Oti Mabuse has sparked 'bias' concerns from Dancing on Ice viewers, after admitting her link to contestant Carly Stenson on Sunday night.
After sitting on the sidelines, watching the first six celebs and their professional partners take to the rink last weekend as the ITV show returned for its new series, former Hollyoaks star turned West End actress Carly finally made her debut on the rink with Mark Hanretty as the remaining five stars aimed to impress the judges and viewers at home.
Carly and Mark performed a routine to Jessie Ware hit Say You Love Me and impressed Oti and her Dancing on Ice colleagues enough to earn a series high score of 32 out of 40, with all of the panel also glowing with their feedback to the couple.
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In her VT, Carly, better known to millions of soap fans as Steph Dean, mentioned that her husband, another Hollyoaks star, Danny Mac had been 'on another dancing show,' which many fans clicked was Strictly Come Dancing, which he finished second on in 2016. And Danny's partner was none other than Oti, who he was teamed with on only her second series of the BBC programme.
Rather than hide her connection to Carly, Oti, who quit Strictly last year, was forthcoming about how she knew the actress when she delivered her verdict on Carly's Dancing on Ice debut.
She began: "It was so smooth, it was so beautiful; it was so nice to see you emote your skills on ice," before adding: "Dancing with Danny, I know what it's been like for you, to be there to support someone for three months.
"I am so, so happy that both Danny and I now get to stand here and watch you shine."
Reacting to the connection between Oti and Carly, one Dancing on Ice viewer took to Twitter to post: "I've got high hopes for Carly because of Danny Mac. I imagine Oti will have a bias too!" Taking the same stance, another tweeted: "Bias and favoritism as Oti is mates with her husband from Strictly"
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