Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse says she can’t understand Northern accents

Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse has said she struggles to understand Northern accents.

The media personality, who speaks five languages, admitted she has to ‘really concentrate’ when conversing with people from the UK, especially when they’re from Northern regions. She added that fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood helps translate when an accent is a little ‘too strong’ to make out.

Mabuse grew up in Pretoria, South Africa, but now resides in Germany. When speaking to comedians Ed Gamble and James Acaster on their Off Menu podcast, the 41-year-old said: “The thing is, you all speak differently.

“Every time I’m in the country I really have to concentrate. Some people I just don’t know … I’m just like, ‘Are we speaking the same language? There’s a lot of accents here.”

Mabuse was then asked if she struggled with contestant AJ Odudu’s Blackburn dialect during series 19 of the ballroom dancing competition back in 2021. She replied: “Yes! Yes, yes, yes. But there have been quite a few people from the North, so I’m always asking Craig. I’m just trying to understand … but it’s not easy.

“I really struggle with people that come from the North. I’m like, can you please translate at this point? It’s so strong, I just don’t understand, really. I’m being honest.”

Mabuse can speak five languages: English, German and three South African languages including Afrikaans and Setswana. She said that she often accidentally slips into German during broadcasts: “It’s happened quite a few times.

“Plus, I have that South African accent, so it’s a mess. It’s a complete mess.”

Mabuse lives in Germany and has appeared on their version of Strictly called Let’s Dance. When the dance competition airs on BBC One every autumn and winter, she commutes to the UK every week for the live shows.

She joined Strictly in 2019 as a judge alongside Head Judge Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke.