Fleur East: ‘I’m nervous about going back to normal life without my dad in it.’

Kerry Martin
·2-min read
Fleur East poses for photographers upon arrival at the world premiere of the film 'Downton Abbey' in London, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
Fleur East upon arrival at the world premiere of the film 'Downton Abbey' in London, 2019. (Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Singer Fleur East has admitted that life won't be the same without her dad who passed away in March 2020.

Opening up about losing her dad Malcolm during the coronavirus pandemic the former X-Factor contestant told the Standard: “Going back to normal without my dad in it, we haven’t had that yet,” East said.

“The pandemic, lockdown, it symbolises the time we lost our dad and it will always be like that for us.”

Fleur East performs on stage before the Oxford Street Christmas lights are switched on, in central London, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
Fleur East performs before the Oxford Street Christmas lights are switched on, in central London, 2015. (Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

East, 32, explained how the whole world, “stopped with us [her family] in our grief” and that society opening up again is something that they are going to have to get used to, as they haven’t experienced that yet.

Watch: UK couple wed in hospital

Read: Fleur East: Losing my Dad has made me want to start a family

Malcolm was father to Fleur and her younger sister Keshia East, 25, who is a beauty YouTuber.

She admitted that his death was a 'shock to the system' but that she was 'grateful' to have had the time to grieve as a family during lockdown and not have to 'face everyone so soon.'

Fleur marked the anniversary of her father’s death in a poignant Instagram post, sharing beautiful photos of her and her father, including ones from her wedding day.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fleur East (@fleureast)

“Daddy East! Today marks 1 whole year without you and it still just doesn’t feel real," the caption read.

“I never imagined life without you in it and now you’re gone, I really know how truly rich it was because of you.”

“What an incredible Father you were! I am so blessed to have had your love, your guidance and your experience to learn and grow from.”

“My number 1 fan who taught me how to be an independent, confident woman and I will live my life making you proud.”

Read more: Dec takes aim at Simon Cowell on I'm A Celebrity over his Fleur East X-Factor dig

The singer rose to fame in 2005 as a contestant on the X-Factor, and has since become runner-up on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, and landed presenting roles on This Morning, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and as a radio host on Hits Radio.

She admitted that it was these work projects that had “kept her going” through the difficult times.

Watch: The health impact of the pandemic