Strictly Come Dancing's Alexandra Burke: ‘Being called fake upsets me’

The contestant opened up about how she's handling negative comments 
'Upset': Alexandra Burke has revealed that she has been hurt by negative comments she has received during her time on Strictly
BBC/Guy Levy
Aime Grant Cumberbatch28 November 2017

Strictly Come Dancing star Alexandra Burke has revealed that negative comments she has received while on the show have 'upset' her.

The X Factor winner ended up in the bottom two in last week’s show, with the judges opting to save her and partner Gorka Marquez over Scottish comedian Susan Calman and pro dancer Kevin Clifton.

Burke, 29, told Radio Times magazine: "A lot has been made of me being a seasoned performer but every week when I start learning a new dance I feel completely out of my depth."

The singer added: "Like everyone else, I'm nervous I'll forget the steps or I'll get my heel caught and fall flat on my face.

"But the one thing I have learnt over the years, and that I've brought to Strictly, is that you can't let those nerves show on your face. You have to smile and the audience will smile with you."

She added: "I fear some viewers see that as me not being genuine. I can't help but sometimes read the negative comments people have written on social media about me being fake and it does upset me.

"It's just such a shame that some people can't see how hard I'm working, how nervous I am, but also how much I'm loving every minute of this experience - there's nothing fake about that."

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 - In pictures

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Speaking about her good luck mascot, Burke said her teddy is strapped to the belt of one of the Strictly crew, from the wardrobe department, so the soft toy "can watch me" perform on the BBC1 show.

"Then as soon as I've finished and I'm allowed to bring him on screen, I'm always holding him tight," she said.

The judges voted unanimously to save Burke on Sunday, calling time on Calman and Clifton's Strictly journey.

With additional reporting from Press Association.

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday, November 28 at 7.05pm on BBC One.

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