Huge Strictly Come Dancing star eyes up major career change away from BBC show

Strictly Come Dancing star Fleur East has teased a potential dream career move. The 37-year-old, who shot to fame on The X Factor as a singer, was a finalist during the 2022 series of the BBC dance competition. She then moved on to co-hosting Strictly's BBC Two weekday sister show, It Takes Two. Alongside her success on Strictly, Fleur has also fronted The Hits Radio Breakfast Show since 2019. The recording artist recently landed the lead role of Tina Turner in the hit West End musical, with her run starting in June. Speaking exclusively to Express Online, she looked back on her incredible career so far and explained what dream role she would love to do in the future.

She said: "I feel like in terms of career, I feel like I've got a bit of the acting bug now. I feel maybe to do more like TV or film, I'd love to do a film. I'd love to play like a powerful woman, like a superhero, or something like that. I'd love to do that."

When quizzed about what advice she would give her younger self, Fleur replied, "One regret I would say I have is that I was so nervous and so worried about what people would think of me. I was so scared of rejection for many years that I didn't step out and do the things that I wanted to do.

"I wasn't brave enough for many years. And then the moment that I found the courage, I stepped into what I feel like I was always meant to do, and I loved every second of it."

Fleur also revealed which dance she found the most challenging on Strictly: "I think one of the most challenging was probably the salsa. So many lifts, and I was quite fearful of the lifts.

"So as well as doing the techniques, I knew that pretty much every 10 seconds or so into the routine, I was going to be flung up into the air. There was like a fear on top of actually knowing the steps. It was probably one of my scariest weeks, I think."

Fleur East will be headlining Ben & Jerry's Sundaes in the Park Festival on Saturday, 26th July at Chiswick House & Gardens in London.

Join for live music, entertainment and unlimited ice cream. Proceeds from ticket sales go to charity partners working to support refugees and people seeking asylum. For more information head here.