Strictly's Fleur East has lifted the lid on what it's like to work on the BBC show (Image: National Lottery )
Strictly Come Dancing’s Fleur East has lifted the lid on one major judging moment on the BBC show that fans don’t get to see on camera.
The beloved It Takes Two host – who is set to host the National Lottery’s New Year’s Eve Big Bash at the OVO Wembley Arena – has lifted the lid on some of the dance competition’s biggest secrets. The mum-of-one, 37, competed on the long-running competition back in 2022 alongside her co-star Vito Coppola.
After making it all the way to the live final, the radio host teamed up with Janette Manrara when Rylan Clark stepped down from the BBC spin-off show after four years hosting the show.
One year after stepping into the hotseat, the brunette beauty has opened up about some of the programme’s best-kept secrets that fans don’t see behind the scenes on the ballroom show.
She told us: “I do miss the performance side of it, like I loved dancing in the ballroom on a Saturday night. I missed that element of being in the competition.
“But I do love now being able to just watch all of it happen and see the magic come to like. What I enjoyed most is seeing all the rehearsal and training footage before the live show.
“It's one of my most favourite things, because we get to see everything before the live show on Saturday, before anyone else sees it. And being a big fan of the show, it’s just really fun.”
It was at this point that Fleur revealed that the star-studding judging panel also get to watch the contestants perform during their dress rehearsals hours before they compete on the live show.
She explained: “I think they see the dress run on the day, but that’s the only thing they get to see ahead of time.” When the TV presenter was quizzed as to which judge future contestants should try to impress the most, she quickly revealed it is Shirley Ballas.
Fleur warned contestants that the 64-year-old head judge notices everything when you perform and will even bend over the desk to look at contestant's feet during their performance.
The doting mum went on: "Shirley's the one you really want to impress because she’s the head judge and she’s legendary in the Latin and Ballroom game.
"I remember when I was on the show and I was partnered with Vito [Coppola], he would show me videos of Shirley back in the day doing competition choreography. So she’s someone that as soon as you get up there, you really want to impress.
"I remember when I did my samba in my year and she said, ‘Those are some of the best samba walks I’ve ever seen, even in competitions’.
"And I was like, ‘Wow’. When you get a compliment like that from her, it means a lot. So I feel like that’s why everyone wants to impress her."
It comes as Fleur East prepares to host the star-studded New Year's Eve party alongside her co-host Vernon Kay. Fans will see performances from musicians including Craig David, Perrie Edwards, Ella Henderson and Olly Alexander to name a few.
Speaking about the show, she reflected on all the amazing work that was done over the past 12 months. Fleur gushed: "It was just nice to look over all the amazing moments we've had through the year and celebrate some of the people that have been doing some amazing work for their communities as well.
"Because it's not just a party for everyone for New Year's Eve, it's actually looking over at the organisations and the people that have done amazing with with the funding that the National Lottery gives out to charities and organisations.
"So it was cool to learn about that because you don't think when you buy a lottery ticket about that side of it. There's actually a lot of people that it helps."
