Johannes Radebe has addressed concerns about his future on Strictly Come Dancing, confirming he will continue to dance despite his new role as a host. The professional dancer, who will co-host the show alongside Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe from September, told The Sun: 'I'm not hanging up my dancing shoes yet. I will definitely be throwing some shapes and moving my hips – I can't not, that's my life.'
Radebe's promotion to host had sparked speculation that he would no longer dance on the show, especially after he was removed from promotional material featuring returning pros and Emma Willis suggested on BBC Radio 2 that he would not dance. However, Radebe hinted at a 'plan in action' that will see him still performing, likely in group routines rather than with a celebrity partner.
Fans had expressed mixed feelings on Reddit, with some worried about losing his presence in group numbers. One user wrote: 'He has the warmth and charisma to be absolutely spectacular at [being host]. But selfishly, I'm a bit heartbroken about what this means for the Sunday results show group numbers.' Another added: 'My guess would be that he won't get a partner this year, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he'll still be part of the group routines!'
Judge Shirley Ballas praised the new hosting trio, telling Metro: 'I think it was a surprise to everybody that it was three and not two... Everybody loves JoJo. He's a well-loved figure. He wears his heart on his sleeve, so it's an absolute delight that we got him.'
