In case you missed it, Strictly Come Dancing is back on our telly boxes and, for the first time in two years, it’s business as usual, with Covid restrictions finally lifted and a full studio audience.
One person who’s thrilled that things are back to normal (other than, you know, everybody) is judge Motsi Mabuse who, despite this being her fourth year on the panel, has only been a part of the Strictly formula we know and love for one of those series.
‘It was so good on Saturday to feel how it is with having the audience back,’ she told Grazia exclusively ahead of the second live show of 2022. ‘Literally in the Covid times you would make a joke and you’d be laughing alone.
‘Now people are actually reacting, it just feels fuller, more fun - you get the energy from the audience so it’s not even about the cameras so much, it’s about the interaction that happens in the studio. You have people there who you can bounce back off and, for the judges, it feels like it’s not just on our shoulders.’
As well as a full studio audience and the buzz of the overcrowded balcony, another Strictly stalwart making a return this year is the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, where contestants have traditionally competed in the semi-finals. It made an appearance in last week’s launch show.
‘I’ve only been once to Blackpool [with Strictly] because when I arrived everything went to covid,’ says Motsi. ‘The atmosphere is indescribable, you feel like you’re elevated for some reason. It’s iconic in our industry, there’s a lot of history so being there with Strictly is like, “wow”.’
Like everyone on Strictly, Motsi has a glittering professional dancing career behind her; in fact, all three of the Mabuse sisters, including Oti, who danced as a professional on the show up until last year and lifted the Glitterball Trophy in both 2019 (with Kelvin Fletcher) and 2020 (with Bill Bailey), are revered in the ballroom dancing world. Motsi earned her judging credentials as a pro dancer and then a judge on Germany’s Let’s Dance – which, she says, is ‘a completely different show'. The UK version is 'more traditional, you know what to expect, you know how it runs [and] they try to keep it that way. The development of the show, it’s more traditional. The German show they’re really looking into how far you can push the box in entertainment value'.
But despite the family’s glamorous credentials, their start in life was far from gilded. Growing up in South Africa after it was torn apart by Apartheid, Motsi writes about overcoming this in her new autobiography, Finding My Own Rhythm.
‘The hardest parts for me were the beginning of it all, how I found a way to pull through,’ she says. ‘Doing the audio part of the book and reading out loud, and listening to my own voice [talking about] the process was really, really hard. I was emotional for a few days because it brought up all the old memories.’
While these days she’s best known for her judging rather than her dancing, Motsi still teaches regularly at the dance school she runs with her husband near Frankfurt, Germany, and is passionate about the power of movement.
‘Girls [often] have dance growing up and I think it’s so important for their development,’ she says. ‘I’m always really pleased when I hear in schools when they integrate dancing and so on because it’s so important for their development.’
And while she’s danced in global competitions and in ballrooms the world over, you’re unlikely to catch her letting go on a club dancefloor.
‘The last time I was in a club was with Oti, but I was like "nooo I can’t". I don’t know, something has happened to me, I’ll get back to those days.’
Finding My Own Rhythm by Motsi Mabuse published by Ebury Spotlight is OUT NOW, RRP £20.00.
Strictly Come Dancing Winners
1 of 19Series 1 – Natasha Kaplinsky
Natasha was our first EVER Strictly winner. The television presenter graced our screens in 2004 alongside her dancing partner Brendan Cole. She won the show dancing the quickstep (36 points), the samba (31 points) and the showdance (35 points).
Natasha has since returned to presenting and you can see her on ITV news.
2 of 19Series 2 – Jill Halfpenny
Actress Jill won series two with her dancing partner Darren Bennett. She took the crown from Natasha dancing the foxtrot (34 points) and the jive (40 points).
The actress who has previously starred in EastEnders, Coronation Street and Waterloo Road, appeared in the TV adaptation of Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know About Love in 2022.
3 of 19Series 3 – Darren Gough
In 2005 Darren became the first man to win Strictly. He won the show dancing the foxtrot (36 points) and the paso doble (36 points) alongside his partner Lilia Kopylova. Darren and Lilia also won the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special in 2005.
He retired from cricket in 2008.
4 of 19Series 4 - Mark Ramprakash
Mark won the BBC show back in 2006.
With his professional partner Karen Hardy they won the show dancing the tango (34 points), the salsa (40 points) and the samba (36 points).
5 of 19Series 5 – Alesha Dixon
Alesha Dixon won series five of the show in 2007. The singer won the BBC show dancing the waltz (39 points), the cha cha cha (38 points) and the jive (35 points) alongside her partner Matthew Cutler. Alesha later became a judge on the show during series seven, eight and nine.
She has continued making music and you can seee her on ITV's Britain's Got Talent as a judge.
