Strictly Come Dancing pro Johannes Radebe has opened up about his tight-knit relationship with his 2021 dance partner, John Whaite, marking the show’s first male same-sex duo.
Three years post their twirls and dips on the dance floor, Johannes reminisced about their time together during an upcoming episode of The Jonathan Ross Show, set to air on Saturday, April 13 on ITV. “He lifted me like I was a piece of feather,” he says.
“I’m a well built man and I’ve always lifted women and I know the level of care that goes into that”, Johannes shared, reflecting on the unique experience. “For me to experience it for the first time was quite special and I have to thank John Whaite for being really caring with me.
READ MORE: Strictly star ties knot in secret wedding after ‘falling in love’ with pro partner
READ MORE: Click for more brilliant Daily Star TV stories
“He was quite patient while I was trying to figure it out. The truth is for the first time in my life I’ve had somebody say to me ‘I’ve got you.'”
(Image: Brian J Ritchie/Hotsauce/REX/Shutterstock)
This heart-to-heart follows John Whaite’s own revelation to The Times in 2023, where he admitted to having “fallen for” Johannes during their stint on Strictly, despite being engaged to his partner Paul Atkins at the time, reports the Manchester Evening News.
“I fell in love with him,” John confessed about his feelings for Johannes. “I can’t speak for him because I’m not allowed to, legally, but it felt like there was love there.”
Confronted by the depth of his emotions, John faced no choice but to come clean to Paul, becoming yet another tale of the infamous Strictly curse. “All the way through, me and Paul discussed it.
(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
“Paul of all people deserved to understand how I was feeling. You go through life being told that you’ll fall in love with someone, you’ll get married, you’ll have children and that’s it.
“But love can’t just be directed to one person. The heart can easily split into two or three or four. And those loves aren’t mutually exclusive,” John continued.
After his dazzling stint on Strictly came to an end, John took some “me time” away from his other half as Paul shacked up with his folks again.
(Image: john_whaite/Instagram)
Despite feeling a “sense of loss” post-Strictly, which he spills about in his book Dancing on Eggshells, John decided to keep a bit of space between him and dance partner Johannes Radebe while he and Paul tried to rekindle their spark before tying the knot in 2024.
“I have to be mindful that there’s more than my own desires to consider here”, John wrapped up.
It’s not the first time Johannes has chatted about their special bond either. In a previous interview back in August 2023, he made it crystal clear about the “platonic nature of their connection”, vowing that he and John are “friends for life.”
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
