Oti Mabuse

Last updated

Oti Mabuse
Born
Otlile Mabuse

(1990-08-08) 8 August 1990 (age 33)
Education Tshwane University of Technology
Occupation Ballroom dancer
Spouse
Marius Iepure
(m. 2014)
Children1
Relatives Motsi Mabuse (sister) [2]

Otlile "Oti" Mabuse (born 8 August 1990) [3] is a South African talent show judge, presenter, dancer and Latin dance champion currently based in the United Kingdom. [4] She is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing , which she won in 2019 and 2020, and its German equivalent, Let's Dance . [5] She was a Dance Captain on The Greatest Dancer . Since 2021, she has been a panellist on The Masked Dancer and became a judge on Dancing on Ice in 2022. [6]

Contents

Early life and education

Mabuse was born in Pretoria, and studied civil engineering at university [7] before embarking on a career in professional ballroom dancing. Her elder sister, Motsi Mabuse, is also a professional ballroom dancer. Oti has participated in the German series Let's Dance as a professional dancer, after which she joined Britain's Strictly Come Dancing .

Dancing career

Mabuse won the South African Latin American Championship eight times, after which she moved to Germany to broaden her dancing horizons. She has earned a number of titles in her dancing career; including: [1]

Let's Dance

In 2015, Mabuse appeared as a professional dancer on the eighth season of Let's Dance, the German version of Strictly Come Dancing.

She was partnered with singer Daniel Küblböck. The couple were eliminated in week 9, finishing in sixth place.

In 2016, Mabuse returned as a professional dancer for the ninth season of Let's Dance. She was partnered with television presenter Niels Ruf. The couple were the first to be eliminated in week 2, leaving in 14th place.

Season 8: with celebrity partner Daniel Küblböck

Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResult
GonzálezM MabuseLlambi
1 Quickstep / "You're The One That I Want"66315Safe
2 Rumba / "Mad World"66416Safe
3 Contemporary / "Jeanny"68620Safe
4 Cha-Cha-Cha / "Tragedy"55212Safe
5 Waltz / "Yesterday"66214Bottom two
6 Hip-Hop / "Sing"77519Safe
7 Jazz & Paso Doble / "Born This Way"87419Bottom two
8 Samba / "Livin' la Vida Loca"
Disco Marathon / "Ich will immer weider...dieses Fiber spür'n"
7
Awarded
7
10
5
points
19
29
Safe
9 Tango / "When Doves Cry"
Rock n' Roll / "Surfin' U.S.A."
6
6
6
7
2
4
14
17
Eliminated

Season 9: with celebrity partner Niels Ruf

Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResult
GonzálezMabuseLlambi
1 Viennese Waltz / "Where the Wild Roses Grow"3328Bottom three
2 Jive / "Bad Boy"2316Eliminated

Strictly Come Dancing

Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance

In 2015, Mabuse appeared as a professional on the 13th series of Strictly Come Dancing . She was partnered with Olympic boxer Anthony Ogogo. The couple were eliminated in Week 3, finishing in 14th place. That year, she also participated in the Children in Need and Christmas specials of the show, in which she partnered with actors Jack Ashton and Tom Chambers respectively.

In 2016, Mabuse was partnered with former Hollyoaks actor Danny Mac for the show's 14th series. The couple reached the final and finished as runners-up. For the show's 15th series in 2017, she was partnered with Paralympic sprinter Jonnie Peacock, they were eliminated in Week 9 in eighth place. She was paired with England cricketer Graeme Swann for the show's 16th series, they were eliminated in Week 10 in seventh place.

In 2019, for her fifth stint on the show, she was partnered with former Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher, who replaced her originally announced partner, Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing, who had to withdraw from the show after sustaining a foot injury when dancing on the launch show. They went on to become the winners of the series. Laing was confirmed as a contestant for the 18th series the following year, but was re-partnered with fellow professional Karen Hauer, in which Mabuse was partnered with comedian and actor, Bill Bailey, reaching the final and became series winners, with Mabuse becoming the second pro to win the show twice (the other being Aliona Vilani who won series 9 and series 13) and the only pro to win twice in succession.

On 18 April 2021, two weeks after being unveiled as part of 19th series of the show, Mabuse revealed that this would most likely be her last. On 22 February 2022, Mabuse confirmed she was leaving the show after seven years. [8]

SeriesPartnerPlaceAverage
Score
13 Anthony Ogogo 14th19.7
14 Danny Mac 2nd36.6
15 Jonnie Peacock 8th25.8
16 Graeme Swann 7th26.0
17 Kelvin Fletcher 1st36.4
18 Bill Bailey 33.4
19 Ugo Monye 11th23.5

Series 13: with celebrity partner Anthony Ogogo

Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResult
Craig Revel
Horwood
Darcey
Bussell
Len
Goodman
Bruno
Tonioli
1 Jive / "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"456621No Elimination
2 Waltz / "If You Don't Know Me by Now"455519Safe
3 Paso Doble / "Eye of the Tiger"465419Eliminated

