STRICTLY Come Dancing has welcomed the return of a huge legend – and she showed off her baby bump to boot.
The former show professional returned to Strictly for its spin-off show It Takes Two and even got up and danced for viewers.
Oti Mabuse announced she had quit Strictly in February 2022 but made her big comeback on Wednesday night.
Taking her place on the couch, Oti told host Janette Manrara: “It’s been a minute!”
Delighted to see her pal and former co-star, Janette clapped: “First of all, congratulations! How are you feeling?”
Oti is expecting her first child with her husband Marius Lepure.
She replied: “Good…now. I was tired earlier on but then hair and make-up did their thing. I feel great now.”
Oti’s shock departure from Strictly came after she twice won the Glitterball Trophy.
After triumphing with actor Kelvin Fletcher in 2019 then with comedian Bill Bailey in 2020, the South African was fully expected to try for a sensational hat trick.
But in September this year, Oti revealed the pressure of dealing with difficult celebrity contestants on the show often left her not eating properly, forcing her to turn to her hubby, fellow dancer Marius.
She told the All Change podcast: “Luckily my husband again has been an amazing person who has seen the dark days, the days where I’m in the shower crying with my clothes on because it’s so hard and it’s so overwhelming.
“He’s seen me not eat, he’s seen me overeat, he’s seen me struggle with not being able to get the best out of someone.
“He’s seen me having to deal with ‘interesting personalities.’
“So, he’s the person that’s seen the behind the scenes at the point where I’d got to where I was like: ‘I think I’m finished.’ He was like: ‘Yeah’.”
Oti made her return to Strictly to chat about this weekend’s group dance on It Takes Two.
Viewers will be treated to an ‘Afro-Latin festival’, which was choreographed by Oti herself.
She said: “To be able to choreograph it and bring it to everyone at home to enjoy is really, really exciting. And I’m so proud.”
Oti even got Janette up and onto her feet before teaching her some African dance moves.
