Oti Mabuse on leaving Strictly Come Dancing and the career change that changed her life

Last month Oti Mabuse caused shockwaves when she announced that she was leaving Strictly Come Dancing after seven years. During her sparkling time on the BBC dance show she won the coveted Glitterball trophy twice with Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher and comedian Bill Bailey.

In a heartfelt Instagram post announcing the news of her departure she said it isn't 'easy' to say goodbye and explained it was a 'difficult' decision to leave. And she wrote: "I’m honestly so grateful to The BBC and will always remember that Strictly and BBC brought me to the UK - which I now call home and I have learnt and grown so much."

Oti, who was born in 1990 in Pretoria, South Africa, moved to Germany to pursue her love of dance and she got her first taste of TV talent shows on Let’s Dance, the German version of Strictly. And the Latin American dance champion is now excited to be embarking on her first UK tour Oti Mabuse - I am Here which comes to The Lowry in Salford on June 22 and 23.

READ MORE: The Wanted star Max George pays tribute to Tom Parker's 'courage and dignity' in heartbreaking message to his friend

"I'm so excited. I cannot wait to get out there and start performing," she told us. "It's been two years in the making and two years of planning and hoping. I want the fans to have a fantastic evening.

"There will be a live band, great choreography and big bright outfits. People need that escapism."

Oti, 31, will be paying homage to her roots on the tour.

"I'm going to be talking a lot about South Africa and the things South Africa has been through," she said. "And I think people who haven't been to South Africa they will come and just experience a teeny bit of it through the tour."

Oti, who has also been enjoying her role as a TV