Oti Mabuse reveals how Dermot O’Leary helped her transform into a TV host
Oti Mabuse has revealed how This Morning’s Dermot O’Leary helped her become a TV presenter.
The dancer, 31, made her presenting debut on Saturday evening as the host of ITV’s new dating show Romeo And Duet.
The star, who recently quit Strictly Come Dancing, has taken on her first big gig since quitting the hit BBC contest and revealed she hasn’t been short of advice.
Star in the making: Oti Mabuse has revealed how Dermot O’Leary helped her become a TV presenter as she made her presenting debut on Saturday as the host of ITV’s new dating show
Speaking to the Mirror she said: ‘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! Steph McGovern has also had a really huge impact.’
The format of the show sees singletons serenaded by potential love matches that they can hear, but not see.
Supportive: Speaking to the Mirror Oti said revealed Dermot helped her read and edit the autocue
The hopefuls will have just one song to entice a partner down from the balcony and only then will the two come face-to-face for the first time as they appear from behind a Blind Date-style sliding door.
Having previously enjoyed panel roles on The Greatest Dancer, The Masked Singer and Dancing On Ice, Oti went on to tell the publication that felt ready to fly solo and take on a new career path.
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 show or a dancing programme.
High hopes: Oti said she hopes to be blessed with a long career and work more in TV
The TV judge, who has also had a stint on BBC’s topical talk show Morning Live, added that she wanted to bring a part of herself to television, admitting she wanted to grow ‘outside of dancing.’
The interview comes after Oti presenting debut on Saturday earned a divided reaction from viewers.
The Latin dance champion who flaunted her curves in a sparkly red mini dress, helped singletons find love through the medium of song, with fans rushing to Twitter shortly after the show aired to give their verdict.
The star looked incredible in the one-shouldered red number which she teamed with towering black heels.
Oti has recently become a hit with ITV viewers but fans were left disappointed with her latest endeavour.
Fans savaged the show, with one writing: ‘#romeoandduet has got to be the worst thing I have seen on TV for a while. Concept is god awful and gone backwards in terms of not judging people by the way they look. @itv I’m not sure this should be on again.’
Another said: ‘#romeoandduet is the worst tv I have seen in years. @otimabuse it saddens me you have left #StrictlyComeDancing for this twaddle.’
Presenting Debut: The 31-year-old dancer – who recently quit Strictly Come Dancing – returned to ITV viewers screens shortly after her stint as a Dancing On Ice judge
Divided: Oti looked incredible as she flaunted her curves in a sparkly red mini dress while helping singletons find love through the medium of song
Fans reaction: Oti has recently become a hit with ITV viewers but fans were left disappointed with her latest endeavour
Someone else added: ‘I literally watch anything! But this is genuinely the worst thing I’ve seen on TV in a long long time #romeoandduet’.
A fourth brutally quipped: ‘I’ve been wheel chair bound for 2 years but thanks for #romeoandduet I was able to muster up enough strength and turn the TV off.’
Several others praised Oti for her presenting, but lamented the fact that the show was not a good vehicle for her skills.
One said: ‘Oti is so natural. She’s brilliant! Shame the show was so unnatural and made little to no sense.’
A second echoed: ‘I love @otimabuse but this show is an absolute waste of airtime #romeoandduet’.
Silver lining: Several others praised Oti for her presenting, but lamented the fact that the show was not a good vehicle for her skills
And another agreed, writing: ‘It’s a shame that #RomeoAndDuet sucks salt, as Oti Mabuse is very likeable, but maybe this kind of forgettable, puff TV show isn’t the right vehicle for her.’
However despite the vastly negative review, there were some who were kept entertained, as one fan wrote: ‘Loving this #RomeoAndDuet show! Super cute and fun to watch! smashed it for her first ever solo show!
Another penned: ‘Loving #romeoandduet something new to Watch on a Saturday with the lovely @otimabuse’
A third chimed in: ‘I saw half of #romeoandduet as was on a day out today and not long got back, I enjoyed what I saw. An interesting format and great for Saturday nights, looking forward to seeing a full episode.’
Oti is no stranger to showing off her impressive dance moves and once again demonstrated her dance skills as she enjoyed a twerk-off with a contestant during the new musical matchmaking show.
Good reviews: Other ITV viewers were left entertained and were happy to see Oti step into the presenting role
Work it: Oti demonstrated her dance skills as she enjoyed a twerk-off with a contestant during the new musical matchmaking show
Stunning: The South African beauty interviewed a Zumba instructor, who told how she lost a twerk-off with a 67-year-old client
The South African beauty interviewed a Zumba instructor, who told how she lost a twerk-off with a 67-year-old client.
Fascinated by the story, Oti then asked if they could have a twerk-off, with the Dancing On Ice star and the woman then turning around to shake their derrières for the audience.
Oti looked in her element as she shimmied and shook her behind, much to the pleasure of the cheering audience.
New show: Romeo & Duet will see singletons stand on a balcony as they are serenaded by potential love matches
Source: | Dailymail.co.uk