Fleur East has reportedly been removed from the cast of Strictly Come Dancing. The decision affected Fleur, who rose to fame on The X Factor and co-hosted the show with former Strictly pro Janette Manrara, who also faced the same fate.
Amid a significant overhaul following various controversies and the departure of hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the show is undergoing a complete transformation to offer viewers a fresh experience.
Despite auditioning for hosting roles, Fleur, 38, was not chosen. Instead, the show’s producers opted for Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe, along with Strictly pro Johannes Radebe, who will debut on the upcoming season.
The news came as a blow to Fleur, who has been part of It Takes Two since 2023, a year after she competed on the main show and finished as the runner-up with professional dancer Vito Coppola.
Sources revealed that Fleur kept the news confidential, only sharing it with close friends. While she was saddened by the decision, it was emphasized that the choice was not personal.
In a recent interview on Hits Radio Breakfast Show, Fleur expressed her feelings about not being chosen as a main presenter. Despite initially accepting the possibility, she admitted feeling disappointed about missing out on the opportunity.
The BBC spokesperson mentioned that plans for the upcoming season of Strictly will be disclosed in due course. While the return date remains unconfirmed, several well-known personalities, including Chris Appleton, Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, and Delta Goodrem, are confirmed to participate in the show.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Fleur’s representative are ongoing.