The BBC are reportedly “worried” former Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse will share secrets from the show on I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
Mabuse, 34, was a professional dancer on the dancing competition for seven years until 2022 and now serves as a judge on Dancing On Ice.
She flew to Australia on Tuesday, ready to enter the I’m A Celebrity jungle alongside the likes of Coleen Rooney, Tulisa Contostavlos, and GK Barry on November 17.
Executives at the BBC are apparently concerned that Mabuse might share behind-the-secrets gossip about the scandals that have engulfed the show and its professional dancers this year.
“After the year the show has had, Oti is undoubtedly going to be asked by curious campmates around the fire what she thinks of the furore surrounding Strictly,” a show source told MailOnline.
“She was there for years, and you never know what she is going to say.”
The insider added: “Everyone will be tuning in and hoping she doesn’t say anything that will cause further trouble for the competition but the bosses are worried.”
The BBC declined to comment when contacted by The Standard.
Mabuse’s sister Motsi is a current judge on Strictly, having joined the show in 2019 to replace Darcey Bussell.
The show was plunged into controversy last year when contestant Amanda Abbington quit after five weeks, claiming her partner Giovanni Pernice had been “abusive, cruel and mean” towards her.
The Sherlock actress’ allegations sparked Pernice’s exit from the show and a months-long investigation that led to the BBC issuing an apology to Abbington, 53.
The BBC cleared Pernice, 34, of physically abusive behaviour towards Abbington, but upheld six of her 17 complaints, including of verbal bullying and harassment.
Professional dancer Graziano Di Prima was also dropped from the show, after claims he “kicked and hit” his celebrity partner, Love Island star Zara McDermott, 27, during rehearsals last series.
Di Prima’s representative admitted he did kick McDermott and said in a statement that he knew he had “made a mistake” and “apologised at the time”.
Following the scandal, the BBC announced that there must always be a team member present during training room rehearsals.
Mabuse first appeared on Strictly in 2015 and lifted the Glitterball Trophy twice - with comedian Bill Bailey and Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher.
Her husband Marius Lepure, 41, will care for their one-year-old daughter, while Mabuse appears on I’m A Celebrity.
