Fleur East Attends 'Rivals' Premiere After Strictly Hosting News

Fleur East attended the 'Rivals' premiere on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, after admitting disappointment over not being chosen to host the main Strictly Come Dancing show.
By Newsroom | Entertainment, Television |

Fleur East presented a composed appearance at the "Rivals" series two premiere on Wednesday evening. This outing follows her candid admissions regarding the missed opportunity to host the main "Strictly Come Dancing" program.

Fleur East puts on a brave face at the Rivals series two premiere after opening up about missing out on the coveted Strictly hosting job - 1

The TV and radio personality, 38, revealed on her Hits Radio Breakfast Show that she had been misleading herself about her feelings concerning the rejection for the coveted hosting role. East, who has a three-year tenure presenting "Strictly: It Takes Two," confessed that she had been "lying to myself when I've been saying, 'I'm fine'" about not being considered for the main presenting position. Reports suggest Emma Willis may have been offered the job.

Fleur East puts on a brave face at the Rivals series two premiere after opening up about missing out on the coveted Strictly hosting job - 2

East's remarks echo similar sentiments from Zoe Ball, a former "It Takes Two" presenter. Ball disclosed on her "Dig It" podcast that she was "grieving the rejection" after not securing the role, which would have seen her replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Ball stated she was "thrilled" for those who did get the job, asserting the BBC made the "right decision."

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Fleur East puts on a brave face at the Rivals series two premiere after opening up about missing out on the coveted Strictly hosting job - 3

Despite the professional setback, East maintained a stylish presence at the "Rivals" premiere, opting for an oversized white silk suit paired with nude heels and gold jewelry. This event marks her return to public appearances after voicing her disappointment about the "Strictly" hosting situation.

Fleur East puts on a brave face at the Rivals series two premiere after opening up about missing out on the coveted Strictly hosting job - 4

Background:

Fleur East first gained prominence on the second series of "The X Factor." Her connection to the "Strictly" franchise deepened when she competed in 2022, reaching the final with professional dancer Vito Coppola. Following her competitive stint, East transitioned to presenting duties on "Strictly: It Takes Two," taking over from Rylan Clark and co-hosting alongside Janette Manrara for three years. Her television and broadcasting career also includes an appearance on "I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!" and regular hosting work on Hits Radio. She also holds a record deal with Simon Cowell's Syco label.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Fleur East attend the 'Rivals' premiere on Wednesday, May 13, 2026?
Fleur East attended the premiere of the show 'Rivals' on Wednesday evening. This was one of her first public appearances after she spoke about being sad about not getting the main job to host Strictly Come Dancing.
Q: What did Fleur East say about the Strictly Come Dancing hosting job?
Fleur East said on her radio show that she had been lying to herself about being fine with not being chosen to host the main Strictly Come Dancing show. She has hosted the spin-off show 'Strictly: It Takes Two' for three years.
Q: Who else has spoken about not getting the Strictly Come Dancing hosting job?
Zoe Ball, who used to present 'Strictly: It Takes Two,' also said she was sad about not getting the main hosting job. She said she was grieving the rejection after not being picked to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Q: What was Fleur East wearing at the 'Rivals' premiere?
Fleur East looked stylish at the premiere. She wore a large white silk suit with light brown shoes and gold jewellery. This event showed her return to public events after sharing her feelings about the Strictly hosting news.