Professional dancer Oti Mabuse has made an unexpected return to Strictly Come Dancing, three years after leaving the series. Oti, who is the sister of Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse, was a pro dancer on the show from 2015 to 2021 before transitioning to other television roles. She is now widely known as a judge on Dancing On Ice, alongside Christopher Dean, Jayne Torvill, and Ashley Banjo.
Oti’s comeback took place on Tuesday, November 5, when she appeared as a guest host on the spin-off show It Takes Two. During the episode, she offered her critiques on the previous weekend’s performances, identifying areas for improvement among celebrity dancers while also praising standout routines.
The 34-year-old South African, who has won the show’s coveted trophy in consecutive years (2019 with Kelvin Fletcher and 2020 with Bill Bailey), recently discussed the impact of her time on Strictly on her personal life. In a candid conversation, she revealed that the competitive nature of the show took a toll on her relationships, saying it became all-consuming.
Oti, who is married to dancer Marius Lapure, welcomed her first child in December last year and shared the joyful news on Christmas Day. There are rumors she may also join the lineup for this year’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
Strictly‘s It Takes Two airs weekdays at 6:30 PM on BBC Two.
