Strictly champion Kelvin Fletcher goes PRO as he and Oti Mabuse sign up to teach ballroom dancing in New York
They stormed to victory on Strictly Come Dancing 2019 – raising the glitterball just before Christmas.
And now the student has become the master, as Kelvin Fletcher and pro partner Oti Mabuse have signed up to teach holidaygoers how to ballroom dance as part of a package holiday to New York City.
Off the back of their success, the duo have teamed up with Imagine Cruising to offer customers a dance themed experience at a luxury New York Hotel, as part of their cruise holiday.
Going pro: Kelvin Fletcher and pro partner Oti Mabuse have signed up to teach holidaygoers how to ballroom dance as part of a package holiday to New York City
The all-day event, which takes place on June 13 this summer, will be held at the stunning ballroom at New York’s Pierre Hotel, with customers boarding the Queen Mary 2 after their city stay for a seven-night full-board jaunt on the seas.
Former Emmerdale star Kelvin said of the gig: ‘I’m so excited to be working with the team at Imagine Cruising to share the magic I’ve personally experienced discovering dance with Oti AND in the Big Apple too!
‘Their one-off events exclusive to customers really are magical, and I’ve experienced them first- hand, both F1 trackside in Monaco and in a stunning Italian castle being serenaded by Katherine Jenkins.
‘Quick stepping in New York with the best dance partner ever and UK travellers will be a 2020 highlight!’
From student to master: Off the back of their success, the duo have teamed up with Imagine Cruising to offer customers a dance themed experience at a luxury New York Hotel, as part of their cruise holiday
Kelvin was not initially meant to take part in Strictly this year – drafted in to replace Made In Chelsea personality Jamie Laing after he was forced to pull out following a leg injury.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast the week after he and Oti won the series, Kelvin, 35, said he was given just an hour to decide whether to accept the offer, after Jamie was forced to quit.
Oti – who was originally partnered with Jamie – explained: ‘It was a tear in [Jamie’s] foot when he was sliding towards me in the first dance and he said I can’t walk, we went to the doctor and to see a specialist, and he said he had to be out for six to eight weeks to rest…
‘In that time no one knew whether I was going to have a partner or not it was just a waiting game and behold!’
Kelvin then revealed: ‘I had an hour or so to make a decision, they couldn’t tell me too much, they didn’t tell it was Jamie who had the unfortunate incident, and naturally, one would say it’s the best show on TV where do I need to go?’
Surprising: Strictly Come Dancing winner Kelvin Fletcher has revealed that show bosses didn’t tell him that Jamie Laing had pulled out when they offered him a spot on the show
Tragic: Made In Chelsea star Jamie was forced to pull out of Strictly in September, after he injured his foot during filming for the launch show
Unlikely: The Emmerdale star was a guest on BBC Breakfast to speak about his victory, as he said that show bosses only gave him an hour to decide whether he wanted to join the show
Reflecting on the moment that he and Oti were crowned Strictly champions, Kelvin said: ‘You don’t really expect that it’s just the complete disbelief, when your name is read out the absolute disbelief?
‘I think I looked to Oti and went off her reaction, I don’t think I heard our names being read out and I saw Oti almost collapse.’
Kelvin was crowned the winner despite finishing in second place on the leaderboard behind CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual and pro Amy Dowden.