationship since getting together in 2019. However, they had a huge bump in the road in 2020 when Zara admitted that had cheated on Sam with a music industry executive during her time on The X Factor. 

The two had a very public back and forth on Made in Chelsea, and on social media, with Zara desperately trying to win back Sam. They eventually got back together and now seem happier than ever.