OTI: Diversity is secret of Strictly’s big success
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STRICTLY star Oti Mabuse reckons diversity is the secret to the show’s success.
The TV favourite, 28, flies the flag for minorities as the BBC show’s only black dancer.
Strictly pulls in bumper ratings every year and South African Oti is convinced the programme benefits from having professionals from all over the world.
She said: “I get it. I get that many black women don’t see themselves on TV.
“Fortunately, while there’s none on Strictly’s judging panel, there’s diversity among the pros. Not so much with race but with nationality.
“It brings a different perspective and makes shows that bit more interesting.”
Oti has also appeared on The Greatest Dancer alongside mixedrace star Alesha Dixon, 40.
She said: “I’m so glad I had Alesha. When we first started she came up to me and said, ‘I’ve got your back, no matter what’.” The Greatest Dancer is returning to screens next
year for a second series. But Oti does not know if she will be back on the panel with Cheryl Tweedy, 35.
She said: “They haven’t told me whether I’ll be back next year. But I know they will have back Cheryl – if she’s interested.
“We got on well. It was my first panel experience and she was so supportive and just told me to be myself.”