Strictly Come Dancing icon Fleur East has opened up about her disappointment after failing to land the main hosting role.
The TV presenter, 38, has hosted the BBC’s hit Strictly spin-off show, It Takes Two, for three years alongside Janette Manrara, but with the show heralding in a new era, her future there remains uncertain.
It Takes Two is reportedly facing a major overhaul with a new format without Fleur and Janette (exactly how they fit into the world of Strictly going forward remains to be seen, as the BBC has denied ‘axing’ them).
Moreover, it doesn’t appear that Fleur was in the shortlist for the main hosting gig.
The BBC has been on the hunt for Claudia Winkleman, 54, and Tess Daly, 57, replacements for several months – with the final 10 undergoing a rigorous audition process including stars like Alison Hammond, Zoe Ball and Rylan.
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Over the past week, The Sun has reported that Big Brother star Emma Willis has landed one of the empty spots with other stars such as Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe still in the mix to join her.
For Hits Radio host Fleur, however, it looks as though this is the end of the road – and she has opened up about how tough the rejection has been.
Speaking on the Hits Radio Breakfast Show on Wednesday morning, she addressed the rumours that Emma had been chosen.
‘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…’ she told her co-hosts Will Best and James Barr.
The TV and radio star, who herself was a contestant on the show in 2022, said it was ‘okay to admit’ that the news of missing out on an ‘incredible job’ was a blow.
She shared: ‘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.”‘
‘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 okay before it was confirmed that someone [has] 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.”
In the end, she graciously conceded: ‘But it’s gone to the right person.’
She is not the first star to express how difficult it’s been to not secure the golden Strictly gig.
After weeks of speculation that former Radio 2 host Zoe was a frontrunner for the role, she confirmed that she had not got it.
Speaking on her Dig It podcast with Jo Whiley, she said: ‘I didn’t get it, but it’s OK. I have worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection over the last couple of days.’
There is no official word yet on who will host Strictly with the BBC simply saying that plans for 2026 will be revealed in due course.
But, with the returning pros and judges confirmed, it’s only a matter of time before we find out who will be stepping into Claudia and Tess’ shoes.
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