Motsi Mabuse has made it back home to journey as many countries in Europe announce restrictions on travel from the UK.
The Strictly Come Dancing judge shared a post on Instagram on Sunday night, telling fans she had arrived back in her home country and had been reunited with her husband Evgenij Voznyuk and their young daughter.
Motsi, 39, had wrapped the 2020 series of Strictly on Saturday night, hours after the news broke that much of the UK was being plunged into strict Tier 4 restrictions to help curb the spread of a new mutant strand of the COVID-19 virus.
Family: Motsi Mabuse has made it back home to Germany, sharing a photo of her husband Evgenij Voznyuk and their daughter on Sunday night, as many countries in Europe announce restrictions on travel from the UK
As countries, including Germany, halt incoming flights from the UK and impose travel bans, Motsi announced she had happily made it home for Christmas.
She shared a photo of Evgeni kissing their daughter on her Instagram page, writing: ‘Wow !! The events of getting home were another thriller of 2020 and us getting anxious minute to minute but we made it home ❤️❤️back in good old Germany!!’
She added her thanks to fans for their messages after the emotional Strictly finalae, which saw her sister Oti Mabuse win the Glitterball trophy for the second year running.
‘In the mean time my mailbox exploded , Thank you for All the Lovely messages I will take time to read them all later !!❤️❤️❤️#familytime,’ Motsi wrote.
Tough journey: Motsi, 39, had wrapped the 2020 series of Strictly on Saturday night, hours after the news broke that much of the UK was being plunged into strict Tier 4 restrictions
‘Family time’: As countries, including Germany, halt incoming flights from the UK and impose travel bans, Motsi announced she had happily made it home for Christmas
Motsi broke down in tears after little sister Oti was crowned the winner on Saturday night alongside Bill Bailey.
She later praised her sibling, 30, in a gushing message on Instagram on Sunday, declaring their parents would be proud.
The South African dancer told how she would be handling out her own personal 10s as she listed the many people she wished to thank on the show.
She said of her sister Oti, who last year won the series with Kelvin Fletcher: ‘Congratulations @otimabuse
Emotional: Motsi was left in tears at the end of Saturday’s Strictly Come Dancing final after her sister Oti won the 2020 series with Bill Bailey
Champions: She later praised her sibling, 30, in a gushing message on Instagram on Sunday, declaring their parents would be proud
‘As a child you walk into the world and you just want to make your parents proud & yourself . I think you did that and beyond!! There is a reason they Named you OTLILE.’
Oti, who appears to be staying in her home in the UK for Christmas with her husband Marius Iepure, shared a photo on Sunday as she FaceTimed her parents in South Africa.
While Motsi made it home, her Strictly co-star Graziano Di Prima shared his heartbreak after he failed to find a flight back to Italy.
Virtual celebrations: Oti, who appears to be staying in her home in the UK for Christmas with her husband Marius Iepure shared a photo on Sunday as she FaceTimed her parents
Posting on Instagram late on Sunday night, the professional dancer shared a crying emoji of himself and wrote: ‘What just happened?.. #familyiseverything. There’s something that you cannot buy, family. I tried everything possible to make my way home but it’s not possible.’
The dancer, who was not partnered with a celebrity for this series of Strictly and instead performed in the group dances, received messages of love from his friends, with ex Strictly pro Kevin Clifton commenting ‘Oh mate I’m sorry.’
Countries including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and Bulgaria announced restrictions on UK travel following the outbreak of the new strain across South East England.
Stuck: While Motsi made it home, her Strictly co-star Graziano Di Prima shared his heartbreak after he failed to find a flight home to Italy
British passengers were left stranded in German airports Sunday night and confined in a terminal until they could test negative for Covid-19 after Europe moved to seal off the UK because of its alarming new strain of the disease.
Nurses in hazmat suits were screening the last arrivals from Britain on Sunday night as furious passengers were told they would have to sleep in the same room and wait until morning to leave the airport.
Germany is one of more than a dozen European countries to have closed down flights from the UK, while France has also closed the border to lorries, sparking fears for cross-Channel food supplies.
Heartbreaking: Posting on Instagram late on Sunday night, the professional dancer shared a crying emoji of himself and wrote: ‘What just happened?.. #familyiseverything’