NEW IT TAKES TWO CO-HOST FLEUR EAST WHY SHE QUICKSTEPPED BACK INTO THE STRICTLY COME DANCING BUBBLE

Her energy, passion and talent won Fleur East a legion of new fans on Strictly Come Dancing

- EMILY HORAN

The singer made it to the 2022 final with her professional partner Vito Coppola, after scoring the first perfect 40 of the series with a couple’s choice routine that head judge Shirley Ballas said was “iconic” and would “go down in history”.

Even so, when the BBC’s hit show returned this year, Fleur, 35, fully expected to be tuning in from her sofa as the spotlight fell on the new cast of celebrities.

Instead, she’s back in the Strictly fold, having taken the reins from Rylan Clark to co-host BBC2’s spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two alongside former professional dancer Janette Manrara.

In addition, week two saw her open Strictly’s Sunday night results show alongside Beverley Knight and Laura Mvula, w i th an electrifying tribute to Tina Turner.

A DIFFERENT TUNE

“I imagined that when Strictly came back around, I’d be watching all the new celebs from home, reminiscing, but now I’m in the thick of it again,” she says.

“It feels like I’m doing it all over again, but just from a lot more of a relaxed perspective because I don’t have to stress about doing a dance every weekend.

“It’s lovely to be still part of it. My Strictly journey hasn’t ended.”

After shooting to fame on The X Factor in 2014 and enjoying a successful music career, Fleur joined the team on Hits Radio’s breakfast show.

But being on Strictly has brought a host of new opportunities. Along with her new presenting gig, she is joining the cast of BBC school drama Phoenix Rise as music teacher Miss Meesha.