Strictly Come Dancing star has opened up on the real reason she quit the BBC show
Former Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse has shared the genuine reason behind her departure from the beloved BBC programme as she admitted that "it was time to move on".
Oti, 34, has stepped into a new TV role, debuting as a panellist on ITV's Loose Women this Wednesday (April 9) afternoon.
Joining forces with Ruth Langsford, Denise Welsh, and Jayne Moore, Oti shared her views on the latest topics during the day's show.
Ruth introduced her to viewers with warmth, saying: "Welcome to your Wednesday's Loose Women. We have got an exciting new panellist filling in that empty seat today."
Oti Mabuse has opened up about the real reason she decided to quit the BBC show (Image: ITV)
She continued with high praise for Oti, announcing: "She is our favourite dance champagne, she is a judge, a mum and she's Jayne's fellow jungle buddy. Please welcome Oti Mabuse," reports Edinburgh Live.
Shortly after appearing on the panel, Oti found herself responding to questions from the panel about her decision to leave Strictly.
Expressing her own astonishment, Ruth remarked: "Oti, I personally was surprised when you left Strictly because you just are Strictly. You've been there so long and you won it twice in two consecutive years. You were right up there."
Delving deeper, she asked: "So why did you leave?" Oti responded with affection for the show: "It is the most wonderful show, and it was 10 years ago when I left South Africa and Germany to be on Strictly, but I am still very close with the producers and dancers."
The former Strictly professional dancer shared her reasons for leaving the show, saying: "For me, it was time to move on, and I'm lucky because the show kind of trampolined me or jump-started many other goals and opportunities for me, but I wanted to explore other opportunities, and I wanted to have a family."
She went on to reflect on her personal growth: "I remember going to see the Loose Women tour and you were all talking about your many experiences and I've never done anything with my life but dance. I grew up in a very strict household so I never travelled and I never met different types of people."
Continuing her candid revelation, she expressed her desire for new experiences: "I never had life experience, and I thought I could do this show and do the same thing again for 20 years and still be happy because I wasn't unhappy or I could fail but fail to know that I had life experience and that for me was the reason."
When Jayne asked her if she still watched Strictly, Oti admitted, "I'm at the back with the crew and under the stage having a gin and tonic."
She further stated her ongoing connection with the show: "I'm still very much involved in the back of the show because Strictly for me will always be a part of me. It is my family in the UK, but it was time for me to move on."
After an impressive seven-year run, Oti Mabuse announced her departure from the beloved BBC dance competition in 2022.
