Motsi Mabuse joins the Strictly Come Dancing tour for the FIRST time as Shirley Ballas shares her joy at no longer being ‘the only lady’ at the 2025 live UK arena shows

Motsi Mabuse joins the Strictly Come Dancing tour for the FIRST time as Shirley Ballas shares her joy at no longer being 'the only lady' at the 2025 live UK arena shows

As a long-time fan of Strictly Come Dancing, I am absolutely thrilled to hear that Janette Manrara is returning as host and Craig Revel Horwood is stepping up his role to include directing the shows! With Motsi Mabuse joining the judging panel for the first time, this tour promises to be more fabulous than ever.


Motsi Mabuse is set to join the Strictly Come Dancing tour for the very first time.

This 43-year-old skilled dancer has been a judge on the BBC program since 2019, yet they haven’t accompanied other judges for the yearly arena tour across the United Kingdom that the show typically embarks upon.

Nevertheless, for the 2025 live performances, there will be a shift in the lineup with Motsi being added to the roster alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke, and Shirley Ballas. This news has left Shirley particularly thrilled.

On Tuesday, the main judge from Strictly took to Instagram to announce some thrilling news. Shirley expressed her delight that she will no longer be the sole female judge on the tour.

She wrote: “Thrilled to announce that @motsimabuse will be joining us on the @bbcstrictly tour bus for 2025, along with mischievous @mrantondubeke, charming @motsimabuse, the amazing @jmanrara, and our lineup of couples. This superstar cast is sure to make the journey exciting!

Motsi Mabuse joins the Strictly Come Dancing tour for the FIRST time as Shirley Ballas shares her joy at no longer being 'the only lady' at the 2025 live UK arena shows

Motsi Mabuse joins the Strictly Come Dancing tour for the FIRST time as Shirley Ballas shares her joy at no longer being 'the only lady' at the 2025 live UK arena shows

I’m absolutely confident that this tour will be extraordinary! I can hardly wait to connect with everyone of you in the arenas next year.

In the promotional images for the tour, Motsi dazzles in a well-tailored pink blouse, a sleek black midi skirt, and white pumps, striking poses alongside her fashionable judge companions.

Motsi expressed her excitement about being part of the Strictly Live Tour alongside her fellow TV judges Shirley, Anton, and Craig.

I’m thrilled to learn about the amazing crowds who attend performances nationwide. It’s going to be an absolute pleasure to contribute to this magical experience, and I can hardly contain my excitement until January!

Head judge Shirley added: ‘I can’t think of a better way to start 2025 than on the Strictly Live Tour.

I’m thrilled that Motsi will join our journey next year, adding more female energy to the events and helping maintain balance between Anton and Craig.

It’s a delight every time I see fans who make the trip to catch our games. We’re really excited to put on a fantastic performance for each and every one of you.

After the final performance of our 20th anniversary series for the main show, we’ll kick off a 30-date live tour. Cities on the itinerary include Manchester, Birmingham, London, and Liverpool. You can grab your tickets starting this coming Friday.

Motsi Mabuse joins the Strictly Come Dancing tour for the FIRST time as Shirley Ballas shares her joy at no longer being 'the only lady' at the 2025 live UK arena shows
Motsi Mabuse joins the Strictly Come Dancing tour for the FIRST time as Shirley Ballas shares her joy at no longer being 'the only lady' at the 2025 live UK arena shows
Motsi Mabuse joins the Strictly Come Dancing tour for the FIRST time as Shirley Ballas shares her joy at no longer being 'the only lady' at the 2025 live UK arena shows
Motsi Mabuse joins the Strictly Come Dancing tour for the FIRST time as Shirley Ballas shares her joy at no longer being 'the only lady' at the 2025 live UK arena shows

Previously acclaimed entertainer Janette Manrara is set to return as the show’s host, while Craig will not only judge but also oversee the direction of the performances.

He teased the excitement, saying: “Fans of Strictly should prepare themselves for an extraordinary experience on the live tour; it’s set to surpass anything we’ve seen before in grandeur and quality.

Spectators can look forward to immersing themselves in the sparkle and style of the television program, getting a close, intimate view of beloved celebrities and dancers.

‘And with Motsi joining us for the first time, it’s going to be even more fab-u-lous!’

Motsi Mabuse joins the Strictly Come Dancing tour for the FIRST time as Shirley Ballas shares her joy at no longer being 'the only lady' at the 2025 live UK arena shows
Motsi Mabuse joins the Strictly Come Dancing tour for the FIRST time as Shirley Ballas shares her joy at no longer being 'the only lady' at the 2025 live UK arena shows

Additionally, Anton mentioned, “This marks my third year on the arena tour, and I’m absolutely thrilled about it! Having all four judges at their desks promises a lot of enjoyable moments.

As an ardent enthusiast, I can’t help but be awestruck by the grandeur of the live performance! It’s not just the audience who adores it; my admiration runs just as deep. This spectacle is more than a show – it’s a fantastic family adventure that everyone should experience!

I’m thrilled to share some exciting news that has come my way mere days following the grand return of the BBC show on Saturday for its opening episode. During this episode, I, along with other eager fans, discovered the celebrities paired with their professional partners.

Motsi Mabuse joins the Strictly Come Dancing tour for the FIRST time as Shirley Ballas shares her joy at no longer being 'the only lady' at the 2025 live UK arena shows
Motsi Mabuse joins the Strictly Come Dancing tour for the FIRST time as Shirley Ballas shares her joy at no longer being 'the only lady' at the 2025 live UK arena shows

This year, marked as a significant milestone for the BBC series, has been tarnished by a scandal following the unexpected departure of actress Amanda Abbington from the show in October. Later, she alleged that her partner, Giovanni Pernice, had been abusive towards her.

The show was then hit with a fresh wave of scandal when Graziano Di Prima was sacked in July for ‘kicking’ his partner, Love Island star Zara McDermott. 

Yet, the BBC managed to avoid the controversy during the debut episode of their latest series by not delving into the dramatic events instead.

Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly excitedly introduced this year’s celebrities and announced which dancers they would be paired with – but the controversies of the last year went unmentioned. 

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2024-09-17 14:04

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