Oti Mabuse is going head to head with Strictly - with her new solo tour in direct competition with the BBC show’s official series of dates.
Not only are both tours starting on the same day, they are even playing the same city - Cardiff - on the same night.
Oti - who quit Strictly earlier this year - will kick off her I am Here tour on April 28 in the Welsh capital, where she’ll perform at the city’s New Theatre for three nights.
The Strictly Professionals tour is starting on April 28 at Salford’s Lowry before heading to Cardiff on April 30, where they are dancing at the Arena the same night as Oti is in the city.
Oti’s new show is described as a “whirlwind celebration of the influences and inspirations that took her on a journey from growing up in South Africa to following her dream.”
It is being marketed online with the tagline: “Don’t miss Strictly sensation give her last dance.”
Both tours take in many of the same towns and cities across the UK, including Hull, Newcastle, Sheffield, Nottingham, Birmingham, Brighton and Salford.
Oti’s tour runs until July, which means it will overlap with Strictly’s tour by one month, which concludes at the end of May.
Oti announced she was leaving Strictly after seven years as a professional dancer, in February.
The South African dancer, 31, had appeared on the BBC One show since 2015 and recently became a judge on the latest series of ITV ’s Dancing on Ice.
Her tour was initially announced before stepping down from the show. However it was delayed and rescheduled because of the pandemic.
Former show dancers Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec are also touring at the same time as the Strictly Professionals tour, as well as show favourite Giovanni Pernice and Anton Du Beke.
The Strictly Professionals tour will feature Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Cameron Lombard, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk and Kai Widdrington.
Otis won the BBC dancing show two years in a row with soap star Kelvin Fletcher and comedian Bill Bailey.
She revealed she would be leaving Strictly on her Instagram, writing: “Never easy to say goodbye. I have been part of the most amazing TV show, Strictly Come Dancing for the past seven years and it has been an incredible time.
“Lifting the glitter ball twice and having the best journey with all my celebrities, but also meeting and working with the best team, crew, producers, celebs and incredible professional dancers! You are my family and I adore you all forever.”
She added: “I can’t put in to words how difficult this decision has been, but I have decided not to return for the next series.
“Dance will always be my first love and to everyone, my family especially, friends, strictly fans and judges who have been my support throughout my strictly journey, thank you for being incredible! You are irreplaceable in my heart and have made everyday unforgettable! I love you.”
Ending her post, she said: “I will always Keeeep Dancing! and I will never forget my amazing Strictly experience!”
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