Strictly Come Dancing superfan Fleur East says she “loves” working on the BBC dance competition's spin-off show It Takes Two, but it means she has to abide by some rather frustrating rules.
Strictly is, she says, “the perfect countdown to Christmas,” but, unlike the rest of us, she isn’t allowed to pick her own favourite to lift the Glitterball trophy in December.
“I’m not allowed favourites,” Fleur told Fabulous magazine. "We walk into that studio and it’s all neutral – even those who are my friends, like JB.”
Former JLS star JB Gill is partnered with Amy Dowden for the 22nd series of the BBC show, admitting recently that he’s been incorporating some vintage JLS choreography into his Strictly routines.
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“I’ve worked with him over the years,” Fleur says of fellow X Factor star JB, “and his wife Chloe is a really good friend of mine. She’s a professional dancer, too, so he’s got two coaches.”
JB isn’t Fleur’s only pal from the series this year, as she explains: “I was in the jungle with Nick Knowles, and I know Pete Wicks, too.”
Fleur had her own dramatic run in Strictly’s 20th season. Partnered with Vito Coppola, she survived four dance-offs, before tuning thoughts around and achieving the first perfect 40 of the series in Blackpool for her Couple’s Choice, finishing as the series' runners-up.
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She still sees Vito regularly today: “He’s like my little brother. He is [Fleur’s daughter] Nova’s uncle. He was one of the first people to meet her.
"She was only four weeks old. We talk almost every day. Honestly, he is family. I was his first Strictly dance partner and I loved the experience so much.”
Like every Strictly fan, Fleur has her own view on the controversy that has dogged the series since former contestant Amanda Abbington made complaints of verbal bullying and harassment against professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, in an investigation which has since concluded.
“I think it’s nice that it’s now resolved,” she says. “From what I’ve read, both parties are happy. Now we can focus on the magic of the show and its 20th anniversary. It brings so much joy to people, and what I love is that the entire family can sit and watch it together.”
