Oti Mabuse returns to Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals 2 years after quitting

Oti Mabuse in a yellow dress and hair down for the BRIT Awards 2024
Oti has been spotted at the Strictly dance studios. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Dancing On Ice judge Oti Mabuse has been spotted leaving Strictly Come Dancing 2024 rehearsals after leaving the show back in 2022. 

Oti, who has gone on to appear in a whole host of other TV shows including Morning Live, The Oti Mabuse Breakfast Show and The Masked Dancer, appeared on Strictly for seven years as a professional dancer between 2015 and 2022. 

The professional dancer was paired with celebrities including former Hollyoaks star Danny Mac and Anthony Ogogo and won the show with Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher in 2019. In 2020 was crowned winner for the second consecutive year with comedian Bill Bailey.

However, there is bad news for Strictly fans hoping that her return to the Strictly dance rehearsals might mean she's back on the show, as she was reportedly just there as a choreographer according to The Sun

There have been many rumours over the years about Oti returning to Strictly Come Dancing, especially as her sister, Motsi Mabuse, remains part of the judging panel for the show. 

Oti, who welcomed a baby daughter into the world in November 2023, has remained part of the Strictly family by regularly appearing in the audience of the live shows and offering her choreography skills to many of the group dances. 

Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse dancing in suits

Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse danced to victory in 2020.  (Image credit: BBC/Guy Levy)

Strictly Come Dancing is set to return to our screens in September, despite the recent controversy surrounding the show which has seen professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima both leave the series. 

The series is celebrating its 20th year on our screens this year, and while we are still waiting for the official celebrity lineup to be announced, it has been rumoured that DIY SOS star Nick Knowles is one of the famous faces who could be taking to the dance floor in this year's competition. 

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 returns to BBC One in September. 

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.