Strictly Come Dancing professional Johannes Radebe is reportedly set to quit the BBC show at the end of the series.
The South African dancer, 37, who has become a fan-favourite since he joined the show in 2018, has landed two huge projects in 2025, with sources now claiming his schedule is too jam-packed for a return to the ballroom.
Johannes is set to star in Kinky Boots: The Musical for the first seven months of the year, and is also working on a movie adaptation of his life story.
The dancer is currently paired with Gladiators star Montell Douglas, and the pair have been tipped to reach the final.
A source told The Sun: ‘Johannes is hugely loved on the show and there isn’t an atom of bad feeling about him leaving.
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Strictly Come Dancing professional Johannes Radebe, 37, is reportedly set to quit the BBC show at the end of this current series
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The dancer has landed two huge projects in 2025, with sources now claiming his schedule is too jam-packed for a return to the BBC show (pictured with his 2021 partner John Whaite)
‘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.’
A representative for Strictly Come Dancing declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. A representative for Johannes Radebe has been contacted for comment.
From January to July, Johannes is set to star in a leading role in the touring production of Kinky Boots The Musical, which is written by pop legend Cyndi Lauper.
He’s set to perform over 200 shows in 25 different cities across the UK and Ireland, in cities randing from Dublin to Plymouth and Brighton to Edinburgh.
It also means that Johannes will also miss the Strictly Live Tour, which typically kicks off in January.
Johannes has become a fan favourite on Strictly in recent years, and was first paired with Catherine Tyldesley in 2019, followed by Caroline Quentin in 2020.
In 2021, while paired with The Great British Bake Off star John Whaite in a same-s3x pairing, Johannes became one of the show’s most beloved pros, and despite reaching the final, they narrowly missed out on the Glitterball.
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Johannes is currently paired with Gladiators star Montell Douglas , and the pair have been tipped to reach the final
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Johannes has become a fan favourite on Strictly in recent years, and was first paired with Catherine Tyldesley in 2019 (pictured)
After being paired with comedian Ellie Taylor in 2022, last year Johannes reached the semi-finals with former tennis star Annabel Croft.
This year, it’s hoped that he and Montell could reach the final, and despite landing in the dance-off last week, the pair were praised by viewers for their Afro-Caribbean-inspired Couples Choice earlier in the series, scoring 39 points out of 40.
In September, Johannes revealed more details about the film that’s being made about his lift story, adapted from his memoir JoJo: Finally Home.
The film, which is being produced Arrested Industries and Helena Spring Films, will feature musical numbers choreographed by Johannes himself, but will not be an outright musical.
Anthony Kimble’s Arrested Industries and Oscar-nominated Helena Spring Films have bought up the rights and Johannes will be an executive producer on it.
Johannes told Deadline: ‘Growing up gay in the townships of South Africa was not an easy ride, but there were so many good things about my life there, and it has made me the person I am today.
‘I never imagined my story would end up on the big screen, so I am greatly appreciative of this new opportunity and look forward to working closely with Helena and Anthony over the coming months.’
Meanwhile Anthony Kimble added: ‘Our ambition is to do the book – and Jojo – justice by producing a bold, colorful and thoroughly entertaining film that leaves audiences of all ages with big smiles on their faces.’
