Oti Mabuse, a South African dancer, was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing for 7 years. The former Strictly pro was able to win the title with Kelvin Fletcher in 2019, and then in 2020 she achieved success again with Bill Bailey. However, in 2022, fans of the show were shocked by the news that she was leaving the show. It was reported that it had become too difficult for the BBC to find suitable celebrities to pair with Oti as she became a real star.
In a statement, the former winner said it was hard to say goodbye as it had been an incredible time on the show. She praised the professionalism of the dancers, celebrities and staff, thanking everyone for their hard work. Mabuse also said she would always be grateful and remember that it was Strictly and the BBC that brought her to the United Kingdom, which she now calls home. She described this decision as difficult but final.
Former Strictly celebrity Oti is a talented dancer and also a Latin dance champion. She is also a judge on many TV shows and a presenter. In addition to competing in Strictly Come Dancing from 2015 to 2021, she competed as a professional dancer in Let’s Dance from 2015-2016, Celebrity MasterChef in 2019. She was a judge on The Greatest Dancer (2019 – 2020) and Dancing on Ice (2022 – present). Mabuse is also a panelist in The Masked Dancer UK. On 5 November 2024, Oti Mabuse surprised fans by appearing as a guest host on It Takes Two, a spin-off of Strictly Come Dancing.
Oti Mabuse, former Strictly star, appears in the I’m A Celebrity line-up
After numerous guesses and rumors, the line-up of new episodes of I’m A Celebrity has finally been revealed. Fans were surprised to find that one of the contestants was former Strictly contestant Oti Mabuse. Other TV personalities already heading to Australia include Coleen Rooney, Alan Halsall, Tulisa, Maura Higgins and Barry McGuigan.
Arriving in Australia, where the famous show will be filmed, Mabuse shared her fears and worries. The former Strictly pro admitted that she doesn’t like snakes and spiders. In addition, she shared that leaving her family was quite difficult, but her husband and daughter will be additional motivators for her.
However, some fans of Strictly and its former star are disappointed with her upcoming appearance on the ITV show. Oti was one of the brightest dancers on the BBC Saturday programme. Therefore, many viewers expected to see her in more exciting and interesting projects. And participation in I’m A Celebrity looks like a desperate move and a decline in her career. Despite the show’s popularity, former Strictly contestant doesn’t seem like she should be there.
But although fans are a little disappointed with participation of Mabuse, they are still happy to see Oti on their screens. And they will definitely be rooting for her.
