Former Strictly professional Oti Mabuse defends her decision to leave her daughter, 13 months, at home while she takes part in I’m A Celebrity
Former Strictly professional Oti Mabuse has defended her decision to let her daughter star in the jungle, insisting: ‘Mum has goals too.’
The 34-year-old star, who will be appearing on I’m A Celeb for at least two weeks, said: “She won’t remember, it’s only a few days.”
It comes 13 months after the ‘traumatic’ birth of her only child, in which she was born 28 weeks premature and had to spend six weeks in ICU.
The professional dancer continued, “I think it’s nice for her to see that mom is fully committed and loves her so much, but also wants to do what she wants to do.
“Mom has goals too, and I think it’s something we can all be proud of as moms, that we can be great people and achieve our goals or do things that are fun for us.
Former Strictly professional Oti Mabuse has defended her decision to leave her daughter, who has been at home for 13 months, as she flies to Australia to star in I’m A Celebrity…
The 34-year-old star, who will appear on I’m A Celeb for at least two weeks, said: ‘She won’t remember, it’s just a few days’ (pictured with her daughter)
“And when she grows up, she’ll Google me, and she’ll probably see it and say, yeah, my mom did that.”
The sister of Strictly’s judge, Motsi Mabuse, who is from South Africa, revealed she had been asked by ITV six times to appear on the show, but chose this year before her daughter becomes too old to leave behind.
She said: ‘I’ll probably never do it again. I’ll never get the chance to do it again. I would like to grow my family. I would like to do other things. And so this was the year for me to do it, and it just felt right.”
Ms Mabuse is the only professional dancer to win Strictly Come Dancing two years in a row, first in 2019 with soap star Kelvin Fletcher and in 2020 with comedian Bill Bailey.
After seven years on the show, Ms Mabuse quit the BBC’s flagship show in 2022 as she wanted to pursue more presenting roles, but also revealed her struggles behind the scenes of Strictly.
Mrs Mabuse praised her husband of ten years who stayed with her while she was on the show, saying: “He has seen me not eating, he has seen me eating too much, he has seen me interacting with interesting personalities.
“I got to the point where I was like, ‘I think I’m done,’ and he said, ‘Yeah, I think there’s something new that has a fire in your stomach. When you receive people or talk to people, you are a completely different person.’
Since her departure, Ms Mobuse has shifted her alliance to ITV, having appeared on the judging panel for the network’s major shows such as Dancing on Ice and the Masked Singer.
It comes 13 months after the ‘traumatic’ birth of her only child, in which she was born 28 weeks premature and had to spend six weeks in ICU
The professional dancer continued, “I think it’s nice for her to see that mom is fully committed and loves her so much, but also wants to do what she wants to do.”
And now she’s entering the I’m A Celebrity jungle next Sunday.
Before admitting her preference for ITV, she said: “I was really lucky at the time that just after winning my second title [on Strictly]ITV, their arms were open and they said, ‘Hey, come in.’
“So when I was jumping, there was a place to land. Even though I left, there was a whole world, a new family, that had opened doors for me and that is happiness and I have to be honest about that, I have to be grateful for that.’
I AM A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP
OTI MABUSE
Oti Mabuse already has two Strictly glitter balls to her name
AGE: 34
OCCUPANCY: Professional dancer
FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known as a professional dancer in the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020.
DANNY JONES
Danny Jones is one of the bookmakers’ favorites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb
AGE: 38
OCCUPANCY: McFly singer
FAMOUS FOR: Danny is one of the lead singers and lead guitarist of pop-rock band McFly.
He is also a coach on The Voice UK.
BARRY MCGUIGAN
Former boxer Barry McGuigan heads into the jungle
AGE: 63
OCCUPANCY: Retired professional boxer
FAMOUS FOR: Nicknamed The Clones Cyclone, Barry held the WBA and lineal featherweight titles from 1985 to 1986.
GK BARRY
GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women
AGE: 25
OCCUPANCY: TikTok star
FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle and fashion. She has more than 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel.
DEAN MCCULLOUGH
ITV bosses hope Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp
AGE: 32
OCCUPANCY: Radio 1 DJ
FAMOUS FOR: Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses in the hope he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views.
Earlier this year it was announced that Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, having previously been the afternoon leader.
JANE MOORE
Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women
AGE: 62
OCCUPANCY: Journalist
FAMOUS FOR: Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002.
She returned as a permanent panel member in 2013.
Jane takes up the challenge following her high-profile divorce from husband of twenty years, showbiz agent Gary Farrow.
MELVIN ODOOM
Melvin was courted by I’m A Celeb bosses earlier in 2021
AGE: 44
OCCUPANCY: DJ and TV presenter
FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was courted by I’m A Celeb bosses earlier in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.
He also had a primetime stint on Strictly in 2016.
COLEEN ROONEY
Reports claim she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history
AGE: 38
OCCUPANCY: WAG
FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.
Reports claim she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, surpassing Nigel Farage’s £1.5million last year.
ALAN HALSALL
Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs in Coronation Street
AGE: 42
OCCUPANCY: Actor
FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year after undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery.
Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign on again, and he’s sure to attract a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs in the soap.
TULISA
Tulisa is making a comeback in her career after reuniting with N-Dubz last year
AGE: 36
OCCUPANCY: Singer and former X Factor judge
FAMOUS FOR: Tulisa reunited with N-Dubz for a tour last year after first gaining fame with the band in 2007.
In 2011, she became a judge on The X Factor and launched her debut solo album, The Female Boss.
Last year she released her fourth album with N-Dubz.