Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse has explained why she doesn’t want her sister Oti Mabuse to host the show.
Fans of the long-running ballroom competition series were shocked to learn that the 2025 series would be the last one presented by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
The duo announced their shock departure after 21 years in a joint statement shared on Instagram last week.
‘I want her in a safe space’
Motsi and Oti both appeared on Loose Women today (October 28) to discuss the series. Anchor Charlene White mentioned Tess and Claudia’s departure, asking if Oti would be interested in taking on the role.
However, Motsi made her feelings clear. “Shall I be honest? I wouldn’t let her do it, because I want to protect her from that, because I know what type of show it is.”
The professional dancer and Latin dance champion, 44, joined Strictly as a judge in 2019. Oti, 35, who is also an accomplished champion, competed as a professional dancer on the flagship BBC series between 2015 and 2021.
Motsi continued: “I know what kind of pressure it is, I know who’s shoes she’s stepping into, I feel as an older sister, I wouldn’t want to do that to my sister. I want her to be in a safe space, where she can develop, where she has time to grow, where there is a future. I don’t want everything on her back, and then the next day, it’s going down because your sister is in.”
‘I’d love her to do it but I wouldn’t want what comes with it for her’
Motsi explained her feelings further, adding: “I don’t want that for her. She’s gone on her way. I would love her to do it, I would love this for her, but at the same time I wouldn’t want what comes with it for her.
“So as the older sister and the one that chooses safety, more than adventure…,” she concluded, making her feelings clear. “She’ll make a way and if it’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen, but we have nothing to say there.”
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Oti’s Strictly exit
Oti’s decision to leave Strictly after seven incredible series came as a massive shock to her supporters
“I came from the biggest show on television. Every single human being on this planet, in this country, loves Strictly. People are obsessed,” she said when speaking on the All Change podcast.
Oti departed the show to pursue new projects, including a judging stint on Dancing On Ice.
However, she has been made a Strictly comeback for a couple of brief moments in recent years, both as a show choreographer and on spin-off It Takes Two.
Strictly continues on Saturday, November 1 at 6.25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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