Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Ryan Paton

Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway: Oti Mabuse's Strictly regret and tragic loss

Oti Mabuse is set to return to our screens tonight on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

The 31-year-old will appear as part of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Ear. The Geordie presenters will be pranking Oti as the hilarious feature returns on the final episode of the season.

Ant & Dec will direct Oti to complete a series of embarrassing tasks in front of unsuspecting members of the public through a hidden earpiece. The dancer is no stranger to primetime ITV television as she has recently completed a stint as a judge on Dancing On Ice.

READ MORE: Steve Coogan's famous ex and addiction battle

Oti shot to stardom as a pro dancer on Strictly Come Dancing where she competed from season 13 - 19. However, the South African performer announced she would be making the move to ITV as John Barrowman's replacement on the Ice Panel in December.

She said at the time: "As a professional dancer I have always had so much respect for the skating professionals on Dancing On Ice. It is an exceptional skill that is also so beautiful to watch. I'm feeling really enthusiastic about joining the panel alongside the legendary Torvill and Dean and Ashley Banjo.

"I can't wait to see the celebrities thrive as they learn how to ice-skate and to champion the professional skaters as they create incredible choreography. Having been on both sides of the table, I know a little bit about how they'll be feeling. It's more than an honour and I already can't wait to join the family."

Oti won the Glitterball twice on Strictly Come Dancing with Kelvin Fletcher and Bill Bailey. She was also part of an acclaimed partnership with Hollyoaks actor Danny Mac.

The partnership eventually finished in second place and she opened up on Kevin Clifton's podcast how she wishes she could re-do that experience to enjoy the journey more. She said: "With Danny, we were at the top, so we needed to go. There [was] no room for failure and it was great.

"But I feel like I always say to him, had I met him now, I would have made him rest more. The fact that we stayed at 10 wouldn't have been because we needed to prove something, it would have been simply because we wanted to be there and we just wanted to have a good time.

"We were so busy working, we didn't even stop to get to know each other. I was like, 'I don't know who you are, but you're gonna dance' and I just wish I could re-do that whole journey."

Away from the world of professional dancing, Oti is married to Marius Lepure. The two met during a dance trial in Germany and married in 2014. Marius competed as part of a group dance on Strictly in 2017 and Oti described him as her "rock" as she shared snaps on Instagram with her husband after she was crowned Strictly winner in 2020.

Oti has recently taken to the social media platform to share tragic news after her niece Tlhogi died aged 28. Oti posted a photo of the two together and said she was "shattered" after the loss.

She said: "How is this the last time I would hold you in my arms. I am so shattered inside I can’t even begin to describe the pain. This is not how this was supposed to go. We had plans together, travel the world and dance on a beach in Jamaica for my birthday. I used to fetch you everyday from crèche, swimming, chess since we were 8.

She continued: "You were only 28 yet the kindest, sweetest human being in my life! I’ve lost my niece, my little sister, my best friend. Life dealt you the harshest card but you always chose to win, you always fought to come out the other side above it all with a smile on your face. I love you much with all my heart and now you’re gone and I feel lost in more ways than one to a pain I’ve never felt before.

"I’m still calling you and texting you trying to understand - how? Why? May you rest in peace and power my sweet Tlhogisay hi to Koko, Abuti Neo Le Malume Tshepo. I promise to take care of Sesi, Nanikie and Mpho for you x"

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway airs at 7pm on ITV and ITV Hub

Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.