Johannes Radebe has made his feelings very clear about his Strictly Come Dancing future, after previous rumours suggested he would be quitting the hit series.
The professional dancer is a firm favourite among fans having joined the show in 2018. He made history three years later with baker John Whaite when the pair became the first all-male partnership to compete on the BBC One dance contest and they made it all the way to the final.
But while taking part in the 2024 series, having been paired with Olympian Montell Douglas, he couldn't help but respond to circulating rumours that he was poised to quit Strictly to take on his first big stage role in Kinky Boots.
Taking to Instagram at the time in November, Johannes shared a clip from the rehearsal room with Montell and in a clip, was seen singing along to certain words of a song before he said: "I'm not going nowhere!"
He then wrote alongside the post, which featured a screengrab of the headline in question: "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. Love you all Jojo Xx".
He's now been quizzed again on his Strictly future, despite it being confirmed he will be back in the ballroom when the show returns for the 2025 run this Autumn, as it was revealed that he'll be making his West End debut next year in the role of Lola in Kinky Boots, which has seen him tour the country since the start of the year.
Appearing on This Morning on Monday (July 7) as the Kinky Boots news was announced, host Ben Shephard said: "There is something everyone will be talking about because you've been very busy, you've been off touring and you're going to hit the West End, Strictly is coming back soon though...
"Please reassure us you're going to be in the line-up and are definitely going to be part of it!" Johannes then responded: "They'll have to drag me off that show with my sequins!"
The 37-year-old added: "I'm not going anywhere! My life would be dull. That is a sparkling world that I live in and I can't tell you what a privilege it is to be a part of it every single year, to be called back."
Cat Deeley then asked about the relationships they develop on the show and how "amazing" he is at being able to bond with his celebrity partners, singling out Annabel Croft, with the tennis star taking part in the show in 2023.
"Listen, I've been blessed with incredible partners throughout the years and it's true, you ask anything of my partners about me and they'll tell you the truth.
"They know who I am and that is why I love the show, because of what it does, the community it builds and the reach it has. I sometimes look back and I think, 'I can't believe I call this a job,' honestly."
Johannes has been dazzling audiences up and down the country in the show. He takes on the lead role of drag queen Lola and Johannes, 37, was described as being ‘born to play the role’ in a glittering four-star review from the M.E.N earlier this year.
Now, Johannes is set to make his musical theatre debut in the West End as it was announced that he'll be taking on the role of Lola again next March for a limited time only.
The spectacular show will strut its way into the London Coliseum from March 17 to July 11, 2026, with a week of previews at Curve, Leicester from March 3.
Johannes said in a statement: "I left my township in Zamdela at the age of 21 to dance in the ensemble on a cruise ship. Every night we did ABBA. That was my dream come true.
"Never then, nor since then, was it in my wildest dreams that I would have the opportunity to star in a musical in London’s West End. And not just any musical - my favourite musical. Kinky Boots. My involvement in Kinky Boots has been six years in the making, and Lola was the only role I ever wanted to play.
"Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper have written a show about accepting people for who they are, and the love our production has received across the UK has been overwhelming, beautiful and life changing. The theatre community has welcomed me, and I am having the time of my life."
He added: " It is the greatest honour and responsibility to bring this show to the world famous, iconic London Coliseum. I’ll be walking in the footsteps of theatre and entertainment giants who have performed on that stage, and I’ll be doing it in my own sequined pair of red leather Kinky Boots. I cannot wait! Thank you and see you next year."
