Fleur East facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fleur East
East performing in 2023
Background information
Born	(1987-10-29) 29 October 1987 (age 37)
Origin	Walthamstow, London, England
Genres	R&B hip hop drum & bass pop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter rapper radio presenter television presenter
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Strictly Rhythm Syco Columbia Platinum East

Fleur East (born 29 October 1987) is a talented English singer, songwriter, rapper, and presenter. She first appeared on The X Factor in 2005 as part of a girl group called Addictiv Ladies. Later, in 2014, she returned to the show as a solo artist and became very popular.

During her second time on The X Factor, Fleur East made history. She was the first contestant ever to reach number one on the UK iTunes Store chart with her amazing cover of "Uptown Funk". She finished the competition in second place.

After The X Factor, Fleur released her first solo song, "Sax". It was a big hit, reaching number three on the UK charts and earning a platinum award. Her first album, Love, Sax and Flashbacks (2015), also did well, reaching number fourteen on the UK Albums Chart. In 2020, she released her second album, Fearless.

Beyond music, Fleur East is also a well-known television and radio presenter. She has competed in popular shows like I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2018) and Strictly Come Dancing (2022). She also hosts shows on Hits Radio and Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two. In April 2025, it was announced that Fleur would be performing in the lead role in "Tina - The Tina Turner Musical" in London for a short time.

Early Life and Education

Fleur East was born on 29 October 1987. Her father is English, and her mother is Ghanaian. She grew up in Walthamstow, London. Fleur has a younger sister named Keshia, who is a business owner.

Fleur attended Holy Family Technology College in Walthamstow. She later studied journalism and contemporary history at Queen Mary University of London.

Career Journey

Early Music Career (2005–2013)

East in 2011

Fleur East's music journey began in 2005 with the girl group Addictiv Ladies. They appeared on The X Factor and were mentored by Simon Cowell. However, they were eliminated early in the competition.

In 2011, Fleur met drum-and-bass producer DJ Fresh. She became a vocalist for his live sessions and featured on his song "Turn It Up" in 2012. She also toured with him, performing at big events like V Festival.

Fleur signed with Strictly Rhythm in 2012 and released her own songs, "Broken Mirror" and "Turn the Lights On." In 2013, she was featured on Drumsound & Bassline Smith's song "One in a Million", which reached number 53 on the UK Singles Chart. She also released her first collection of songs, an EP called She, for free online.

Return to The X Factor (2014)

In June 2014, Fleur East decided to try out for The X Factor again, this time as a solo artist. She impressed the judges, including Simon Cowell, who became her mentor once more.

During the live shows, Fleur's performance of "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars was a huge moment. It was so popular that her version went to number one on the UK iTunes Store. This led to the original song being released earlier than planned. Fleur finished as the runner-up in the competition.

Debut Album and Beyond (2015–2017)

In January 2015, Fleur East signed with Simon Cowell's record label, Syco Music. She worked with many talented musicians to create her first album. Her first single, "Sax", was released in November 2015 and quickly became a top-three hit in the UK.

Her debut album, Love, Sax and Flashbacks, came out on 4 December 2015. In 2016, Fleur also signed with Columbia Records to help launch her music career internationally. In October 2017, Fleur and Syco Music decided to go their separate ways.

New Music and TV Appearances (2018–2020)

On 12 November 2018, Fleur East joined the cast of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, a popular reality show. She finished in fourth place.

After the show, Fleur announced her first new song in four years, "Favourite Thing," which was released in January 2019. She also performed the song live on TV. In June 2019, Fleur became a host for the breakfast show on Hits Radio. She also started hosting a Saturday morning show on the Hits Radio Network.

In November 2019, Fleur released another new song called "Size," which was featured in a Christmas advertising campaign. Her song "Lucky" followed in January 2020, with a music video showing her travels around the world.

Fleur's second album, Fearless, was released on 20 March 2020. She also appeared on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, giving away holiday tickets. She released a charity single, "Not Alone," in April 2020, with all profits going to the COVID-19 NHS appeal.

Strictly Come Dancing and Presenting (2022–Present)

In the summer of 2022, Fleur East performed at Butlin's. Later that year, she joined the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she danced with Vito Coppola. She was a very strong competitor, surviving four dance-offs and even achieving a perfect score of 40 for her Couple’s Choice dance in Blackpool. She finished as one of the runners-up in the series.

In June 2023, Fleur was announced as the new co-host of Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, the spin-off show for Strictly Come Dancing. She now hosts it alongside Janette Manrara.

Saturday Night Takeaway (2020–2023)

From 2020 to 2023, Fleur East was a presenter on the popular TV show Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway. She helped with competitions and giveaways, including the "Place on the Plane" segment. In 2023, she took on a new role called "Gift on the Shift."

Musical Style and Influences

Fleur East describes her music as "urban-inspired with a few twists." She looks up to many artists, including Michael Jackson, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Sade, Emeli Sandé, Jessie Ware, and Florence Welch. Her early solo songs were also influenced by drum and bass artists like Netsky.

Personal Life

Fleur East has been in a relationship with French fashion designer Marcel Badiane-Robin since 2010. They first met in 2009. They got married in Morocco in 2019. In March 2024, Fleur and Marcel welcomed their first child, a baby girl.

In October 2023, Fleur East appeared on the TV show Portrait Artist of the Year.

Discography

• Love, Sax and Flashbacks (2015)
• Fearless (2020)

See also

In Spanish: Fleur East para niños

• List of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series) contestants
• List of Strictly Come Dancing contestants
• List of The X Factor (British TV series) finalists