How Alexandra Burke almost quit Strictly Come Dancing

Alexandra Burke has revealed she almost quit Strictly Come Dancing.

The singer has made it to tonight’s grand finale but almost backed out at the last minute.

During training earlier this year, Alexandra received tragic news when her mother suddenly passed away.

This week, Alexandra opened up about dealing with the sad events and admitted she had the option to leave the show.

But the X Factor winner says she decided to stay put “for my mum.”

“Every time I show an ounce of emotion, I think people forget what I’m going through mentally,” Alexandra explained. “I’ve wanted to do this show.

“I had the option of coming out of it but I chose to stay in to do it for my mum.

“And I think she’d be very upset if I’d taken myself out of it.”

She added: “I’m not going to say everything’s been rosy, I’ve had ups and downs but I’ve done something that’s brought me such joy.

“If I can inspire someone else to dance or do something they love, in the toughest of times in their life, then that’s what I’m here for.”

Alexandra made the comments as she hit back at viewers who have accused her of ‘faking’ tears on the BBC One series.

“Trust me, if I could lock my emotions in a box and throw it in the sea and never see it again I absolutely would,” Alexandra told The Sun newspaper. “It makes me very tearful saying that to you now. But I don’t choose it. It just happens.

“I am who I am, I wear my heart on my sleeve.

“Sometimes my emotions come through and sometimes people don’t like that.

“But when you get hateful comments it makes me feel guilty for showing emotion.”

She added: “It’s so hurtful — so, so hurtful. It has made me cry and it has made me get really upset.”

Strictly Come Dancing concludes tonight at 6:30PM on BBC One with the final.