Oti Mabuse reveals she's quitting Strictly Come Dancing after 2021 series
She's won the show for the past two years
She's one of the most successful professionals after being crowed the winner of Strictly Come Dancing for the last two years, but Oti Mabuse has now confirmed that the upcoming 2021 series will be her last.
Just weeks after signing a new deal to appear on The Masked Singer's spin-off show, The Masked Dancer, the BBC announced that Oti would be one of the 16 professional dancers taking part in the 2021 series, but now it looks like she won't be extending her run further.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Oti said, "I love to dance and also I love bringing joy to so many people, but I think that this year’s Strictly will be the last one.
"To be part of a show like Strictly, which is so diverse in every sense of the word, is incredible. It always pushes to open new doors. You almost forget this year we had JJ Chalmers and Will Bayley the year before, it’s become a normal thing.
"I’m sure they will have a male same-sex couple this year. But honestly as a woman I can’t be dancing forever."
Check out all of the confirmed pro dancers for Strictly Come Dancing 2021:
Kai Widdrington
Cameron Lombard
Nikita Kuzmin
Jowita Przystal
Amy Dowden
Dianne Buswell
Dianne was a professional on the Australian version of Strictly Come Dancing before she joined the UK cast in 2017. In 2023, she made it to the final with Bobby Brazier.
Giovanni Pernice
Italian Champion Giovanni Pernice is the longest-serving male professional on the current line-up of Strictly pros, having joined the show in 2015. He lifted the Glitterball with actress Rose Ayling-Ellis back in 2021 and was most recently paired with presenter Richie Anderson.
Gorka Marquez
Gorka joined the show in 2016 and has danced in three finals. In 2023 he was paired with Nikita Kanda.
Johannes Radebe
Karen Hauer
Katya Jones
Graziano Di Prima
Luba Mushtuk
Nadiya Bychkova
Nancy Xu
Neil Jones
Carlos Gu
Michelle Tsiakkas
Vito Coppola
Lauren Oakley
Oti, who was crowned the winner of the 2021 series of Strictly alongside comedian Bill Bailey, announced earlier this year she'd joined the judging panel for ITV's bonkers new show The Masked Dancer, a spin-off to the incredibly popular The Masked Singer.
Oti joins the panel alongside Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and Mo Gilligan, with Joel Dommett hosting once more.
Speaking about her upcoming involvement, Oti said, "I’m so thrilled and honoured to be joining the panel on The Masked Dancer. I’m a huge fan of The Masked Singer and I loved the US Masked Dancer so I just can’t wait to start on this show. As a dancer I will be watching the dancers intently looking for clues - it’s going to be so much fun!!!"
Although it's not been announced when the new series will begin, it's understood filming will begin in the coming months.
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Oti Mabuse responds to claims she's leaving Strictly