Strictly star's true feelings on Dianne Buswell dancing while pregnant revealed

X Factor winner Alexandra Burke has defended Dianne Buswell after Strictly Come Dancing fans claimed she should pull out of the show. Dianne, 36, received heavy backlash after revealing she would remain on the BBC programme after announcing that she is expecting her first child with Joe Sugg. The Australian dancer has hit back at trolls and continued performing with Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis. One person who is no stranger to the pressures of the BBC competition is Alexandra, who finished runner-up with Gorka Marquez in 2017, losing out to Holby City star Joe McFadden.

Alexandra, currently leading a campaign with Japanese food brand Yutaka to create the world's first sushi recipe book designed by children, reflected on her own experience performing on stage while pregnant. She emphasised that she stayed in close contact with her doctor throughout and highlighted that every pregnancy is unique, so it's important not to judge others' choices. She told Express Online: "If Dianne is happy then that's all that matters. I performed in Joseph up until I was almost 8 months pregnant, which I consulted with my doctor on regularly, and I loved it.

"My eldest, who I was pregnant with at the time, is the happiest child, always going 100mph and never tired. I felt like that during that show when I was pregnant so for me it only had a positive impact. Everyone's circumstances are different so it's important not to judge."

The singer's new campaign aims to encourage more UK families to cook simple, healthy, delicious meals, like sushi, at home. As a mum-of-two, Alexandra opened up about the importance of making mealtimes both fun and important in her household.

She said: "We believe in moderation in our household. It's nice to have a treat, but we try not to have too much of one thing! As a parent I like to be super aware of what we are feeding our kids. We can all make better choices, there is so much choice out there these days."

Alexandra says she cherishes slow Sunday mornings with her partner, Darren Randolph and their two children, where they help make breakfast before the family heads out for a walk with their dogs.

She mentioned a step stool they bought online that lets the little ones safely reach the counter, allowing them to get hands-on in the kitchen.

The star added: "That was a really good buy as I love seeing them actively helping and getting involved in what they are eating rather than looking at a tablet screen. The kitchen is a very happy place in our house.

Alexandra admitted she had "no hesitation" when it came to fronting the Yutaka campaign.

"My food cupboard at home is always stocked with Yutaka and I'm always looking for ways to encourage my little ones to take an active role in the kitchen, so it just felt authentic to me and I hope it encourages families across the UK to have more fun in the kitchen and try new things," she explained.

"My auntie Sonia is half Chinese, half Jamaican, and she is the one in our family that introduced us to Japanese food and all different cuisines."

Alexandra recalled how her aunt introduced her to new cultures and cuisines early on, taking her to Chinatown for Chinese New Year and insisting she learn to use chopsticks instead of forks.

That experience shaped her belief that it's easier to introduce diverse foods to children when they're young and is one of the reasons she was so eager to join the Yutaka campaign, encouraging kids to get hands-on with sushi in the kitchen.

The recipe book, titled 'Seaweed Sid & The Sushi Squad,' features imaginative, charmingly imperfect sushi designs developed by fourteen children at a creative workshop hosted by Japanese chef Yuki Gomi.

Of creating the book, Alexandra gushed: "It was beautiful to witness first-hand the freedom that everyone felt during the workshop with those wonderful kids. Many were working with sushi for the first time, it was a brand-new experience for them.

"I'd love parents to look at the book and just go, I want this for my children. I want them to be imaginative. The book says it clearly on the front: 'Family-friendly sushi recipes designed by kids' - that in itself is enough for any parent to pick it up I think because it's made by kids, for kids and families to enjoy."

As of Oct 12, 'Seaweed Sid and The Sushi Squad' is now free to download.