She quit Strictly in February, after seven years on the show and two Glitterball wins.
And Oti Mabuse has big plans in mind as she talked about how she wants to "grow outside of dancing" and who in the TV industry has helped her on the road to success in an interview this week.
The professional dancer, 31, who is set to host Romeo & Juliet solo this weekend, revealed This Morning's Dermot O'Leary, 48, taught her to read autocue and how she was "texting him all the time" at first as she got to grips with presenting.
Oti told OK! Magazine : "I worked really closely with Dermot [O’Leary]. He came in once and taught me to work with an autocue – how to read it, how to edit it…I was texting him all the time during that show, and Steph McGovern has also had a really, really huge impact."
The former Strictly star has had presenting segments on the Steph McGovern show as well as judged on The Greatest Dancer and The Masked Dancer.
Of wanting to foray now into hosting a show on her own, she said: "I’m challenging myself, you know. What I wanted to do, honestly, was grow, I want to, hopefully, be blessed with a long career, which means I can do other things, whether it be a sports programme, a dancing programme.
"Hopefully, I can do all these things and actually respect what they’re about and bring that part of myself to those shows. So, yeah, I guess it was about growing outside of dancing."
For her new show, Oti will play Cupid as she helps singletons find love in a new ITV series.
The Masked Dancer judge will front Romeo and Duet, in which hopeful romantics serenade a potential suitor who is up on a balcony.
The contestant will be able to hear the singer, but not see them, and must judge them on their vocal skills alone.
Having lured down a potential new love by song, the pair will finally come face to face for the first time.
The new couples will then head off to record a duet together, before battling against other singing couples to be crowned winner of the seven-part series.
But Oti said she will never forget her memories from her time on Strictly when she announced her departure from the show.
"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!" she penned.
She added: "You are my family and I adore you all forever. Thank you @sarahjamesface @jack.will.g and @jasongilkison for truly believing in me."
Romeo & Duet begins on ITV on Saturday at 7pm.
