Fleur East 'bothered' over not being considered for Strictly Come Dancing presenter job
Fleur East secretly wished Strictly Come Dancing bosses would approach her for talks about replacing either Tess Daly or Claudia Winkleman as a co-host of the BBC Latin and Ballroom dance show, but it did not happen.
Fleur East is "bothered" by not being considered for the prestigious Strictly Come Dancing presenter job.
The 38-year-old star is sad that she was not asked to replace either Tess Daly, 57, or 54-year-old Claudia Winkleman - who quit the BBC Latin and Ballroom dance show in 2025 - after a successful three years fronting the weekly companion show, It Takes Two, with 42-year-old Janette Manrara.
It comes days after The Sun reported that former Big Brother host Emma Willis, 50, is set to be unveiled as one of the new hosts.
Speaking on Wednesday's (13.05.26's) edition of the Hits Radio Breakfast Show, Fleur admitted: "All right, I’m going to say it.
"I did say initially, after Tess and Claudia announced they were leaving Strictly, you know, it’s probably not going to happen [for me], and I’m happy for whoever gets it.
"And we were just talking about Emma Willis being announced, and I was like, 'Yeah, great, amazing,' and I’ve kind of lied to myself that I’d be all right with not doing it or not being considered for the job. But I’m kind of bothered…
"I think it’s OK to admit that. I think it’s OK to admit that being faced with the opportunity of such an incredible job. I mean, it’s an amazing show.
"I’ve not only had the privilege and pleasure of being on it, but then also hosting It Takes Two and being part of the family; it’s been an incredible job to be a part of.
"So, when you’re within touching distance of something like that, and even considering it for a minute, I never allowed myself to really go fully there, but I did think about it. I was like, 'That would be amazing.'"
Fleur - who was a finalist on Strictly Come Dancing with her professional dance partner Vito Coppola, 33, in 2022 - is "coming to terms" with not being considered for the role after hoping bosses might call her up for talks.
The Sax singer continued: "So yeah, I guess I have been lying to myself when I’ve been saying, 'I’m fine.' I’m coming to terms with it, but I feel I was OK before it was kind of confirmed that someone’s got the job.
"Because until it was confirmed, I was like, 'Well, they might call me one day. They might do all the tests, and they go, Actually, yeah, we haven’t seen Fleur. Let’s give her a little call.' But it’s gone to the right person."
Fleur is not the only star to be disappointed about not landing the Strictly Come Dancing presenter job.
Big favourite and former It Takes Two host Zoe Ball, 55, "worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection" that she was not selected, but was "chuffed to even be in the mix" alongside the likes of The X Factor star Rylan Clark, 37, and 49-year-old The One Show presenter Alex Jones.
And on Tuesday (13.05.26), The Sun reported that Johannes Radebe, 39, is poised to join Emma as part of Strictly Come Dancing's new presenting line-up - despite being confirmed as a returning professional dancer for the 2026 series.
It is believed he wowed the programme's bosses during the recent presenter auditions.
