Strictly Come Dancing star Fleur East has revealed she had a bit of a grim injury before landing up in the dance-off over the weekend. The singer and radio presenter was in the bottom two for a second time as the BBC One dance contest pulled out all the stops for its Halloween special.
Fleur and her professional partner Vito Coppola had to re-perform their salsa routine to Beyonce’s Break My Soul as they went up against James Bye and Amy Dowden. The EastEnders star ended up under the dreaded red light after his Charleston to Bumble Bee by LaVern Baker.
After both couples had danced for the second time, it was a unanimous decision by the judges to save Fleur and send James home. Craig Revel Horwood said it was his "responsibility" as a judge to "save the better dancer", meanwhile Motsi said there were "different levels of dancing on the dance floor" as she opted to save Fleur.
Following James' exit, Fleur remained silent on her survival until appearing on her Hits Radio show on Monday morning (October 31). And it turns out she had a bit of a painful injury to contend with as she fought to stay in the dance competition for another week.
"Last week I knocked my big toenail against Vito’s heel during rehearsals for our salsa and my nail is now just about hanging on, it’s literally a matter of days before it comes off," she said during her Hits Radio Breakfast Show. "It doesn’t look pretty and I had to dance with my big toe bandaged up on Saturday. And then I tripped in the dance-off as I slipped doing a back bend."
Addressing the painful moment, Italian dance partner Vito added: "I tried to help her but when I turned around she had already got up again and started dancing! She stood up so fast so I went to help her – like a gentleman! – and she was already up. I was so excited I screamed 'go Fleur.' She’s so independent which is great but I was like ‘please let me do something, let me do my job."
Breaking her social media silence on making it through to week seven and having to say goodbye to EastEnders star James, Fleur wrote on Instagram: "To salsa to Beyoncé on my birthday on Halloween week with my amazing partner @vitocoppola_real on @bbcstrictly was the most incredible feeling.
"So thankful to the judges for putting us through to next week and thank you so much to everyone that has voted for us and sent supportive messages! Sad to say goodbye to @jimmybye such a true gent!!"
And Vito, who joined Strictly this year as one of four new professional dancers, was quick to respond and publicly show his support to his celebrity partner. "Hey partner… you make me proud every week more," he began. "You smashed it!
"I am enjoying every single number, every single week, day and moment with you. You are such a strong woman. Such an example!
Let’s now think about our next dance. Vai partner." He then added: "And btw… Happy Birthday."
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