Fleur East is no stranger to big performances and putting on a show but how will she fare in the ballroom? Well, we'll soon be finding out as the singer and radio and TV star is among the 15 stars lined up for Strictly Come Dancing 2022.
She was the 12th contestant to be confirmed for the upcoming series and made the announcement on her Hits Radio Breakfast show. Fleur will be vying for the Glitterball trophy with her professional dance partner, going up against the lists of Countryfile host Helen Skelton, Paralympic champion Ellie Simmonds, Bros star Matt Goss, former footballer Tony Adams, and Kiss FM's Tyler West.
Strictly judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas all return too, alongside hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, for the 20th series of the show.
READ MORE: BBC Strictly's Will Mellor's cheeky comment to Kym Marsh as she vows it's time a grandma won show
As for Fleur, since coming runner-up in series 11 of The X Factor in 2014, Fleur has been a regular face in the world of music and broadcasting. As a singer she has released two albums, with European chart hit single 'Sax' reaching number three in the UK singles chart.
After appearing on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here in 2018 she became the host of the Hits Radio Breakfast show which she hosts every weekday.
And when being announced for the show, Fleur emotionally shared why she decided to take part this year: "Unfortunately my Dad [Malcolm] is no longer with us but I know he will be watching over the ballroom in spirit. I’m doing this to make him and my family proud and can’t wait to get my dancing shoes on!"
The 34-year-old has also since said of her late father: "He even used to get annoyed that he had to miss out on Strictly when I was on The X Factor because they were on at the same time. When I was deciding whether or not to do it I spoke to my sister and she reminded me of dad watching it all the time and then that was that the deciding factor straightaway, so that’s my motivation for doing it."
Away from work, Fleur is happily married to husband Marcel Badiane-Robin. The pair tied the knot in 2019 in the Atlas mountains of Morocco. Marcel is a fashion designer and was the founder of the Marr Ldn brand (formerly Elevate Ldn) which ceased production in 2020.
Their wedding was attended by lots of famous faces, including Fleur’s fellow I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here contestant and football manager Harry Redknapp.
READ NEXT:
- Rylan Clark leaves fans disappointed as he shares BBC Strictly Come Dancing news
- Gemma Atkinson teases Gorka Marquez's BBC Strictly partner after their child-free night alone is disturbed by their dog
- Kym Marsh on how husband will support her on BBC Strictly ahead of first wedding anniversary after hitting back at 'fix' claims
- BBC Strictly Come Dancing stars including Kym Marsh and Helen Skelton show off glam makeovers as some ditch the glitter
- BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Rose Ayling-Ellis stuns in bikini beach snap as she ditches UK after 'split'
