X Factor icon Alexandra Burke engaged to footballer boyfriend of three years

Alexandra Burke has announced her engagement to D after three years together.

The Middlesborough goalkeeper, 37, proposed to the X Factor icon, 36, during a romantic dinner.

Alexandra, who won Simon Cowell’s ITV show in 2008, is said to have been left stunned by the gesture as she and Darren enjoyed a date night at London’s Rosewood Hotel.

Confirming the news, they shared a series of snaps to Instagram, where the Bad Boys hitmaker boasts 281,000 followers.

Looking stunning in a lace emerald dress, Alexandra breamed with joy as Darren placed a dazzling diamond on her finger.

She captioned her post simply with two infinity symbol emojis and a ring.

The Hallelujah vocalist was quickly inundated with messages of congratulations, with Clara Amfo commenting: ‘Congratulations bbz🥂✨’

‘CONGRATS BABIES!’, wrote Michelle Visage.

‘Woo hoo! ❤️ congratulations 🥂’, said Kate Thornton, while Anastacia, Stacey Dooley, and Dawn French also shared their joy.

Speaking after her engagement, a source close to Alexandra told The Sun: ‘Alexandra had no idea this was coming and was on cloud nine.

‘Darren had gone all out to plan the most special moment for her, and it was perfect.

‘They couldn’t be happier to start moving towards the next stage of their life together.’

Alexandra and Darren already share two children together, one born in 2022 and the second in 2023. They have kept both their names and sexes private.

Just months ago, the pop star admitted she is ‘desperate’ to have a third child with her now-fiancé. 

She also told the Loose Women in July that she returned to work so soon after welcoming both children because she ‘wanted to make them proud’ after her late mum did the same.

‘I’m so desperate for another baby,’ she added. ‘I would take more time off if I had a third. I don’t regret anything but after that first few months, they’re basically off the college. So I get why people want more time.’

At the time, Alexandra also dropped a not-so-subtle hint that she was keen to become a married women.

She said of Darren: ‘He is such a great human, father, and hopeful hubby to be. Hint, hint, darling.

‘He’s so good with the kids and we always say this is temporary; it isn’t forever,’ she added of their hectic work schedules while juggling childcare.

Career-wise, Alexandra shot to stardom when she won The X Factor with Cheryl as her mentor, famously duetting with Beyoncé in the final, providing a moment for the reality TV history books.

Her debut release then became the fastest-selling single by a female artist in the UK, with her follow-up album, Overcome, also topping the charts and including hits such as Broken Heels.

In recent years, the star has focused more on acting, having appeared in several West End productions including The Bodyguard and Sister Act.

She later broke into TV, with her next role being in Paramount+’s crime thriller, Curfew.

Speaking last year, Alexandra said: ‘I do want people to hopefully see me as a serious actress, and to give me every fighting chance in auditions.’