Series 14: with celebrity partner Danny Mac

Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResult
Craig Revel
Horwood
Darcey
Bussell
Len
Goodman
Bruno
Tonioli
1 Cha-Cha-Cha / "Cake by the Ocean"887831No Elimination
2 Viennese Waltz / "Never Tear Us Apart"888832Safe
3 Paso Doble / "El Sambrero Blanco"999936Safe
4 Quickstep / "I Won't Dance"999936Safe
5 Rumba / "How Will I Know"899935Safe
6 Foxtrot / "Take Me to Church"787830Safe
7 Jive / "Long Tall Sally"91091038Safe
8 Argentine Tango / "I Heard it Through the Grapevine"99101038Safe
9 Charleston / "Puttin' On the Ritz"1010101040Safe
10 Samba / "Magalenha"
Cha-cha-cha Challenge / "I Like It Like That"
10
Awarded
10
5
10
extra
10
points
40
45
Safe
11 Tango / "One Night Only"91091038Safe
12 Salsa / "Vivir Mi Vida
American Smooth / "Misty Blue"
9
10
9
9
9
10
10
10
37
39
Bottom two
13Quickstep / "I Won't Dance"
Showdance / "Set Fire to the Rain"
Samba / "Magalenha"
9
10
10
9
10
10
9
10
10
9
10
10
36
40
40
Runner-up

Series 15: with celebrity partner Jonnie Peacock

Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResult
Revel HorwoodBussellBallasTonioli
1 Waltz / "When I Need You"455620No Elimination
2 Jive / "Johnny B. Goode"678829Safe
3 Paso Doble / "The Raider's March"667726Safe
4 American Smooth / "Cry Me a River"788831Safe
5 Quickstep / "Part-Time Lover"789#24Safe
6 Cha-Cha-Cha / "Troublemaker"465520Safe
7 Salsa / "Turn Me On"677727Safe
8 Foxtrot / "Someone like You"456621Bottom two
9 Tango / "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)"676726Eliminated

# Bruno Tonioli was absent and there was no guest judge.

Series 16: with celebrity partner Graeme Swann

Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResult
Craig Revel
Horwood
Darcey
Bussell
Shirley
Ballas
Bruno
Tonioli
1 Samba / "Soul Limbo"566522No Elimination
2 American Smooth / "Try a Little Tenderness"353415Safe
3 Charleston / "Spider-Man"788831Safe
4 Jive / "Don't Stop Me Now"577726Safe
5 Tango / "Roxanne"6788#29Safe
6 Cha-Cha-Cha / "Thriller"456621Bottom two
7 Waltz / "The Last Waltz"678829Safe
8 Salsa / "Follow the Leader"788831Bottom two
9 Jazz / "The Trolley Song"788932Bottom two
10 Quickstep / Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)"
Lindy Hop-a-thon / "Do Your Thing"
6
Awarded
6
2
6
Extra
6
Points
24
26
Eliminated

# Bruno Tonioli was absent; Alfonso Ribeiro was guest judge.

Series 17: with celebrity partner Kelvin Fletcher

Mabuse was originally paired with Jamie Laing, however he had to pull out due to a foot injury whilst the recording of the launch show. Laing was replaced with Kelvin Fletcher, just before the start of the live shows.

Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResult
Craig Revel
Horwood
Motsi
Mabuse
Shirley
Ballas
Bruno
Tonioli
1 Samba / "La Vida Es Un Carnaval"888832No Elimination
2 Waltz / "What the World Needs Now is Love"777728Safe
3 Charleston / "Trip a Little Light Fantastic"99101038Safe
4 Rumba / "Ain't No Sunshine"999936Safe
5 Cha-Cha-Cha / "Get Stupid"8889#33Safe
6 Tango / "Bad Guy"999936Safe
7 Viennese Waltz / "Say Something"898934Safe
8 Salsa / "Let's Hear It for the Boy"899935Safe
9 Jive / "Jailhouse Rock"910101039Safe
10 Street / "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)"810101038Safe
11 American Smooth / "Gaston"910101039Safe
12 Quickstep / "The Lady Is a Tramp"
Paso Doble / "Seven Nation Army"
10
9
10
10
10
9
10
9
40
37
Safe
13 Rumba / "Ain't No Sunshine"
Showdance / "Shout"
Samba / "La Vida Es Un Carnaval"
9
10
9
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
39
40
39
Winners

# Bruno Tonioli was absent; Alfonso Ribeiro was guest judge.

Series 18: with celebrity partner Bill Bailey

Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResult
Revel HorwoodBallasMabuse
1 Cha Cha Cha / "Pata Pata"36615No Elimination
2 Quickstep / "Talk to the Animals"88824Safe
3 Paso Doble / "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"89926Safe
4Street / "Rapper's Delight"8109#27Safe
5 American Smooth / "I've Got You Under My Skin"898#25Safe
6 Jive / "One Way or Another"88824Safe
7 Argentine Tango / "The Phantom of the Opera"88824Safe
8 Charleston / "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey"
Tango / "Enter Sandman"
8
8
8
7
9
8
25
23
Safe
9 Quickstep / "Talk to the Animals"
Showdance / "The Show Must Go On"
Street / "Rapper's Delight"
9
10
9
10
10
10
10
10
10
29
30
29
Winners

