Oti Mabuse thanks 'Strictly' stars in first post since winning with Bill Bailey
Watch: Bill Bailey bags back-to-back Strictly titles for Oti Mabuse
Oti Mabuse has spoken about her joy at winning Strictly Come Dancing with Bill Bailey, offering an emotional thanks to her co-stars.
The dance pro lifted the glitterball trophy for the second year in a row after storming to victory with underdog Bailey, but had remained quiet on social media since Saturday night’s final.
She posted on Instagram that she was thankful to all of the show’s fans who had voted for her and Bailey each week, but added a heartfelt personal thanks to three of Strictly’s other pros.
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Mabuse wrote: “I really want to thank the pros and especially @johannesradebe @amy_dowden @karenhauer for holding me up, checking on me (and my bruises body) our chats that kept my chin up and the laughs we shared really being there for each other.
“Johannes I will never forget you saying ‘if you need to stand on my shoulders I will always be here to rise you up’ that goes deeper than anything you’ll ever understand!!
“Amy ‘I’ve got your back and will always support you’ I love you guys so so so much. Karen our zoom catch ups!”
Radebe partnered Caroline Quentin this series, Dowden danced with JJ Chalmers, and Hauer reached the final with Jamie Laing - who should have been Mabuse’s partner last year, but had to drop out after injuring his foot in the launch show.
Last year, Mabuse was given stand-in partner Kelvin Fletcher, who she went on to win the series with.
Mabuse, whose elder sister Motsi is one of Strictly’s judges, also thanked her family and revealed that her mum had been checking for show spoilers each week.
She wrote: “And to my family (mama I still think you should leave all the strictly spoiler groups) but thank you for teaching how to be strong, to dig deep, to push myself more than I think I can and constantly reminding me how proud you are of me.”
Mabuse and Bailey beat Hauer and Laing, HRVY and Janette Manrara, and Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez to win this year’s contest.
