Oti Mabuse has admitted she can usually tell who will make theStrictly Come Dancing final after week one. The TV star, 35, was a professional on the BBC One competition, which is just days away from launching its latest series onto the nation, from 2015 until 2021.
Even though she has made the move to ITV, in which she featured on as a judge on Dancing On Ice and also competed on last year's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, she still works closely with Strictly as a choreographer, whilst her sister Motsi, 44, is on the panel alongside Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood.
Oti made an appearance on Friday's This Morning, where hosts Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond were shocked to learn that she normally has an idea from the start of who has a chance of lifting the glitterball trophy.
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She said: "I can tell in week one who is gonna be in the final. But it has to happen first! All of us can."
Oti, who has also started appearing regularly on Loose Women and was on This Morning to promote her latest novel Slow Burn, insisted that no one ever tells the contestants if they have potential, and it all depends on a number of different facts.
She said: "You never tell them, you never say anything but you can see the potential, who's likeable, who's got a bigger audience, but there's always one surprise, and I think that's why people love Strictly. Anyone who grows from week one until week 10, and the final, they completely change the public perspective of them."
This year, a fresh batch of famous faces are gearing up to strut their stuff on the famous dancefloor. Amongst them are Neighbours legend Stefan Denis, Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison and football managger Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. But Oti admitted that she thinks Love Island winner Dani Dyer will actually do quite well when she takes to the floor.
She said: "I like Nitro, I think he's full of personality, he's familiar to the BBC audience on Gladiators, so I think he's got a great chance. Vicky Pattison, very nice girl, very popular, beautiful. And Dani Dyer, I think she's going to be the silent hrose. She's so sweet, but I think she's gonna come out and give us a wicked Paso Doble and we'll we like 'What?!'"
Despite Oti's confidence in Dani recently revealed that she is actually feeling rather nervous about it all.
During an Instagram Q&A session with her fans on Saturday, Dani, who shot to fame when she won the hit ITV2 dating show alongside then-boyfriend Jack Fincham in 2018, admitted that she is getting ready to 'face her fears' head-on with her participation.
A fan asked: "Are you nervous? You're braver than me!" and Dani replied: "[I'm] absolutely s****ing myself! The whole live tele petrifies me most so I'll really be facing some fears there."
Another fan asked Dani if it's going to be 'harder' than she originally thought but Dani, who is the daughter of EastEnders legend Danny Dyer, admitted that rehearsals haven't even really started yet as she begged her followers to keep 'everything crossed' for her.
She said: "We start proper rehearsals next weeek...so I can let you know how I'm feeling then. Ohhh fingers and toes crossed for me. [fingers crossed emoji."
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