# Motsi Mabuse was absent; Anton du Beke was guest judge.

Series 19: with celebrity partner Ugo Monye

Week No.Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResult
Revel HorwoodMabuseBallasDu Beke
1 Samba / "Iko Iko (My Bestie)"355518No Elimination
2 Quickstep / "Bring Me Sunshine"577625Safe
3Couple's Choice / "You're Welcome"788831Safe
4 Viennese Waltz / "I've Been Loving You Too Long -----Given bye
5 Rumba / "Leave the Door Open"365620Eliminated

Dance tours and other professional engagements

Personal life

In 2014, Mabuse married Romanian dancer Marius Iepure, whom she met in Germany. [15] They currently live in London after moving there from Germany in 2015. [4] On Christmas Day 2023, Mabuse and Iepure announced the arrival of their first child, a daughter. [16]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2015–2016 Let's Dance HerselfProfessional dancer (Seasons 8–9)
2015–2021 Strictly Come Dancing Professional dancer (Series 13–19)
2019–2020 The Greatest Dancer Judge
2019–2021 Lorraine 7 episodes
2019–2020 This Morning 4 episodes
2019 Celebrity MasterChef Contestant
2020 Boogie Beebies Host (Series 3)
2020–2021Morning LivePresenter (10 episodes)
2020 Michael McIntyre's The Wheel Contestant (Christmas Special)
2021 Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway 3 episodes
2021–present The Masked Dancer UK Panelist [6]
2021 RuPaul's Drag Race UK : "Dragoton"Choreographer, guest judge [17]
2022–present Dancing on Ice Judge [6]
2022 Romeo & Duet Presenter [18]
Oti Mabuse: My South Africa BBC One documentary [19]
Olivier Awards Guest Presenter2022 Ceremony
The Big Narstie Show GuestSeries 5 Episode 1 [20]
Celebrity Catchphrase Christmas Special HerselfContestant [21]
On Christmas NightPresenterStory of the first Christmas from the Gospel according to St Luke [22]
2023DNA JourneyHerselfWith Motsi Mabuse [23]
Oti Mabuse’s Breakfast ShowPresenter [24]
Big Brother: Late & Live HerselfCelebrity Houseguest (Week 3)
2024 Celebrity Big Brother: Late & Live HerselfCelebrity Houseguest (Week 1)
The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer Herself / contestantOne episode [25]

Bibliography

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References

  1. 1 2 "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Oti Mabuse". BBC. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  2. "Oti Mabuse and her sisters (Instagram)". Archived from the original on 23 December 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  3. "Otile Mabuse : Client Portfolios : Olivia Belle". Olivia Belle Management. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  4. 1 2 Winship, Lyndsey (12 March 2019). "Strictly's Oti Mabuse: 'I still wear £5 leggings – I work for the BBC!'". TheGuardian.com . Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  5. "Who is Oti Mabuse? Strictly Come Dancing 2016 professional dancers guide". Radio Times . 26 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "ITV commissions The Masked Dancer". Press Centre. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  7. "Dream Comes True as BBC Welcomes 'Hot' South African Dancer to 'Strictly' Show". SAPeople.com. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  8. Lawler, Danielle (19 April 2021). "Who Oti Mabuse: 'The next Strictly will be my last'". The Telegraph . Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  9. "An Audience with website" . Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  10. "New UK Tour Announced For STRICTLY COME DANCING Stars Ian Waite and Oti Mabuse". Broadway World . 4 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  11. "5* Weekend Break with the Stars of BBC Strictly Come Dancing". www.donaheys.co.uk.
  12. Swain, Marianka (21 October 2019). "Shortlist Announced For The 2019 BroadwayWorld UK Awards". broadwayworld.com.
  13. McGrath, Rachel (28 April 2020). "Dance lessons with Oti Mabuse lead new BBC children's shows". Evening Standard.
  14. "The Cher Show to tour UK & Ireland".
  15. Peake, Amber (25 October 2020). "Oti Mabuse husband: When did Strictly star get married?". Express. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  16. McIntyre, Charlotte; O'Hare, Mia (25 December 2023). "Oti Mabuse gives birth to 'miracle' baby as she becomes a mum for first time". The Mirror. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  17. Wehrstedt, Lisa (1 October 2021). "Strictly Come Dancing's Oti Mabuse shows off transformation as she joins Drag Race panel". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  18. "Oti Mabuse turns musical matchmaker as host of new ITV dating show Romeo & Duet". itv.com/presscentre. 10 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  19. "Oti Mabuse: My South Africa". bbc.co.uk. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  20. "The Big Narstie Show". channel4.com. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  21. "Celebrity Catchphrase Christmas Special". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  22. "From Call The Midwife to Mrs Brown's Boys: What's on the BBC's Christmas line-up?". virginradio.co.uk. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  23. "DNA Journey". itv.com. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  24. "Oti Mabuse's Breakfast Show". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  25. "The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off". thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2024.

Further reading