Former Strictly Come Dancing star Danny Mac has backed Oti Mabuse to take over from Dame Darcey Bussell on the judging panel.
After seven years on the show, Darcey announced her departure from the BBC One series in early April and speculation has been rife over who will take her place.
Oti’s name was immediately mentioned by fans and Danny – who was partnered with her in 2016 – had now shared his thoughts.
The ex-Hollyoaks star told Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch: “I know she wants another year, she needs to win it, so if everyone can vote for her this year.
“She’s amazing, I adore her, and she’s got that personality and the love and the passion and the drive for it, and I think all the other dancers really respect her as well.”
On how the other dancers would react to Oti taking a step up, Mac said: “I think they would still quite happily take criticism from her.
“I think it’d be a really good dynamic actually, she’d be fab on it.”
Oti, who made her judging debut on the BBC’s The Greatest Dancer earlier this year, has previously ruled out the possibility of taking Darcey’s seat.
The dancer said she would prefer to continue her choreography and performance work with the Strictly pros, stating: “There are no dancers like Strictly dancers and how close we are, and I think I would absolutely miss that and that part of it, so I’ll be dancing, honey.
“I’ll be dancing.”
There’s no shortage of candidates for the BBC to pick from though, as Oti’s fellow pro Anton du Beke has frequently spoken about his desire to become a judge, while Kevin Clifton is also rumoured to be on the shortlist.
Ex pro Karen Hardy has also been mentioned as a possibility.
