It’s been a few days since the surprising news broke that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be stepping down from their roles as co-hosts of Strictly Come Dancing at the series’ conclusion. Speculation about their successors is intensifying, with bookmakers suggesting several frontrunners, including Fleur East and Zoe Ball. However, in a twist, judge Motsi Mabuse surprised fans by expressing her reluctance for her sister, Oti, to take over. Motsi, who joined the show as a judge in 2019, shared her thoughts on the matter.

Motsi candidly shared on ITV’s Loose Women, “To be honest, I wouldn’t want Oti to do it because I want to shield her from that experience, knowing what kind of show it is.”

She elaborated, “I understand the pressure involved and the legacy she would be stepping into. As her older sister, I feel protective and wouldn’t wish that on her.”

Motsi added, “I want her to be in an environment where she can flourish, where she has the opportunity to grow, with a future ahead. I don’t want her burdened by expectations, especially with family connections involved. So, as the older sister, I lean toward safety over risk…”

Oti is well-acquainted with the Strictly stage, having danced professionally on the show from 2015 to 2021. Since then, she has joined the judging panel on Dancing on Ice and currently leads as head judge on Dancing with the Stars Ireland.

Tess has been presenting the BBC show for 21 years and previously hosted alongside the late Bruce Forsyth. She and Claudia then made history when they became the first female presenting duo in primetime television.

Claudia also joined the Strictly family in 2004, when she began leading its spin-off show It Takes Two. She later moved over to presenting the main show 10 years ago.

The pair announced the news in a video statement on Tess’s Instagram feed. They said: “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.”