6 of 19Series 6 – Tom Chambers
Back in 2008, viewers saw Tom win the glitterball trophy. Alongside his partner Camilla Dallerup he won the show dancing the foxtrot (35 points) and the salsa (38 points).
Since winning the show, Tom has continued acting.
7 of 19Series 7 – Chris Hollins
The news presenter won the show in 2009 during the seventh series. Alongside his partner Ola Jordan, Chris won the show dancing the foxtrot (46 points), the charleston (50 points), the lindy hop (44 points) and the showdance (46 points).
Chris has continued presenting and recently co-presented the TV show, Secret Britain.
8 of 19Series 8 – Kara Tointon
The former EastEnders actress won series eight of Strictly in 2008. Kara won the show dancing the rumba (39 points), the showdance (36 points), the waltz (38 points) and the American smooth (37 points) with her partner Artem Chigvintsev.
Kara has continued acting and has since starred in the movie Let's Be Evil.
9 of 19Series 9 – Harry Judd
The McFly drummer won series ten of the BBC show in 2012 with his partner Aliona Vilani. He danced the quickstep (40 points), the showdance (37 points), American smooth (39 points) and the tango (40 points) in the final.
Harry has since returned to the band McFly and is now a dad of two with his wife Izzy.
10 of 19Series 10 – Louis Smith
The Olympic gymnast won the show in 2012. Louis won the show with his partner Flavia Cacace and in the final they danced the salsa (39 points), the charleston (39 points) and the showdance (40 points).
11 of 19Series 11 – Abbey Clancy
Abby won Strictly in 2013 with her partner Aljaz Skorjanec, dancing the waltz (40 points), the showdance (38 points) and the quickstep (38 points).
Since the show, Abbey returned to Britain's Next Top Model (she came second as a contestant in 2006) as a head judge.
12 of 19Series 12 – Caroline Flack
The former X Factor presenter, who sadly died by suicide by 2020, won Strictly in 2014.
In the final along with her partner Pasha Kovalev, she danced the cha cha cha (40 points), the showdance (40 points) and the charleston (40 points).
13 of 19Series 13 – Jay McGuiness
Following in the footsteps of McFly's Harry Judge, The Wanted boyband member Jay McGuiness won the BBC show in 2015. With his partner Aliona Vilani, Jay danced the quickstep (36 points), the showdance (35 points) and the paso doble (39 points).
After winning the show he starred in the musical Big and went on to win Celebrity Hunted with his former bandmate Siva Kaneswaran.
14 of 19Series 14 - Ore Oduba
TV presenter Ore Oduba won the glitterball trophy in 2016 alongside his partner Joanne Clifton. During the final the pair danced to American smooth (39 points) and they scored a whopping 40 points for the showdance and the jive.
After winning the show, Ore has continued to present and he welcomed his first child into the world with his wife Portia.
15 of 19Series 15 - Joe McFadden
Actor Joe McFadden and his professional dance partner Katya Jones won Strictly Come Dancing in 2017. They managed to win the judges and the public over with the showdance (39 points), Vienesse waltz (39 points) and charleston (40 points).
Not only did he win Strictly but the 42-year-old actor broke a record and became the oldest ever winner of the show. The Strictly 2017 winner has continued acting after getting the glitterball trophy.
16 of 19Series 16 - Stacey Dooley
Journalist and broadcaster Stacey Dooley took the crown in 2018 with her partner Kevin Clifton, beating Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, YouTuber Joe Sugg and Steps' Faye Tozer.
They won the show with 39 points on their foxtrot, 36 points on their showdance and 39 points with their Paso doble.
17 of 19Series 17 - Kevin Fletcher
Considering Emmerdale's Kevin Fletcher was a last minute replacement for Made In Chelsea's Jamie Laing, who couldn't participate in the show due to a foot injury, he did incredibly well to win it with Oti Mabuse.
Fletcher and Mabuse were given 39 points from the judges for their rumba, 40 points for their showdance and 39 points for their samba.
18 of 19London Celebrity Sightings - May 21, 2018
Comedian Bill Bailey was the unexpected winner of the Covid-stricken 2020 series, when he lifted the Glitterball Trophy alongside Oti Mabuse - her second win in two years. Bill has continued to enjoy a successful stand up comedy career, and recently appeared alongside Oti on a special Stand Up To Cancer series of Celebrity Gogglebox.
19 of 19Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour - Dress Rehearsal
EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis was the first deaf contestant to take part in the show, and her emotional Couples' Choice dance with Giovanni Pernice, which featured a section in which the music dropped out and the pair danced in silence to recreate Rose's experience, won the Must See Moment Award at the 2022 BAFTAs. She's currently working on a documentary about the deaf community for the BBC.