Fleur East reveals the upside to It Takes Two axe is she 'doesn't have to be impartial anymore' as she backs Will Best for Strictly win and praises revamped show's 'fresh energy'

Fleur East said she 'no longer needs to be impartial' as the radio star revealed who she's backing to win Strictly Come Dancing after being axed from its BBC spin-off It Takes Two.

The X Factor star, 39, who competed on the series in 2022 and joined its companion show a year later, was axed from her co-hosting duties after two series.

She was then faced with another blow after she was not considered for the presenting job of Strictly following the departure of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Now, with the brand new season of the BBC show past its halfway point, Fleur has shared who she thinks should take home the glitterball trophy.

She exclusively told the Daily Mail: 'I can say who my favourite is now because I don't work on the show anymore, but Will Best, he's my favourite. 

'He's my co-host on hits Radio Breakfast.'

Will has been impressing the judges with his dance moves over the last few weeks and is partnered with professional dancer Dianne Buswell.

She continued: 'For years, I wasn't allowed to show any bias towards anyone, but now I'm very proudly saying, "Yes, vote Will, everyone! Vote Will!"

'He's just had a baby, he's doing 20,000 jobs, and he deserves to win.'

Since Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe became the new presenters of the show, they have been heavily scrutinised by fans for their 'awkward dynamic'.

Sharing her thoughts on the trio, Fleur said: 'It's an exciting line-up, isn't it? It's completely unexpected and unpredictable.

'But I'm kind of happy that it's happened because I think initially people were wondering whether they'd just go with the people we expected and whether it would be the same sort of line-up.

Gushing over her pal Johannes, she said: 'I'm glad they've given him a platform. This is his first proper hosting job, and he's so connected to the show.

'I think he's really warmed up, and now, when everyone comes onto the stage, he's dancing with everyone. It's funny! That's the JoJo I know.

'I think his real personality is shining through, and I feel like everyone's getting comfortable now.'

Fleur added: 'Emma and Josh have their thing, too. It's exciting, fresh energy, and for a show that's been around for over two decades, you've got to switch things up every now and then.

'So, yes, I like it. I'm enjoying it.'

Back in June, it was reported that Fleur would be losing her job on It Takes Two as Strictly underwent a huge revamp.

A source told The Sun at the time: 'Fleur has kept the news on the lowdown for as long as she could, only telling her close friends.'

'She's still in denial about it and was really upset by the decision. But it wasn't personal. 

'The BBC have decided to make a number of other changes in order to give the show a fresh new feel. Sadly for Fleur, she didn't make the cut and was dropped.'

Fleur previously admitted she was disappointed not to be considered for the presenting job on Strictly.

The TV star said she had 'been lying to myself when I've been saying, 'I'm fine''.

Speaking on her Hits Radio Breakfast Show, Fleur told co-hosts Will and James Barr: 'I did say initially, after Tess and Claudia announced they were leaving Strictly you know, it's probably not going to happen [for me] and I'm happy for whoever gets it.'

Referring to Emma getting the job, she continued: 'We were just talking about Emma Willis being announced and I was like, "yeah, great, amazing" and I've kind of lied to myself that I'd be all right with not doing it or not being considered for the job. But I'm kind of bothered.'

Fleur said 'I think it's okay to admit that. I think it's okay to admit that being faced with the opportunity of such an incredible job. I mean, it's an amazing show.'

Elsewhere, Fleur called out the double standards around parenting as she opened up about juggling her career with motherhood.

The radio DJ and singer, who originally shot to fame as a finalist on The X Factor, welcomed daughter Nova with her husband Marcel Badiane-Robin in March 2024.

When she's not busy as a mother, Fleur is hosting the weekday Hits Radio Breakfast.

She is also co-running her own natural curly haircare brand, Kurl Kitchen, alongside her sister Keshia, which is stocked nationwide in Boots.

While she has been open in the past about feeling 'mum guilt', Fleur has now hit back at the double standards around parenting and said that she and Marcel share the workload.

She told the Daily Mail: 'It's always mum guilt and not dad guilt. That really frustrates me.

'I'm also frustrated by the fact that whenever I'm out doing something, people ask, "Oh, where's your daughter?"

'She's with the other person who helped create her! There are two people in this.

'Whenever my husband has her, no one's asking him where the baby is. So I've just tried to ignore that, to be honest.

'Someone once said to me that it doesn't matter how much time you spend with your kids; it's about the intention you have when you do spend time with them. It's about being present.'

She continued: 'If I only get to do bedtime four times in a week, I make sure that during that time my phone isn't on me. I'm reading as many books as she wants, getting her into bed and getting all the cuddles in.

'I think the more quality time you spend with them, the more they'll remember.'

Fleur manages to balance her successful career with being a mother, but not without the help of those around her.

When asked how she manages to do it, she explained: 'By tapping into my village, my community. That's the only way I can do it, to be honest.

'Even today, my husband's working, so I've got my daughter with my mum. If it's not my mum, it's my sister; if it's not my sister, it's my mother-in-law; if it's not my mother-in-law, it's my auntie.

'If it's not them, it's a friend. That's the only way I can function, to be honest.'

The star elaborated: 'During the first few weeks of becoming a mum, all my family were around the house.

'At one point, I hadn't even changed a nappy, and I think it was about five days in.

'I thought, "This is embarrassing, actually. I don't know how to change a nappy. This is going to look really bad!"

'So I was like, "Guys, can you just let me do something? Let me try!"

'They would hand her over to me when I needed to breastfeed, and that was pretty much it.

'But I'm grateful for that time because I had a moment to check in with myself and realise what had actually happened to me.'