EXCLUSIVE: Devastated Oti Mabuse was seen fighting back her emotions as she opened up on her reaction to Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly waving goodbye to Strictly.
On Thursday, Claudia, 53, who also hosts BBC series The Traitors and spin-off Celebrity Traitors, and Tess, 56, who first joined the series back in 2004, revealed they would be leaving their presenting roles on the series.
The professional dancer, who previously took part in the BBC One dancing competition that sister Motsi, 44, still judges on, got emotional as she was quizzed on her reaction to the exit on Loose Women.
Oti, 35, worked alongside the show’s hosts from 2015 until she left the show in 2021.
Introduced onto the show by panellist Jane Moore, the dancer admitted that she had ‘got emotional’ behind the scenes as she prepared for her ITV appearance.
‘They had to redo my makeup because I actually started crying,’ Oti revealed, before getting choked up again and reassured by her co-stars.
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Devastated Oti Mabuse was seen fighting back her emotions as she opened up on her reaction to Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly waving goodbye to Strictly
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Oti conintued: ‘I think as someone who loves the show and has been a part of it, Claudia and Tess have been the queens – two women side by side, defending each other and protecting each other.
‘They care, when they know you, they check on you, “How’s your child? How’s your husband? How’s your family?” and this feels like an end of an era.
‘They are the Saturday night, they are the mums that take care of us, they lead the show so impeccably well, and I think it’s a shame. It came as a shock.’
Oti went on to reveal that sister Motsi also appeared shocked by the news, when Oti ‘called her’ to ask her about it.
‘We had two minutes of both of us in silence, we were both in shock, it came out of nowhere,’ Oti added. ‘It breaks my heart because I absolutely love them.
‘I wish them luck and I wish them the best.’
It comes after the BBC broke their silence on Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly‘s Strictly Come Dancing exit – admitting their departure marks the ‘end of an era’.
The BBC’s chief content officer Kate Phillips said: ‘I can’t quite believe I’m saying this, but it’s the end of an era with Tess and Claudia’s decision to bid farewell to the Strictly ballroom.
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Oti went on to reveal that sister Motsi also appeared shocked by the news, when Oti ‘called her’ to ask her about it
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Claudia, 53, who also hosts BBC series The Traitors and spin-off Celebrity Traitors, and Tess, 56, who first joined the series back in 2004, revealed they would be leaving the show
‘They’ve both been such incredible hosts at the very heart of the show, their passion and dedication has gone above and beyond.
‘They’ve been integral to Strictly’s success over the last 20 years, but I understand why they’ve decided it’s time to hang up the glitter ball and get their weekends back.
‘As Craig would say they are fab-u-lous presenters, and they are fab-u-lous friends to me and so many others at the BBC. Thank you Tess and Claud for everything, we will miss you hugely.’
Managing director of entertainment Suzy Lamb echoed: ‘On behalf of the entire production team at Strictly, we are so going to miss Tess and Claudia.
‘Tess brought elegance, poise, and a genuine love for the show that never waned from the very start. And with Claudia’s charm and razor-sharp wit joining us from It Takes Two in 2014 – it cemented a partnership that has kept our audience captivated ever since.
‘Tess and Claudia are much more than presenters to us – they are part of the Strictly production family – and whilst we’ll miss them dearly, we wish them nothing but the best.’
Sarah James, Strictly’s executive producer, added: ‘Tess and Claudia are quite simply the best duo of presenters in the business and we are so lucky to have had them as our Strictly anchors for so many years.
‘They have championed countless celebrities on the dancefloor, led us all through two series during the pandemic but more importantly they have a deep and genuine bond with the show and every single member of the team.
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Claudia and Tess confirmed their exit from the show in an emotional video
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Bosses were quick to comment on the departure admitting their departure marks the ‘end of an era’ for Strictly Come Dancing
‘The Strictly Family is often referred to and these women are the matriarchs of that family. We have been together and supported each other for a long time – through pregnancies, births and deaths and to say we will all miss them terribly is an understatement.
‘Tess, Claudia, THANK YOU for everything, it’s not over yet – let’s enjoy the rest of this fabulous series together. I would say Keep Dancing, but you never actually started!’
Announcing their departure in a video, Claudia began: ‘There have been some rumblings and we want you to hear this from us.’
Tess chimed in: ‘We have news, after 21 wonderfully joyful years on Strictly, we have decided that the time is right to step aside and pass over the baton.’
‘The very sparkly baton!’ Claudia laughed, before turning to her co-star and pal to add: ‘You’ve been here since the beginning.’
Tess replied, pointing to Claudia: ‘With Bruce, lovely Bruce [Forsyth], and that was over two decades ago but a lot of the time has been with you.
‘It’s been a huge part of our lives since our children were literally babes in arms, and now they’re adults, and I think genuinely we have cherished every second.’
Claudia continued: ‘We have, we’re so lucky to have been part of this amazing show and we just want to thank the Strictly team, because Strictly is the people who make it.’
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Claudia joined Tess in 2014, while Tess had been hosting the show since its first series in 2004
The duo penned under the video: ‘We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream.
‘We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time. We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show.
‘They’re the most brilliant team and we’ll miss them every day. We will cry when we say the last “keep dancing” but we will continue to say it to each other.
‘Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.’
In her own statement, Tess added: ‘I absolutely adore our brilliant crew, every single member of the Strictly team who have worked so tirelessly to make this show what it is.
‘Thank you for the laughter, the friendship, the countless memories over all these years. You’ve filled my heart in ways I’ll never forget. I’ll miss you all so much.
‘And to you, the viewers at home, the biggest thank you of all, thank you for welcoming us into your homes for over two decades.
‘To my beloved Claud, what an absolute joy and pleasure it has been sharing this adventure with you. You’re one of a kind, and I’ll treasure every giggle, every live show, and every backstage moment we’ve shared.
‘This isn’t a goodbye to glitter, sequins or Saturday night sparkle (I could never say goodbye to those!). Strictly will forever hold a special place in my heart, but it does feel like the right time to hand over the reins.’
