Fleur East was overcome with emotion as she discussed joining the Strictly Come Dancing line-up, paying a touching tribute to her late dad who loved the show.
The singer and presenter, who found fame as a runner-up on series 11 of The X Factor, was announced as the latest celebrity to be taking to the Strictly dance floor in this year’s new series. Fleur said that it was “such an honour” to be joining the BBC competition, having watched the show for many years with her dad.
Saying that her father “loved it so much”, the 34-year-old star added that she was taking part in Strictly “to make him and my family proud” in her statement announcing that she was joining the latest series. “I know he will be watching over the ballroom in spirit,” Fleur said.
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Fleur appeared on Thursday’s edition of Lorraine, hosted by Ranvir Singh, to discuss Strictly and the loss of her dad, who died of a heart attack during lockdown in 2020. And the Sax singer grew tearful as she told Ranvir about her dad’s love of the show.
“I’m just going to be doing it for him,” she said. “And I’m just gutted that he can’t see me doing it, to be honest, but I’m just going to keep him in mind when I’m doing the show.”
Ranvir comforted Fleur saying: “Well, he’ll be with you, won’t he? And you’ll hear him cheering you on in your mind. He would be absolutely over the moon that you got selected for Strictly.”
“I know. I wasn’t expecting to get this emotional about it,” she admitted.
Fleur added that she was “equally nervous and thrilled” to be in the Strictly line-up, saying that she wants to “soak up every moment of this magical experience”. Fleur joins stars including Will Mellor, Kym Marsh, Ellie Simmonds and Matt Goss for this year’s series which will begin next month.
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