Oduba to bring ‘rock n’ roll’ baby on Strictly
Ore Oduba has said he will bring his “rock ‘n’ roll baby” on the Strictly Come Dancing arena tour when he returns as host for the second year running.
The former winner of the dancing show will be joined for the 29 shows around the country by many of the celebrities and professional dancers from the current series of the BBC One show.
He will also bring his son Roman with him on the road, after his wife Portia gave birth to their first child in January, just a week before he set off to host for the first time.
He said: “Our son was due to be born around the time that we were hitting the road. Thankfully in the end it all worked out perfectly and we had about a week all together before I had to go. But yeah, we had to make a big call, but we’re working parents. That was the situation and this was my job and an amazing opportunity, and if it wasn’t Strictly, I probably wouldn’t have done it.
“But that was probably the only group of people I would have wanted to be part of at that time, when I couldn’t be with my own family.
“So it was very special at that time and the whole lot were so wonderful, they were just so warm and always asking how the baby was and they understood if maybe I was feeling like I was missing them a lot. They were always happy to buy me an extra drink at the bar.”
Oduba said he sees the members of Strictly team as “my family outside of my actual family”, adding: “They’re all my friends and the two tours I’ve done before, hosting last year and as one of the contestants the year before, it’s just a chance to take it on the road and meet the fans that make this show what it is, to supersize Strictly even more and just to be part of the biggest show in the country. It’s an honour.” The first Strictly Come Dancing live show is on tomorrow.