Johannes Radebe farewell sparked speculation among Strictly Come Dancing viewers on Sunday night. The 38-year-old dancer hinted at leaving the show while thanking his celebrity partner, Alex Kingston.
Kingston, known for ER and Doctor Who, was voted off during the results show on November 30. Radebe told the audience, “Goodbye to my Strictly family. I’ve never grinned as much as I have these past weeks.”
He praised Kingston for her effort. “Thank you, Alex, for being a trooper. I appreciate the laughs. I will hold on to the memories.” Radebe added, “As far as dancing goes, I think we’ve achieved what we wanted.”
Kingston responded warmly, saying, “These memories are just the beginning for us.” Radebe replied, “You can say that again.”
Radebe then looked at his fellow dancers and seemed to bid the show goodbye. Carlos Gu, partnered with Karen Carney, shouted, “We love you.” Radebe concluded, “To my Strictly family, I’m very grateful,” before thanking Kingston and host Tess Daly.
Fans quickly shared reactions online. One wrote, “That felt like a goodbye from Johannes too. It’s very sad to contemplate.” Another said, “Why did that sound like a final goodbye from Johannes?!”
Johannes Radebe, nicknamed “Jojo,” joined Strictly in 2018 after dancing on the South African version of the show. He first partnered with Coronation Street star Catherine Tydlesley the following year. Since then, he has danced with Caroline Quentin, John Whaite, Ellie Taylor, Annabel Croft, Montell Douglas, and now Kingston.
In 2021, Radebe partnered with John Whaite, forming the show’s first same-sex couple. Fans loved their chemistry on the dance floor. Whaite later revealed he fell in love with Radebe offscreen. Radebe clarified their connection remained platonic. Whaite has since reunited with his partner of 15 years, Paul Atkins.
Kingston called her experience “the most incredible journey” and described Radebe as a “friend for life.” Meanwhile, hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will also leave at the end of the series. Their final episode airs as a pre-recorded Christmas special on December 25.
Johannes Radebe farewell may mark a major turning point for the show. Fans now await news of the dancer’s next chapter.
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