As one of the few black professional dancers to appear on Strictly, Johannes Radebe has won himself millions of fans in Britain.
Now the South African has told how overwhelmed he is by the welcome he has received since arriving in 2018 – despite the claims of some that Britain is riddled with racism and a difficult place for immigrants to live.
Radebe, 38, has even become a British citizen after falling in love with England – especially the coastal town of Bridlington in Yorkshire.
He said: ‘This is a very progressive country. This is where my artistry was allowed to flourish and I will forever be grateful for that.
‘When I am in Bridlington, I get free breakfast and free coffee. It feels like your mothers and sisters are there.
‘Britain feels like home. I know what love feels like now. It’s beautiful. Because of Strictly, I am so loved.’
Radebe, who is starring in the musical Kinky Boots at the London Coliseum, revealed in 2024 that he had passed the Life in the UK test as part of his citizenship application.
He was born in Zamdela, South Africa, and started ballroom dancing at seven, winning the Professional South African Latin championships twice. On Strictly, Radebe has been paired with Coronation Street’s Catherine Tyldesley, tennis player Annabel Croft, and most recently, Doctor Who’s Alex Kingston.
He was also in the first male same-sex couple with Bake Off star John Whaite in 2021 when they reached the final. Radebe had been rumoured to be leaving Strictly but will soon be signing a new deal to appear when it returns this year.
Waltz off, Georgia told
The BBC has revoked permission for Georgia’s version of Strictly Come Dancing – because the channel on which it is broadcast has been branded a pro-Putin mouthpiece.
Imedi TV was sanctioned by the Foreign Office last month after calls for its UK-based owners to face a police investigation for spreading Russian propaganda.
Dancing with the Stars finished its 14th season on February 23, one day before the sanctions were imposed – but cannot operate without a licence from the BBC.
Until a few days before the sanctions were announced, Imedi was controlled by a London City firm, Hunnewell Partners.
BBC Studios said: ‘Following Imedi’s recent inclusion on the UK Government’s sanctions list, BBC Studios withdrew the broadcaster’s format licence for Dancing with the Stars.’
