OTI’S ORA THE MOON TO GET MASKED JOB

Strictly winner takes Rita spot on dance panel

OTI Mabuse says she is “thrilled” to be picked as a judge on The Masked Dancer, the show which snubbed Rita Ora after she flouted lockdown rules.

Oti, 30, a pro dancer on Strictly, said: “I’m so thrilled and honoured to be joining the panel on The Masked Dancer.

“I’m a huge fan of The Masked Singer and I loved the US Masked Dancer so I just can’t wait to start.”

Oti, who won last year’s Strictly with comic Bill Bailey, added: “As a dancer I will be watching the dancers intently looking for clues – it’s going to be so much DELIGHT Panellist Oti Mabuse fun.” She will join The Masked Singer panellists Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan and Davina Mccall, with host Joel Dommett also switching, but no Rita.

The Mirror revealed last month that Oti would take Rita’s place on the dance version of the hit show.

Confirming the changes yesterday, ITV said 12 celebrities would step on to the dance floor, adding: “From ballet to ballroom, salsa to swing and everything in between, the mystery line-up will be dancing on to screens this spring.”

There was no mention of Rita, who had to apologise after her 30th birthday party in a Notting Hill restaurant in November.

An insider said last month: “People felt let down at the way she behaved.

“She hasn’t done herself any favours.” A source close to Rita appeared to suggest there was no time in the star’s schedule for The Masked Dancer, saying: “She will be filming The Voice in Australia for the next few months.”

1

Will accidentally presses his button, 2017: “He was jumping around and accidentally pressed it, and then had to take that contestant. Really funny.” 2

Tom and Jennifer’s single battle, 2019: “I said, ‘it would be great if Tom Jones and Jennifer Hudson had a battle’. It was absolutely phenomenal.”

3

Winning with Molly Hocking, 2019: “It was

amazing to win after being a coach for just two years.”

4

Winning with Blessing Chitapa, below, 2020: “It’s an incredible feeling when one of my contestants win. I want them to experience the moment.” 5 Olly sings Superstition,

2019: “I

auditioned that on the Factor so many years ago. To be on a new show as a coach, and then take people down memory lane with a song which changed my life was pretty awesome.”

6

Tom Jones meets songwriter’s son, 2019: “Tom pressed his button for Peter Donegan right at the end. And it turns out his dad

was a songwriter who had

written one of Tom’s classics in the 1960s.”

7

Olly meets his friend, 2020: “My friend Lara George came out and I didn’t know she was coming. I gasped, ‘Oh my God, it’s you’.”

8

Olly’s flying entrance, 2018: “On my first season, they pulled me down from the top of the roof to my chair. A pretty awesome moment.” 9

Dear Darlin’, 2014: “It was the first time an act on any talent show had sung one of my songs. That was so cool.”

10

Duet with Meghan Trainor, 2020: “I was fuming when Meghan released Future Husband, which was exactly like my song Dance With Me Tonight.

“We decided to sing my song together. It was nice to put our differences aside.”