Oti Mabuse’s New Life in Berkshire: Why the Former Strictly Star Left London After Becoming a Mum

Former Strictly Come Dancing champion Oti Mabuse traded the hectic pace of London this year for a quieter, greener lifestyle. Now settled in Berkshire with her husband, Romanian-German dancer Marius Lepure, and their baby daughter, the TV favourite has opened up about how motherhood transformed both her priorities and her sense of self-worth.

Leaving London Behind for Their Daughter

Oti and Marius welcomed their daughter in November 2023 after a difficult 16-hour labour. Their little girl arrived two months early, an emotional and overwhelming experience that reshaped the couple’s outlook on life.

So when Oti and her husband began thinking about the future, London no longer felt like the place where they wanted to raise their child. Speaking to House Beautiful in spring 2025, Oti explained the move with refreshing honesty:

“Better schools, better environment, better hospitals.”

For the couple, the decision was simple. They packed up their London life and settled into an 18th-century detached home “out in the sticks” near Reading.

“It’s my sanctuary,” Oti shared. “I love coming home — it’s where I’m most relaxed, most myself, and where I make the most memories. It’s also where I’m frustrated because every day there’s something to clean!”

Oti repeatedly celebrates Marius when she appears on daytime talk shows (Credit: SplashNews)

A New Perspective on Her Body

Oti, who appears on The Wheel this weekend (November 15), has been increasingly outspoken about the pressure dancers face to maintain certain body standards. She has described her relationship with her body — and the wider dance world’s expectations — as “toxic” at times.

Now, as a mother, she’s reframing those thoughts with compassion:

“No, you are good. You are perfect. You have had a baby.”

Her daughter, she says, has given her a renewed sense of strength and grounding — one of the reasons she wanted to raise her in a calmer, more supportive environment.

Oti’s Unusual Allergy — and Her Husband’s Protective Side

One lesser-known fact about Oti is that she’s allergic to flowers. She’s joked about the awkwardness of receiving bouquets — often a dancer’s default gift — while not being able to touch them.

During lockdown, Marius surprised her with flowers, prompting Oti to lovingly confess on Instagram:

“I love them… but I can’t touch them.”

On another occasion, her Strictly 2018 partner Graeme Swann arrived with a huge bouquet — only for Marius to swoop in, politely but firmly removing the flowers. Oti found the moment unexpectedly attractive.

Oti had a gruelling 16-hour labour when giving birth to her daughter labour in late 2023 (Credit: Lorraine/YouTube)

“It’s sexy when your man is threatening your dance partner,” she laughed. “I love it — I’m like, that’s my man.”

Because of the allergy, friends and colleagues now send candles instead.
“They’re literally all over the house!” Oti told House Beautiful. But she doesn’t mind at all — she loves a cosy home, and scented candles only add to the warm, inviting atmosphere she’s created.

A New Chapter

From the adrenaline of Strictly to the calm of her centuries-old country home, Oti Mabuse’s life has changed dramatically in just a couple of years. With motherhood grounding her and Berkshire offering her family the quiet life they craved, Oti says she finally feels she’s in the perfect place — physically and emotionally.