Fleur East says she feels a real responsibility to do justice to Tina Turner’s story after making her West End debut as the late icon in TINA - The Tina Turner Musical.
The 37-year-old London-born former X Factor finalist and Strictly It Takes Two presenter first stepped into the powerhouse role at the Aldwych Theatre last month and will share it with Karis Anderson for the final leg of the show’s run, which ends on September 13.
While Turner lived to see the musical’s opening just over seven years ago in April 2018, it is now dedicated to her memory following her death in May 2023.
“It’s amazing, it’s incredible,” she told The Standard. “After all of the rehearsals, just being in a room, it was nice to have a full audience and to hear the reactions and feel the energy. It’s incredible.”
East said portraying Turner, who overcame a traumatic past to become one of the greatest performers of all time, has given her a renewed sense of purpose.
“I said from the beginning it’s such an honour to play such an amazing woman,” she said. “But actually doing it now and seeing the response from people… so many people still love Tina. Not only because she was an amazing performer, but because her story is so inspirational.”
She added: “I feel such a responsibility to deliver that message because I know there are a lot of people who are maybe going through something similar to what she went through.
“I’ve heard that a lot of survivors of domestic violence have come to watch the show and they see Tina as a real inspirational figure. I want to do it justice for all of those people as well.”
The show doesn’t shy away from the darker chapters of Turner’s life, including the physical and emotional abuse she endured at the hands of her first husband, Ike Turner.
“It’s very heavy in some places,” East admits, “but it’s important to share that message.”
She believes however that playing Tina was always in the stars.
In addition to singing one of Turner’s tracks while competiting on ITV’s The X Factor in 2015, she performed a tribute to her on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022 and even gave a nod to her on her debut album Love, Sax and Flashbacks.
“There’s a lyric in one of my songs, Kitchen, that goes ‘What’s love got to do with it? Tina turn it up,’ and I’ve been performing that for years. It’s very strange how life works out but I feel it was meant to be.”
Despite performing high energy shows night after night, East is also juggling early mornings presenting Hits Radio Breakfast.
“I’m just getting all the sleep that I can — napping in the day — and I think the adrenaline keeps me going to be honest,” she said.
Away from the stage, Fleur also co-runs a haircare brand, Curl Kitchen, with her sister — a passion project they started during lockdown in memory of their late father.
And as if that wasn’t hectic enough, she will also be headlining Ben and Jerry’s Sundaes In The Park on July 26 in Chiswick Park, where she promises a “nice dip back into reality” away from Tina’s towering heels.
“I’m very excited,” she said. “Firstly Ben and Jerry’s — who’s not a fan? Cookie Dough is my favourite so hopefully it’ll be overflowing.
“But above all else, the proceeds from the ticket sales are going to charities that support the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, and that’s important to me. I get to do what I love and support an amazing cause.”
Looking ahead, she teases a return to music later this year, just in time for a major milestone - a whole decade of debut single Sax, not to mention her first album which followed a month later.
“It’ll be ten years of Sax this November. It’s crazy to think! Hopefully I’ll do something to mark that — it’ll be cool.”
Her most important role she says without hesitation however is being a mum to daughter Nova, whom she shares with her French fashion designer husband Marcel Badiane-Robin.
Despite only being one year’s old, little Nova already seems destined to follow in her famous mum’s footsteps and is already her number one fan.
“Nova loves my singing,” she explained. “She actually sings herself. She’s good at copying and mimicking — if you sing something to her she’ll sing it back.
“She definitely has a musical ear… I think she has got that in her blood already.”
As for being a “pushy parent”? “Whatever she wants to do to be honest,” East laughed. “But my parents saw I had something in me when I was really shy and encouraged me to perform — if they hadn’t I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now.”
Fleur East will be headlining Ben & Jerry’s Sundaes in the Park Festival on Saturday 26th July at Chiswick House & Gardens in London. Join for live music, entertainment and unlimited ice cream. Proceeds from ticket sales go to charity partners working to support refugees and people seeking asylum. For more information, visit www.benjerry.co.uk/sundaes-in-the-park-2025
