Strictly Come Dancing pro defends finalist amid ‘fix’ row and controversial semi final exit

FORMER Strictly Come Dancing professional James Jordan has defended Fleur East.

The former Celebrity Big Brother star took to social media to lend his support to the former X Factor singer.

Fleur, 35, earned her place in the final after competing in the dance-off against actor and singer Will Mellor who was eliminated from the competition.

But the former recording artist previously faced backlash with ‘fix’ claims after she was allowed to restart her dance in the head to head on the pre-recorded results show.

The radio DJ took a tumble at her first attempt at the dance-off with partner Vito Coppola.

But Fleur was was allowed to restart as she later went onto eliminate EastEnders actor James Bye from the BBC dancing competition.

However, amid claims she has been helped in the competition, former BBC star James Jordan supported the finalist as he said she deserves her place in the competition.

He took part in Strictly Come Dancing from 2006 till 2013 and whilst watching the semi-final, James took to Twitter to unload his thoughts and insight into the ballroom and Latin dancing programme.

He said: “100% no question Fleur stays.”

James added: “Will still gave it a good go till the end.”

Fleur has consistently delivered acclaimed performances in the competition with an average of 34.5 points from the judges out of 13 dances.

She has the third highest average score out of the finalists, ahead of former Blue Peter Helen Skelton who has an average of 32.9.

But the star has now been in the dance off on four occasions and viewers were previously up in arms after it was claimed she fell during an performance that was not broadcast.

Fleur, fell face first during the pre-recorded results show dragging her 30-year-old partner down with her.

After picking themselves off the floor, the shocked pair were checked over by medics before being allowed to re-start.

Incredibly, former X Factor star Fleur slipped for a second time during the re-run of her Halloween-themed salsa and none of the judges commented on it during their deliberation.

At the time, a BBC spokesperson said: “After an incident with a prop at the beginning of Fleur and Vito’s dance-off performance, the decision was made to halt proceedings to check they were not injured.

“As they had not begun to dance before the incident occurred, it was decided they could start the performance again, once it was confirmed they were fit to do so.”