Oti Mabuse has spoken out about why she left Strictly Come Dancing and how the show affected her life.
The 33-year-old was a fan favourite who won the season twice with Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher and comedian Bill Bailey, but she opted to leave the BBC primetime programme in February 2022.
On TV, it was all smiles, glitz, and glamour, but Oti has acknowledged that she struggled behind the scenes at times and is thankful that her husband Marius Lepure was there to support her.
‘Luckily 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,’ she explained on the All Change podcast.
‘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.
‘So, he’s the person that’s seen the behind the scenes at the point where I’d got to where I was like: “I think I’m finished.” He was like: “Yeah I think there’s this new thing that’s got a fire in your stomach. When you’re hosting or talking to people you’re a completely different person”.’
Oti understands why some people were surprised by her choice, which she shared with boxer Anthony Ogogo, actor Danny Mac, Paralympian Jonnie Peacock, cricketer Graeme Swann, and rugby player Ugo Monye.
‘I came from the biggest show on television. Every single human being on this planet, in this country, loves Strictly. People are obsessed.’
She continued: ‘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?”‘
She mentioned that she wanted to push herself, but she is appreciative for the platform that Strictly provided.
‘None of this would have happened if I had not been on Strictly,’ and she also feels lucky that ‘ITV held their arms open’ for her.
‘So when I was jumping, there was somewhere to land. Even though I left, there was this whole world, a new family, that had opened doors for me and that’s luck and I have to be honest about that, I have to be grateful for that.’
Oti is currently a Dancing on Ice judge and does her own breakfast programme with the broadcaster, suitably dubbed Oti Mabuse’s Breakfast programme.
On the show, Oti and Marius, 41, revealed that they were expecting their first child together.
Last month, Oti excitedly announced ‘We’re having a baby!’ as she and Marius pointed to her stomach.
An emotional Oti wiped her eyes, while Marius punched the air with joy.
