Strictly's Fleur East says she ‘can’t believe’ she was in the dance off

Sunday’s Strictly Come Dancing saw former X Factor star Fleur East and her pro partner Vito Coppola at risk of being booted from the BBC dance competition. Luckily for the pair, it was Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice who became the second couple to leave the series. Despite this, Fleur has shared her surprise at being in the bottom two in the first place.

"I couldn't believe it," Fleur said on her Hits Radio Breakfast Show. "Of course, you know someone is going to be called but as soon as you hear your name it's like, 'Oh no'.”

The singer and radio presenter, 34, added: “There was so much technique in my dance and three terrifying lifts, and I remember after I'd danced on Saturday I was like, 'Phew, done it now, I can relax a little bit and think about the next dance'. But as soon as I knew I was in the bottom two, I thought, 'Oh no I've got to do it again. I've got to do all those lifts again. And with added pressure!' So, I was very nervous; very, very nervous."

Read more: Strictly viewers 'furious' as Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice leave show

Fleur and Vito looked nervous as the judges made their decision (BBC)

During Movie Week, Fleur and Vito performed a Little Mermaid-inspired American Smooth. They danced to ‘Part of Your World’, which was sang by Jodi Benson in the film. The dance couple received a score of 29 from the judges. But despite not being at the bottom of the leader board, she found herself in the dance off after the public vote.

"I'm so happy and grateful that the judges saved us, as I'm not ready to stop dancing with Vito. We're just getting started!" Fleur continued. She also described how her partner was also shocked when he found out they were in the bottom two.

Describing the nerve-wracking experience, pro dancer Vito said: “The dance-off was unexpected, but it gave me another chance to dance with the little Fleurmaid. And I got so many messages from people saying, 'we didn't vote because we thought you were going to go through'. Sometimes people think, 'They're good, they'll be safe' and they don't vote – but people need to vote!"

Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One

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