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Johannes Radebe has spoken about the ‘progress’ his partnership with John Whaite on Strictly Come Dancing helped along in both is family and in a wider sense.
The 35-year-old pro dancer made it all the way to the final of the 2021 series with John, showing off some dazzling routines along the way including a fiery paso doble and a tender rumba.
The fan favourites narrowly lost out on the Glitterball trophy to Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice, and were the first all-male couple to grace the Strictly dance floor.
Appearing on Loose Women ahead of his Freedom Unleashed UK tour, Johannes reflected on how dancing with John had helped him personally, both when it came to his family and his approach to dancing.
He explained: ‘When it happened I just thought, this is what answers so many questions [for] my people because I knew there were still uncles and aunties that lived remotely that have been waiting for me to bring my wife and kids!
‘And I kept on saying, “Not going to happen, don’t be expecting it!”’
Johannes spoke about feeling ‘seen’ in the UK and the huge impact his partnership with John Whaite had had on him (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
John and Johannes made it to the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA)
On how the experience had helped him in his professional career, he added: ‘I think, selfishly, I was saying, I healed through that partnership. I fell in love with my art form all over again – and thanks to John for that.
‘But I have to say, it was a conversation starter for many people in my life and my relationships and we have made progress once again!’
Multi-talented Johannes, who was also crowned champion of The Great British Sewing Bee’s celebrity Christmas special, also said that he felt they had ‘left the world a better place for it’ as he praised the UK for being a country that was ‘progressive’ and somewhere that he felt ‘seen’, even if he said there was still ‘a long way to go’.
The star is also looking for love in 2023, having made himself the promise to go out and have fun as soon as he has the time.
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In the 2022 series of Strictly, Giovanni was paired with BBC radio presenter Richie Anderson, with the couple eliminated during Movie Week as the second pairing to go in a shock result.
The first same-sex couple on Strictly was Katya Jones and boxer Nicola Adams, who were sadly forced to bow out early after Katya tested positive for Covid during the tightly controlled 2020 series, which took place in the course of the pandemic.
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV1.
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He also said it had helped him fall back in love with dance again.
