Johannes Radebe has disclosed that the new presenting team for Strictly Come Dancing is still working out their specific duties, noting that "everything is in planning" at this stage. Last month, Johannes, Emma Willis, and Josh Widdicombe were officially announced as the new hosts of the beloved BBC dance competition, taking over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who left the show last year.
Johannes on His New Role
Speaking on Heart Breakfast with Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston on June 8, the dancer, who currently stars as drag queen Lola in the West End production of Kinky Boots, shared his feelings about landing the gig. "It was a massive surprise, and I am - for lack of a better word - I am nervous, and I'm excited about it all at once," he said.
Johannes originally appeared on Strictly South Africa for two seasons before moving to the UK in 2018. His celebrity partners have included Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley, Caroline Quentin, John Whaite, and Ellie Taylor. When asked if he saw the presenting role coming, he replied, "No, I did not. So when I was offered the opportunity to come in for the chemistry test, I was like, 'You know what?' As my agent said, 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained.'"
Auditioning with Emma and Josh
Jamie Theakston inquired whether Johannes had to audition alongside Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe. Johannes confirmed, "Yes, we did. So you can imagine the three of us walking into the room and seeing each other. We're like..." When pressed about the division of hosting duties, Johannes added, "Jamie, there's no set info yet as to how that is going. Everything is in planning at the moment."
Amanda Holden jokingly remarked, "I love that. That's the top line the BBC have said to say," prompting laughter. Johannes responded, "We are still going to figure out how it's going to work," and noted that all three hosts possess "main character energy."
Reactions from Emma and Josh
At the time of the announcement, Emma described herself as a "huge fan" of the show and said she couldn't "quite comprehend" stepping into the legendary ballroom. Josh expressed being "giddy with excitement, honoured and a little overawed to be given the chance to step into the biggest shoes in television."
Following the Instagram announcement, the BBC account shared behind-the-scenes footage of the new presenters discussing their roles. Despite now being a host, Johannes confirmed he isn't ready to stop dancing. "Listen, I'm not hanging up my dancing shows as yet. That I'm definitely not doing. I cannot. I mean, what is my life without a cha cha cha?" he said.
