Entertainment
Johannes Radebe is ‘bricking it’ for Strictly Come Dancing 2022 after ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ partnership with John Whaite last year-Sabrina Barr-Entertainment – Metro
‘I would love another opportunity to dance with John again,’ the dancer shared.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Johannes Radebe has spoken out on how he feels about the 2022 series of Strictly Come Dancing… and after the stunningly special bond he had with John Whaite last year, he admitted he’s ‘bricking it’.
During the 2021 season of the BBC competition, Johannes and former Great British Bake Off winner John made it all the way to the final, finishing as the runners-up behind winners Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice.
Not only was their partnership history-making – as the first ever all-male duo on the show – but they also sparked tears, laughter and cheers with their impressive routines, from their celebratory showdance to their sensual rumba.
Metro.co.uk recently sat down with Johannes to talk about his MADE.com collaboration with LGBTQ+ community centre The Outside Project, when the subject of the upcoming series of Strictly also came up.
Johannes, 35, was asked how he hopes he could take things to an even higher level with his next dance partner, as the new line-up of celebrities continues to be revealed.
‘I, for lack of a better word – I almost swore there, sorry – but I am really bricking it,’ he responded.
Johannes and John won the hearts of the nation last year (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)
‘I mean, I would love another opportunity to dance with John again, but we all know that it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and you do what you need to do when you have it.
‘Listen, Strictly – they always get it right. That’s what I love about them, and they’ve done it all these years.’
The South African dancer also expressed his hope for ‘more visibility and representation of our people’ on the programme in future, stating: ‘I think we’ve started something.’
‘It was a big deal to have two proud gay men cha-cha their way to the final,’ he said (Picture: MADE.com/The Outside Project)
‘I think there’s no way of going back,’ he said, after Strictly welcomed its first same-sex pairing in 2020 with former professional boxer Nicola Adams and Katya Jones.
‘I think if you are saying, “Do we want more?” There will definitely be more in the years to come. What I want to applaud, though, is the fact that we’ve come this far,’ he continued.
‘How many years has it taken for us to get here? So yeah, it was a big deal. It was a big deal to have two proud gay men cha-cha their way to the final of the biggest show on telly. Because like I say to you, it proved that we have progressed as a society.’
Graziano and Johannes glided on the dancefloor to Emeli Sandé as they made history in 2019 (Picture: BBC)
Back in 2019, he and Graziano Di Prima made history when they performed the first ever individual same-sex dance in Strictly, which was celebrated by fans across the nation, a year after the pros performed in same-sex pairings during a group routine.
Johannes remarked how much has changed since then, emphasising that the progression leading up to his partnership with John was ‘all within four years’.
Praising Strictly’s executive producer Sarah James as a ‘trailblazing ally’, the choreographer showered the series with praise for the ‘visibility’ it brought during the 2021 season.
‘It was one of the proudest moments. I felt proud to be part of the show,’ he said.
From dancing to flying (Picture: Kieron McCarron/BBC/PA)
Now that the first batch of celebrities have been revealed for this year’s show, fans are waiting in eager anticipation to discover which professional dancers they’ll be partnered with.
Having been partnered with actresses Catherine Tyldesley and Caroline Quentin in 2019 and 2020 respectively, before teaming up with John last year, Johannes was asked if he would like to be partnered with another male star in future.
‘I want to be partnered with whoever wants to do this show,’ he replied.
‘That’s what we proved with the likes of Nicola and Katya, John, and I – next year, please, more, more! Because there’s a lot of letters in the LGBTIQ+ community. So please, we want to see all that, we want to see everybody represented, and it would be lush.’
The pair formed an unbreakable bond (Picture: BBC)
Ever since Johannes joined Strictly in 2018, he has more than made his mark, particularly in the spectacular red carpet and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert-inspired group dances, where he was the undisputed star of the show.
So could fans expect another dazzling group dance this year to rival his previous show-stopping routines?
‘We start soon, so we will have the team sit down and break down the season for us, that’s how it normally works. But until we are all sat in that room, you don’t know anything. And I think that’s the beauty about the show,’ he shared.
However, Johannes then added that ‘it would be a sin now’ not to create another pro dance that ‘makes people happy’.
‘That’s what Strictly is all about – sequins. flamboyance, camp, it’s camp! You know?’ he said excitedly.
‘I’m fingers crossed something lovely comes up this year, and I would love to headline it as well. Just saying.’ We couldn’t agree more!
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Entertainment – MetroRead More
