She’s been a key part of Strictly Come Dancing since 2015, but is Oti Mabuse about to break the hearts of fans?
Oti is about to be seen on ITV as a judge on Strictly’s closest competitor, Dancing On Ice. This may mean she’s about to leave the BBC ballroom.
“So there will be announcements that will be made later but I think for me as a person in entertainment, I really want to learn and I want to grow and I want a long career, especially in this country,” she said.
“I moved all the way from Africa so I have to make something of myself, so I’m really trying to learn and do as much as I can for as long as I can.”
Oti, 31, beamed as she revealed that she’s excited to be a judge for the first time.
“I am. You know, I think I’ve done a couple of panel shows. I’ve been a dance captain and a dance detective and some others but I’ve never actually been there to be a judge,” she smiles.
“I love competition and I love watching people learn new skills and try and get better every single week.
“It’s a journey that I absolutely enjoy to be a part of and to watch and to know that I’m doing it now with ice skating is very, very exciting for me and I literally cannot wait – I’m buzzing.”
Oti is clearly raring to get stuck into Dancing On Ice, which this year will see celebrities including Love Island’s Liberty Poole and Corrie’s Sally Dynevor take to the ice.
“Now I’m a judge – I’ve made it!” says Oti.
“It was really exciting and I get to work with incredible people and even the show backstage, the producers, everybody’s been so nice and so welcoming.
“And the professionals, the celebs have both been really, really nice.
Her big sister Motsi, who has been a huge hit as a Strictly judge, has given Oti some advice.
“Yeah, we’re really close, my sister and I, and what we know from sharing a mum and dad is that we’re quite loud, we’re literally so bubbly” Oti reveals.
“Her advice to me was just to be myself and I think everyone from the BBC literally congratulated me and said the same thing.
“Just be yourself, be honest, say what you see and say what you feel and say how you hope they would improve and how they can better themselves.
“Because at the end of the day, it’s about the celeb, it’s about the show and it’s about helping them get better actually.”
Dancing On Ice starts this Sunday 16 January at 6.30pm on ITV
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
