EXCLUSIVEFormer Strictly professional Oti Mabuse defends her decision to leave her daughter, 13 months, at home while she takes part in I'm A Celebrity

Former Strictly professional Oti Mabuse has defended her decision to leave her daughter to star in the jungle, insisting: ‘Mum has goals as well.’

The 34-year-old star, who will appear on I’m A Celeb for at least two weeks, said: ‘She won’t remember it, it’s just a couple of days.’

It comes 13 months after her only child’s ‘traumatic’ birth in which she was born 28 weeks premature and had to spend six weeks in the ICU.

The professional dancer continued: ‘I think it’s nice for her to see mum is fully committed and loves her so much but also wants to do what she wants to do.

‘Mum has goals as well, and I think it’s something as mums, we can all kind of be proud of, that we can be these incredible human beings as well as accomplish our goals or do things that are fun for us.

Former Strictly professional Oti Mabuse defends her decision to leave her daughter, 13 months at home, while she flies to Australia to star in I’m A Celebrity…

The 34-year-old star, who will appear on I’m A Celeb for at least two weeks, said: ‘She won’t remember it, it’s just a couple of days’ (pictured with her daughter)

‘And when she grows up, she’ll Google me, and she’ll probably see it and be like, Yeah, my mum did that.’

The sister of Strictly’s judge, Motsi Mabuse, who hails from South Africa revealed she had been asked six times by ITV to appear on the show but chose this year before her daughter becomes too old to leave behind.

Read More Strictly’s Oti Mabuse recounts the ‘traumatic’ birth of daughter that left her battling sepsis

She said: ‘I’ll probably never do it again. I’ll never get another opportunity to do it again. I’d love to grow my family. I’d like to do other things. And so this was the year for me to do it, and it just felt right.’

Ms Mabuse is the only professional dancer to have won Strictly Come Dancing two years in a row, first in 2019 with soap star, Kelvin Fletcher and in 2020 with the comedian, Bill Bailey.

After seven years on the show, Ms Mabuse quit the BBC flagship show in 2022 because she wanted to to pursue more presenting roles but also revealed her struggles behind the Strictly scenes.

Praising her husband of ten years for sticking by her while she was on the show, Ms Mabuse said: ‘He’s seen me not eat, he’s seen me overeat, he’s seen me having to deal with interesting personalities.

‘I got to the point where I was like, ‘I think I’m finished,’ and he was like, ‘Yeah I think there’s this new thing that’s got a fire in your stomach. When you’re hosting or talking to people you’re a completely different person.’

Since quitting, Ms Mobuse has shifted her alliance to ITV, having appeared on the judging panel for the network’s major shows such as Dancing on Ice and the Masked Singer.

It comes 13 months after her only child’s ‘traumatic’ birth in which she was born 28 weeks premature and had to spend six weeks in the ICU

The professional dancer continued: ‘I think it’s nice for her to see mum is fully committed and loves her so much but also wants to do what she wants to do’

And now she will enter the I’m A Celebrity jungle this Sunday.

Previously admitting her preference for ITV, she said: ‘I was really lucky at that point that just after winning my second тιтle [on Strictly], ITV their arms were open and they were like, ‘Hey, come in.’

‘So when I was jumping, there was somewhere to land. Even though I left, there was this whole world, a new family, that had opened doors for me and that’s luck and I have to be honest about that, I have to be grateful for that.’

I’M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP

OTI MABUSE

Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt

AGE: 34

OCCUPATION: Professional dancer

FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020.

DANNY JONES

Danny Jones is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: McFly singer

FAMOUS FOR: Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly.

He is also a coach on The Voice UK.

BARRY MCGUIGAN

Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle

AGE: 63

OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer

FAMOUS FOR: Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight тιтles from 1985 to 1986.

GK BARRY

GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women

AGE: 25

OCCUPATION: TikTok star

FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel.

DEAN MCCULLOUGH

ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp

AGE: 32

OCCUPATION: Radio 1 DJ

FAMOUS FOR: Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views.

Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.

JANE MOORE

Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women

AGE: 62

OCCUPATION: Journalist

FAMOUS FOR: Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002.

She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.

Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow.

MELVIN ODOOM

Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021

AGE: 44

OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter

FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.

He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.

COLEEN ROONEY

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: WAG

FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, exceeding Nigel Farage’s £1.5million from last year.

ALAN HALSALL

Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street

AGE: 42

OCCUPATION: Actor

FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.

Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap.

TULISA