Strictly Come Dancing fans were delighted to see a familiar face return to the show this week.
Oti Mabuse came back to the BBC One dance show to help out the professionals for the quarter-finals, after she left the show back in February.
The 32-year-old Dancing on Ice judge is helping out the professionals out with their choreography over the intense Christmas period that includes the final and filming the festive special.
Despite her brief behind the scenes cameo on the show, fans were thrilled to see Oti back in the ballroom to support her former co-stars.
Judge Claudia Winkleman even welcomed the former dancer back to the show as she opened the show, as the camera revealed an excited Oti on the front row of the audience.
One delighted fan wrote on Twitter : “We miss you Oti!” as a second agreed: “So good to see Oti in the audience tonight, not to mention choreographing that opening routine!”
A third gushed: “Omg Oti is back!” as fourth said: “Oti my girl, I miss you soooo bad” and another penned: “Queen Oti has returned!”
Oti famously left Strictly in 2021 to pursue more presenting work and other opportunities, such as being the host of ITV ’s new dating show, Romeo and Duet.
Despite her success, Oti admitted she was thrilled to return to Strictly and work with the “amazing group” of professionals again.
Speaking about her return to the show, Oti told Women's Health UK : “I'm choreographing a number on it.
“What an amazing opportunity [this is] to work behind the scenes and really enjoy the professionals' talent because they're such an amazing group to work with.”
During her 7 years on the show, Oti lifted the glitterball trophy twice and is the only professional to win two years in a row with Emmerdale ’s Kevin Fletcher in 2019 and then again with Bill Bailey in 2020.
