Devoted fans of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing have been sent into a spin, fearing one of the show's most cherished professional dancers may have just bid a quiet farewell. The concern erupted following an unusually heartfelt speech from Johannes Radebe during Sunday night's results show on 1 December 2025.
An Emotional Goodbye Sparks Speculation
Sunday's episode saw actress Alex Kingston become the latest celebrity to leave the competition, after losing the dance-off to Balvinder Sopal. Following their elimination, her professional partner, Johannes Radebe, addressed co-host Tess Daly and the studio audience.
In a moment that struck many as more final than usual, Radebe declared, "Bye to my Strictly family, I love you. To my Strictly family, I’m forever grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you." His words were met with loud whoops and cheers from his fellow dancers on the bench, adding to the emotional weight of the scene.
Fans Voice Their Fears on Social Media
Viewers watching at home were quick to pick up on the tone of his comments, taking to social media platform X to voice their suspicions that this was more than just a goodbye for the series.
One fan directly questioned, "#Strictly That sounded like a final farewell from Johannes! Is he going? Due to musical theatre." Another shared the sentiment, writing, "I got the feeling that it’s Johannes last series? Because it seemed like he said goodbye to the pros and judges and everyone?"
A third supporter made a connection to his other work, stating, "I thought this and wondered if it was just for Kinky Boots - which he is FABULOUS in!" Many expressed sadness at the potential loss, calling Radebe a "fabulous and all round lovely human."
Radebe's Thriving Career Beyond the Ballroom
The fan theory linking his exit to musical theatre is grounded in recent developments in Radebe's career. Earlier this year, the South African dancer joined the UK tour of the hit musical Kinky Boots, taking on the starring role of Lola.
He is scheduled to reprise this role when the production heads to the prestigious London Coliseum in March next year. Furthermore, Radebe's 2023 memoir, Jojo: Finally Home, was a bestseller and is now slated for development into a musical film by Helena Spring Films and Arrested Industries.
While the BBC has made no official announcement regarding Radebe's future on Strictly, the combination of his poignant speech and burgeoning stage career has left a significant portion of the audience believing they have witnessed his final competitive dance on the show. The focus also fell on the eliminated celebrity, Alex Kingston, with many fans online stating they were "absolutely devastated" by her departure, despite agreeing it was the correct decision based on the dance-off.
Strictly Come Dancing continues with its next live show on Saturday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
