The One Show host Alex Jones raised laughs with an unexpected jibe at co-presenter Ronan Keating as they chatted to singer Fleur East about landing in the dreaded dance-off on Strictly Come Dancing. Last weekend Manchester's Hits Radio presenter Fleur was in the bottom two with her professional dance partner Vito Coppola.
The pair repeated their The Little Mermaid-inspired American Smooth routine as they competed with Radio 2 presenter Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice to stay in the competition. Richie and Giovanni served up their samba again to Hakuna Matata from The Lion King dressed as Timon and Pumbaa.
Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse, and Craig Revel-Horwood unanimously voted to save Fleur and Vito. While her vote made no difference to the result, head judge Shirley Ballas sparked an outcry by revealing she'd have opted to save Richie and Giovanni.
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The results, and Shirley's decision, outraged fans who flocked to social media to have their say. @SAPPHSUKI wondered: "Shirley would rather have saved the men darting around in animal costumes than the technically skilled and beautiful dancer Fleur?" @Jordaniaxxxxx said: "Done my Strictly catch up and all I can say is: does someone want to have a word with Shirley??? and @reelofthe51st gasped: "Shirley would have kicked out Fleur? Whaaaaat?"
Fleur discussed the 'red light of doom' landing on her so early in the series in week three. "You must prepare mentally," she was asked. And the Sax hitmaker admitted how hard it was to reprise her dance.
"You're so nervous," she explained. "You work hard all week for that one performance and then to have to do it again and go up against someone that you like. Our group is so tight. We genuinely are rooting for everybody."
She added: "My initial reaction when I knew that they had saved me, I didn't even celebrate. I just looked at Richie straight away and went ...(pulls sad face)."
Alex then caused surprise by adding, deadpan: "Well, as Ronan said earlier, callous some would say, somebody's got to go." "Did I say that?" Ronan asked with amazement as Alex and Fleur burst out laughing. "He's a lovely boy," said Alex reassuringly as she placed her hand on Ronan's shoulder.
Later, as Fleur revealed that this weekend she would be performing the Argentine Tango, Boyzone star Ronan had his turn to wind-up Alex, who competed on Strictly in 2011, as he told their guest: "As Alex said earlier, it's the hardest dance." "Shut up," she told him jokingly. "Why would you tell me this?" gasped Fleur. And Ronan told her: "She didn't really."
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