Professional dancer and TV personality Oti Mabuse has made a major lifestyle decision, moving out of London to the quieter, greener surroundings of Berkshire (House Beautiful, Entertainment Daily). The move, which took place in the spring of 2025, was driven entirely by her desire to provide a better environment for her baby daughter.

Oti and her husband, Romanian-German dancer Marius Lepure, welcomed their daughter in November 2023 after a difficult and "traumatic" birth (HELLO! Magazine, The Independent).

🌳 The Big Move: Quality of Life Over City Buzz

Oti, whose full name is Otlile Mabuse, explained that the decision to relocate was a straightforward one focused on her child's future.

"We moved about two months ago, out of London. We did it for our daughter – better schools, better environment, better hospitals" (House Beautiful).

They now reside "out in the sticks" in a village near Reading, in an old detached house built in the 18th century, which she describes as "cute" and full of "personality and character." Oti considers her home her "sanctuary," though she jokes about the constant cleaning required in the old property (House Beautiful, Entertainment Daily).

The move highlights Oti’s focus on motherhood since giving birth, as she has also previously spoken about embracing her post-pregnancy body, telling herself, "No, you are good. You are perfect. You have had a baby," in an effort to combat the "toxic relationship" many dancers have with their physique (Entertainment Daily, The Mirror).

👶 A Traumatic Entrance to the World

Oti’s dedication to her daughter’s well-being is understandable given the difficult start the baby had. Oti revealed that she endured a grueling 16-hour labor that ended with her daughter being born prematurely (The Independent, HELLO! Magazine).

The baby arrived at 28 weeks, ten weeks early, and spent a traumatic six weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) before finally being allowed home just before Christmas 2024 (The Independent, HELLO! Magazine). Oti was also diagnosed with sepsis after the birth (The Independent).

The experience of having a baby in the NICU was described by Oti as "hell," particularly the inability to hold her daughter for a week and having to leave her in the hospital every night. She publicly thanked the NHS, midwives, and doctors for their amazing support (The Independent).

🕯️ An Allergy and a Sexy Husband

Oti also shared a fun detail about her relationship with Marius: she is allergic to flowers. This means the couple's home is constantly filled with candles instead.

She once recounted a story where Marius intervened to protect her from a bouquet of flowers given by her 2018 Strictly Come Dancing partner, Graeme Swann:

"He came with a big bouquet of flowers and said: 'Oti, I am so excited for our journey.' Out of nowhere my husband came in, took the whole bouquet out and said: 'She’s allergic to flowers.'" (Express via Entertainment Daily).

Oti found the protective gesture "sexy," telling the Loose Women panel, "I love it, I’m like, that’s my man" (Entertainment Daily).

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Oti Mabuse is currently appearing on the celebrity expert panel for Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel this weekend (Saturday, November 15) on BBC One (TV Zone, The Mirror).