Strictly fan-favourite Johannes Radebe has reassured fans he’s not leaving the show following claims he will quit.
Johannes joined the show in 2018, finishing as runner-up alongside John Whaite back in 2021. This year, he’s partnered with Gladiators star Montell Douglas.
However, reports claimed this week that this year could be his last, with Johannes tipped to walk away from the show at the end of the current series.
Now, he’s issued a statement on Instagram and vowed he’s “not going nowhere”.
Strictly news: Johannes Radebe speaks out on ‘quit’ rumours
Reports suggested that Johannes was “overwhelmed with work” outside of the BBC ballroom thanks to his popularity on the show.
Next year, from January to July, he’ll take the lead in the nationwide tour of the musical Kinky Boots. The tour will see him perform more than 200 shows in 25 different cities across the UK and Ireland.
As well as that, he is also turning his autobiography, Jojo: Finally Home, into a movie. And, according to The Sun, a source alleged he would be too busy to fit in Strictly Come Dancing around these other commitments.
A Strictly insider claimed: “Johannes is hugely loved on the show and there isn’t an atom of bad feeling about him leaving. Both he and the show’s bosses realise he is overwhelmed with work as a result of his soaring popularity and wish him all the best.
“But nobody can ever get so big that they continually take up too much limelight – the star of the show must always be the show itself. That was something obvious when even Sir Bruce Forsyth left his hosting job, even though he was synonymous with Strictly. It was a similar story when his fellow South African pro Oti Mabuse left two years ago – and she went on to bigger things too.”
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Johannes on Instagram
The source went on to add: “Of course, bosses will probably try to find a way to bring him back at some point and he would no doubt consider returning. But for now, he just has too much to juggle alongside the contest. It isn’t just the announced projects that he’s working on, there are other opportunities in the pipeline too, which he can now explore further.”
However, on Thursday evening, Johannes shared a post to Instagram to address the rumours.
He wrote: “I’m not going nowhere! The story isn’t true – I love @bbcstrictly and I want to do this beautiful show for as long as they want me – and the body will allow.
“I have Kinky Boots and other work in the pipeline yes but nothing will take me away.”
View this post on Instagram
Johannes hits back
In a video alongside the caption, Johannes insisted: “I’m going nowhere. Nowhere. It’s a lie,” as he danced with Montell in Strictly rehearsals.
Fans were relieved over the news as one person commented: “Phew; love you Jojo.”
Another said: “Love you so much JoJo. This is the best news!”
Strictly Come Dancing is on Saturday (November 9) at 6.35pm.
Read more: Amy Dowden breaks down in tears as she discusses Strictly exit on It Takes Two
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