Oti Mabuse reveals the real reason she left Strictly Come Dancing

Virgin Radio

27 Sep 2023, 08:33

Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse has revealed the big reasons that led to her leaving the hit BBC show. 

The dancer announced she was leaving Strictly in February 2022 after seven years. She had lifted the glitterball trophy twice with Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher and comedian Bill Bailey. 

Speaking in a new episode of the All Change podcast, Oti candidly revealed the huge impact the job of Strictly dancer would have, and how grateful she felt to have husband Marius Iepure with her during the hardest moments. 

She explained: “My husband again has been an amazing person who has seen the dark days, the days where I’m in the shower crying with my clothes on because it’s so hard and it’s so overwhelming. 

“He’s seen me not eat, he’s seen me overeat, he’s seen me struggle with not being able to get the best out of someone. He’s seen me having to deal with interesting personalities.”

It turns out it was Marius that helped Oti make the decision to depart from the Strictly dance floor after witnessing “a fire in your stomach” while at other hosting and presenting jobs. 

The decision to quit Strictly wasn’t an easy one, according to Oti, who added: “I came from the biggest show on television. Every single human being on this planet, in this country, loves Strictly. People are obsessed.

“When you come from there, you are with that group, with those human beings, with that family, then when you decide you’re going to leave it’s like: ‘What? What do you mean?’ I was met with a lot of: ‘Why would you leave? You’re happy, you’re at the top of your professional game, your personal game, you won the show? Why would you leave?’”

While closing the door to Strictly was a tricky decision, Oti admitted she wanted to challenge herself, and she felt lucky ITV “held their arms open” for her to move to shows including Dancing on Ice and her Breakfast Show. 

The Strictly admission comes just a few weeks after Oti and husband Marius announced they were expecting their first child together. 

The TV star took to Instagram in August to share the incredible update with her followers, writing: “Our “yes” year is getting better and better and so is our little family. 

“We feel finally ready and excited to share our wonderful news. This is new for us scarier than swimming with sharks, jumping off cliffs or even swinging from bridges but the best news we could have ever ask for.”