Fleur East has dismissed any rumours of the Strictly Come Dancing ‘curse’ and has insisted her stint on the BBC One show has actually been a ‘blessing’ for her marriage.
The Sax hitmaker, who is partnered with Vito Coppola, married her husband Marcel Badiane-Robin in 2019, after a three-month engagement.
Over the past 18 years that Strictly has aired on the BBC, speculations have swirled regarding potential blossoming romances between celebrity contestants and professional dancers – a phenomenon known as the ‘Strictly curse’.
One of the most notorious cases was when I’m A Celebrity star Seann Walsh was photographed kissing his professional partner Katya Jones, who at the time was married to fellow Strictly pro Neil Jones.
But, Fleur isn’t worried about any curse at all, and revealed how ‘great’ the show has been for her marriage.
Appearing on the Graham Norton show tonight, the 35-year-old says: ‘The show’s been a blessing for my marriage, it’s been great.
Fleur scored the first 40 of the series (Picture: PA)
Fleur has been married to Marcel for 12 years (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for evian)
‘We’ve been together for 12 years and how often in your marriage do you dress up and look different every week, and get to do all these sexy dances in front of your husband?
‘After the Argentine tango it was like we got married again! It was wonderful.’
Fleur also spoke about scoring a perfect 40 in Blackpool, adding: ‘It is the most iconic week of the show and to get there and score so well was incredible, especially as it has been rough being in the dance off twice and having lots of harsh criticism.’
Fleur is partnered with Vito Coppola (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)
After an energetic performance, judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke were left practically speechless.
Notoriously difficult to please Craig simply described it as ‘fab-u-lous’, while Shirley said it was ‘an iconic routine that will go down in history.’
Fleur has previously spoken out about the show ‘spicing up her marriage’.
Fleur has shared the show ‘spiced’ up her marriage (Picture: Samir Hussein/Getty Images for Urban Outfitters)
‘If you want the spark to be reignited in your marriage, then do Strictly,’ she said.
‘When has he ever seen me in a new look every week, moving my hips like that? When do you ever get to do that for your partner? It’s like I’m performing for him every Saturday night,’ she added to the Mirror.
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Fleur and Marcel met when they both worked in a nightclub back in 2010, but have largely kept their relationship out of the spotlight.
Around 120 guests, including Fleur’s I’m A Celeb campmates Harry Redknapp and Malique Thompson-Dwyer and former JLS star JB Gill, reportedly came together to watch the happy couple exchange vows.
The Graham Norton Show airs tonight, Friday November 25, at 10.40pm on BBC One and is available to watch on iPlayer.
Strictly Come Dancing continues tomorrow night at 7.15pm on BBC One.
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Fleur has been married to husband Marcel for 12 years.
