Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe has seemingly confirmed he will return for the upcoming 24th season of the BBC dance show, following a wave of professional dancer departures. The 39-year-old South African dancer made history in 2021 alongside John Whaite as the first male competitive dancing couple on the show. However, after reports of a professional dancer cull last month, his future had been uncertain.
Now, Radebe has hinted at his involvement in the new series. Speaking to The i Paper, he explained that he remains single due to his heavy work schedule, which includes starring as Lola in the 2026 production of Kinky Boots at the London Coliseum. He stated, 'I live at the Coliseum while I'm in Kinky Boots. And when that finishes, Strictly will come around again, so I think I'm just too busy [for a love life].'
Departures Shake Up the Show
Radebe's comments come after several professional dancers announced their exits ahead of the new season. Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, and Karen Hauer have all confirmed they will not return. Most notably, Gorka Márquez ended his 10-year tenure to take a full-time judging role on Dancing with the Stars Spain.
In a statement on Instagram, Márquez wrote: 'After last year's decision to step down as a full-time professional due to scheduling conflicts between Strictly and Dancing with the Stars Spain, I've decided that now is the time to hang up my dance shoes and say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing.' He expressed gratitude for his time on the show, noting it allowed him to build a career, find love, start a family, and make lifelong friends.
Radebe's Journey on Strictly
Johannes Radebe began his Strictly journey on the South African version in 2014 before joining the British show in 2018. He finished as runner-up alongside John Whaite in the 2021 series, losing to Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice. Earlier this year, Whaite was hospitalized after being run over by a car, calling it a 'near-fatal' experience, following his tearful revelation about a five-year addiction to anabolic steroids in November 2025.
Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The new season is expected to bring further changes, including new hosts replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
