By Matt Davies
Fleur East has delivered a six-word assessment of Strictly’s prospects after discussing the “intense bubble” she endured during her time on the reality show. The 37-year-old currently presents the Strictly Come Dancing spin-off show It Takes Two alongside professional dancer Janette Manrara , securing the position following her journey to the final as a competitor in 2022. Fleur, who first came to prominence on the X-Factor before stepping onto the dance floor, is recognised for her role on The Hits Radio Breakfast Show and has recently landed a part as Tina Turner in a West End production. Speaking about her experience on the hit BBC show, Fleur expressed satisfaction at being able to remain involved with the programme following her participation, observing that numerous former contestants described experiencing ‘FOMO’ (fear of missing out) after their departure. Fleur revealed to i Weekend: “It’s an intense bubble that you’re in when you do the show. I’m really pleased that I got the chance to work on it straight after I was on it because a majority of celebs say you get a real sense of FOMO the following year.” She was then quizzed on whether the popular BBC show had “clawed back its appeal”. It comes after the programme was embroiled in a bullying scandal after actress made a string of complaints against dancer partner Giovanni Pernice. The Italian professional dancer faced allegations of being “abusive” from Amanda, subsequently leading to a BBC investigation. An inquiry upheld six out of 17 complaints but cleared him of physical abuse allegations. Yet, in her response to the question, the magazine says Fleur “diplomatically dodges” whether the show has “clawed back its appeal” before speaking about the “joyous” nature of the much-loved dance contest. She added: “I think it’s just like no other show. It’s a really joyous show. It brings people together, it’s fun, and I don’t think it’s going anywhere.” In an interview with the Express this month, she offered a glimpse into her future career aspirations, revealing that she now has a “bit of the acting bug” and would like to take on a film role. Singer-songwriter Fleur went on to express her desire to portray a “powerful woman”. Later, she shared what advice she would give to her younger self if given the chance, including one “regret” she harbours. Fleur confessed that she used to be “scared of rejection”. She said: “One regret I would say I have is that I was so nervous and so worried about what people would think of me. I was so scared of rejection for many years that I didn’t step out and do the things that I wanted to do. “I wasn’t brave enough for many years. And then the moment that I found the courage, I stepped into what I feel like I was always meant to do, and I loved every second of it.” Fleur East stars on Saturday Kitchen Live this morning (Saturday, July 5) at 10am on BBC One.