Oti Mabuse is the favourite to replace Darcey Bussell on Strictly Come Dancing

TV presenter and dancer Oti Mabuse is the current favourite to replace Dame Darcey Bussell as judge of Strictly Come Dancing, after serving seven series on the BBC One show.

According to bookmakers Paddy Power, Mabuse - who is currently one of the pros on the show - is the 5/4 favourite, thanks to her judging experience on The Greatest Dancer.

Former Strictly contestant Katie Piper said on the Heart Breakfast radio show: "I think Oti would be brilliant because she's brilliant on The Greatest Dancer. I like watching her."

Read more: Oti says her husband has warned off all her Strictly partners

Bussell has given up the role after seven series of judging the primetime dance competition.

In a statement released by the BBC today, Bussell said that she is leaving the show to focus on her “many other commitments in dance” and that it has nothing to do with any sort of disagreement.

“It has been a complete privilege for me to be part of Strictly, working with such a talented team,” she said. “I have enjoyed every minute of my time and will miss everyone from my fellow judges, the presenters, the dancers, the musicians, the entire back stage team, and especially the viewers of the show, who have been so supportive.

Read more: Darcey Bussell steps down from 'Strictly'

Former contestant and This Morning host, Ruth Langsford, has has had her say on all the rumours, suggesting that they will go with a female judge.

"I think they're going to have to go for a woman," Ruth said on the breakfast show. "I think they will go for a woman, because the balance... it was male heavy."

Langsford competed on the dance show in 2017.

The other frontrunners for the position are:

Karen Hardy

The former Strictly professional won the show with Mark Ramprakash in 2006 and was a fixture on the spin-off programme It Takes Two for its choreography corner for 10 series.

Her ballroom honours include winning the International Latin American Dance Championship, the UK Open, British National, European and World Masters Championships and she now owns the Karen Hardy dance studios.

According to bookmakers Coral, she is 2:1 favourite to take over from Dame Darcey.

Helen Richey

The former ballroom and Latin dancer was a judge on the Australian version of US show Dancing With The Stars for 15 series.

Born in Melbourne, she trained and competed in the UK, where she lived for 27 years.

Many of the professional dancers on Dancing With The Stars have been trained wholly or in part by Richey.

Coral puts Richey’s chances of joining Strictly at 3:1.

Gary Edwards

Essex-born Edwards attended the same ballroom dance classes as former Strictly judge Len Goodman when he was young.

He now boasts around 30 international titles, including British Open Ballroom and British Open Latin.

The dancer, whose odds are at 5:1, is known for appearing on spin-off show Dancing With The Stars: All Access.