Fleur East has admitted she is 'bothered' after failing to land the main hosting role on Strictly Come Dancing. The 38-year-old TV presenter has hosted the spin-off show It Takes Two for three years alongside Janette Manrara, but her future on the programme is now uncertain amid reports of a major overhaul.
Speaking on the Hits Radio Breakfast Show, East revealed her disappointment after it was reported that Big Brother star Emma Willis had been chosen for one of the vacant presenting spots. 'I did say initially, after Tess and Claudia announced they were leaving Strictly, it's probably not going to happen and I'm happy for whoever gets it,' she said. 'But I'm kind of bothered.'
The BBC has been searching for replacements for Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly for several months, with a shortlist of ten candidates undergoing auditions. Other names in the running include Alison Hammond, Zoe Ball, Rylan, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe. East, who was a contestant on the show in 2022, admitted she had been 'lying to herself' about being fine with the rejection.
She said: 'When you're within touching distance of something like that, 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.' East graciously added that the job had 'gone to the right person'.
The BBC has not officially confirmed the new hosts, stating that plans for 2026 will be revealed in due course. East is not the first to express disappointment; former Radio 2 host Zoe Ball also confirmed she did not get the role, saying she had 'worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection'.
