Oti Mabuse and Marius Lepure’s relationship timeline as they announce pregnancy

South African Oti moved to Germany to partner with Romanian Marius. Although, they worked well on the dance floor, behind the scenes they often disagreed. ‘I’m a big personality and he is a big personality as well. So, it became a bit of a clash,’ Oti admitted on the She’s Just a Dancer podcast.

Their chemistry served them well and the couple, who were now dating, came third in the World Cup Freestyle Latin, second place in European Championship Latin and won the German Championship PD Freestyle Latin.

On his birthday Marius decided to ask Oti to be his wife. Reflecting on the moment years later she wrote: ‘This wonderful CRAZY man was annoying the life out of me because he was acting nervous (and yes I let him know I was annoyed) but it was only because he was nervous as he was GOING TO PROPOSE’.

2014 was a busy year for the pair, who didn’t wait long after their engagement to get married. They chose to wed in Denmark with Oti reflecting on the reasoning. ‘We chose a country we thought would be special – I had never been,’ she recalled. ‘A few years later, my parents wanted us to have a wedding at home and we ended up having another in South Africa.’

The couple had been living in Germany but got themselves a base in London due to Oti’s new job opportunity on Strictly Come Dancing. They were often apart due to Marius’ work often being in Germany, but were unphased by the curse. Oti revealed on Your Face or Mine? that Marius issued a warning to all her celebrity partners. ‘My husband, he shows each and every single partner I have a warning. So they kind of stay away…’ she explained. Marius added: ‘Don’t worry – they understand very fast!’

Mixing work and play, the couple opened the Oti & Marius Dance Studio in London where they teach regular classes and coach future World Champions.

A year after Oti left Strictly, the couple hit another relationship milestone. They welcomed a cocker spaniel called Leo into their family. Oti adorably calls the dog her ‘baby boy’.

Oti and Marius decided that 2024 was the year they’d say yes to more. ‘Ups, down, fear, exhaustion and new lessons… we don’t have any goals or resolutions but we hope to grow mentally, emotionally and build a future fit for us,’ Oti wrote on Instagram. The year included helicopter rides, bungee jumps, zipwires and their biggest adventure of all…

Their latest adventure is their first child together. The couple are excited for their next chapter!