WE are used to seeing Oti Mabuse on a man’s arm as she twirls around the dance floor.
She was seen on Dancing with the Stars for seven years alongside Kevin Fletcher and Bill Bailey and then Ashley Banjo on Dancing on Ice.
But for her solo debut, the dancer wanted to mix things up.
While planning her new Romeo & Duet show, Oti asked a female musician to front her live band.
Now Vikki Stone has become the first female host of a primetime variety show.
Oty said, “Vicki is a powerhouse. I’m so excited to be working with a female music director on Romeo and the Duet, something we rarely see on TV.
“It’s a female power on this stage, let me tell you.”
Vicki is best known for her impressions of “Dragon’s Lair” star Hilary Devi, but now primetime stardom awaits her.
A source said, “Oti has always been one of Strictly’s strongest performers, but now she’s really leading in a much more important way.
“This is a very positive step towards equality in television.
“Of course, Oty thinks Strictly frontman Dave Arch is amazing. But Vicky will be a welcome change.”
The group will accompany single people as they serenade a potential groom from a balcony, hoping that the enigmatic lover will like what they hear and reveal himself.
Later, matched couples will perform together as a duet.
Oty said, “Music is at the heart of these love matches and Vikki & The Heartbeats provide the best soundtrack for our song singles.”
This won’t be the first time Vicki has appeared on TV, with a number of bit parts on her resume, including The John Bishop Show on BBC1 and Impractical Jokers on BBC Three.
Vikki from Rugby, Works also plays Miss Dottie on the CBBC show Titch & Ted.
Romeo & Duet starts tomorrow at 7pm on ITV, in front of British talent.
So will Oti’s singles have voices to compete with crooners auditioning for Simon Cowell?
She said, “What I love about this show is that it’s not about singing. It’s about having a good time.”
Bizbit
NEW channel Talk TV starts April 25 at 19:00.
After The News Desk at 8:00 pm, Piers Morgan will be featured uncensored, followed by Sharon Osbourne at The Talk at 9:00 am.
The channel will air on Sky 526, Virgin Media 627, Freeview 237 and Freesat 217.
PREPARATION FOR FREDDY
NOW, I’m not a career consultant, but it seems to me that Freddie Flintoff may end up regretting his decision to leave A League of Their Own earlier this year.
At least his accountant could do.
The show’s recently released financial statements have plummeted in the company of the former England Test cricketer - to the point that Freddie and his wife Rachel have been forced to cut their pay by £282,000.
Their firm earned £885,948 last year, up from £1m in 2020.
Freddie, who co-hosts BBC1’s Top Gear, announced in February that he was leaving comedy sports quiz show Sky after more than a decade.
He wrote on Instagram: “It’s been 12 years, 16 episodes, six trips across America and Europe, two BAFTAs and a mud bath. I’d rather forget, but it’s time to leave the amazing ALOTO team.”
I’m sure Top Gear will help fund his bank account.
Bizbit
SEARCH FINDER Rob Bell is back with a new series of “Lighthouses: Building the Impossible” for Channel 5.
From the North Atlantic to the North Sea, Rob tells stories of catastrophic shipwrecks, dramatic rescues and feats of survival.
The show will resume on April 29th.
GRASS GREEN WITH C4
YOU can tell that spring is due to the blossoming of the gardening show on TV.
Channel 4 welcomes Joel Bird and Bruce Kenneth for a new screening of The Great Garden Revolution with new assistant Errol Reuben Fernandez, Head of Horticulture at London’s Horniman Museum.
Producer Fintan Maguire said: “At the heart of every show is makeover and helpful and practical advice - this series is designed for beginners and more seasoned enthusiasts alike.”
Errol added, “I hope to stand up for sustainable gardening practices that support wildlife and are environmentally friendly.”
Channel 4 reports that the show will be airing soon.
HORN’S JOKE GROUP
ALEX HORNE got a new comedy show.
Comedian Taskmaster and his band The Horne Section will star in the C4 TV show The Horne Section.
And if you think I didn’t say “Horn” enough, the man himself would agree.
Alex said, “I always thought the title of the show was indicative of the quality of the script, which is why the Horne Section TV show looks pretty special.”
The group has performed with artists ranging from Robbie Williams and Madness to Amy Winehouse and dance giants Basemet Jaxx.
Alex added, “I’ve known some of the band members for 40 years.
“It’s strange that either of them would appear in a six-part comedy series.”