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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

Who is Motsi Mabuse in Strictly Come Dancing 2019?

Motsi Mabuse is set to arrive on Strictly Come Dancing 2019 as a brand new judge.

The 38-year-old already has connections to the BBC One show as she is the younger sister of pro dancer Oti Mabuse.

A former South African Champion and German Latin Champion, Motsi joins Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel-Horwood and Bruno Tonioli in place of Darcey Bussell.

The prima ballerina quit the show after seven years on the TV panel in April "to give more focus to my many other commitments in dance."

Motsi, has been a judge on the German version of glitzy entertainment show called Let's Dance since 2011 where she started out as a pro dancer with a celebrity partner just like her sibling four years earlier.

The new look Strictly panel (Kieron McCarron/BBC/PA Wire)

Born in South Africa, Motsi has been living in Germany with Ukrainian dancer husband Evgenij Voznyuk. She will continue on the German version of the show as it airs at a different time of year.

The mum-of-one has already had a bit of UK telly exposure having recently appeared alongside Oti and their middle sister Phemelo on the celebrity version of Channel 4 favourite Gogglebox.

Of her new prime-time role, Motsi said: "I am absolutely overjoyed to be joining the Strictly judging panel. I have so much respect and admiration for the other three judges and hope to add my own bit of sparkle to the show. I can't wait to get started!"

 
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