Fleur East returns to Strictly Come Dancing for incredible Tina Turner tribute

01 October 2023 , 18:37

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Fleur East returns to Strictly Come Dancing for incredible Tina Turner tribute

Strictly Come Dancing aired a special dance tribute to the late, great Tina Turner during this evening's broadcast.

Ahead of finding out which celebrity will be the first star voted off the BBC dance competition, Sunday’s Results show saw the series' professional dancers strutting their stuff to a medley in tribute to the iconic Simply The Best singer, following her passing in May this year.

Fleur East, who took to the dancefloor with Vito Coppola during last year's season of Strictly, surprised fans as she returned to the BBC show this evening to belt out a few songs in honour of the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll. The former X Factor singer dazzled in a white suit as she joined Beverley Knight and Laura Mvula in singing some of the late singers biggest hits as the pros danced alongside then during the show's opening segment.

Strictly Come Dancing kicked off tonight's show with a tribute to Tina Turner

"Laura Mvula, Fleur East & Beverly Knight on #Strictly opening. We're spoiled rotten," one happy Strictly fan penned on Twitter aka X as the tribute took place this evening. "Good to see Fleur (last years true winner) back. #Strictly," another added, as a third declared: "FLEUR EAST THE WOMAN YOU ARE #Strictly."

"What an opener for our first results show of the series," Tess Daly said following the incredible dance tribute. "A huge thank you to Fleur East, Beverley Knight and Laura Mvula and our professional dancers and chorographer for that spectacular tribute to the late, great Tina Turner." Co-host Claudia Winkleman added: "What a routine!"

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Tina, known as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", was one of the most celebrated singers and dancers of her generation prior to her death earlier this year. Throughout her illustrious career, Tina enjoyed major chart success with hit singles like What's Love Got to Do With It, The Best, I Don't Want to Fight and GoldenEye.

Viewers loved the tribute

The late singer r died at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland, at the age of 83 from natural causes after years of illnesses. Breaking the sad news on May 25, the charismatic performers spokesperson said in a statement: "Tina Turner, the 'Queen of Rock 'n' Roll' died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model."

Tina's death sparked tributes from celebrities across the globe, with even former US president Barack Obama publicly paying his respects to the late singer. "She was unstoppable. And she was unapologetically herself—speaking and singing her truth through joy and pain; triumph and tragedy," the politician tweeted when paying his respects to Tina on Twitter. He added: "Today we join fans around the world in honoring the Queen of Rock and Roll, and a star whose light will never fade."

Zoe Delaney