Strictly Come Dancing professional Johannes Radebe has officially become a British citizen, sharing an emotional update with fans on Instagram. The South African-born dancer, who joined the BBC show in 2018, posted a video of his citizenship ceremony alongside a heartfelt message.
Radebe wrote: "I left South Africa with a heart full of hope and a dream too big to say out loud. Britain welcomed me. It challenged me. It shaped me." He added that the UK had become "the place where my artistry flourished and where my future now stands."
The dancer, who made history in 2021 as part of the first all-male partnership on Strictly with John Whaite, is currently preparing for his West End debut in Kinky Boots. The musical will run at the London Coliseum from March to July 2026, with previews starting in Leicester next week.
Fellow Strictly stars including Stacey Dooley, JB Gill, and Janette Manrara congratulated Radebe, with fans also flooding his post with supportive comments. One fan wrote: "How lucky we are to have you, congratulations."
Radebe concluded his message: "This is not just citizenship. It is gratitude. It is growth. It is proof that courage, when paired with opportunity and held up by love, can change the course of a life."
