Strictly’s Johannes Radebe almost quit when bosses paired him with grieving Annabel Croft
Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe has revealed he almost quit the show's main line-up after bosses paired him with Annabel Croft shortly after the death of her husband.
Strictly Come Dancing professional Johannes Radebe says he nearly walked away from the BBC show’s main line-up when he was partnered with Annabel Croft shortly after the death of his family member. Annabel, 57, had recently lost her beloved husband, Mel, following his devastating battle with cancer.
Johannes, 36, explained that his cousin had tragically taken his own life and the funeral was held just two weeks before Strictly training began.
In a new interview, Johannes said: “When they said I'm dancing with her, I was like, ‘What are they trying to achieve?’ And I say that because two weeks before I started, I buried my cousin.
“I could have stayed [in South Africa] for longer but after we buried him, I had to fly back to the UK and do my audiobook. That was hard, and when Strictly started, I just felt like I was going through the motions."
The Latin champion added on the Table Manners that he felt producers were “reaching” when they made the partnership, and he was considering sitting the series out.
However, after a conversation with his agent, Johannes agreed to continue with the show.
He told hosts Jessie and Lennie Ware: “The [bosses] said, ‘We think that you're the person to partner this woman’. I just said to myself, they're reaching.
“I remember calling my agent. I was like, I don't know what's going to happen. Maybe we should say that I shouldn't get a partner this year because I just really need some time out."
Despite his concerns, Johannes and Annabel sparked a special friendship and danced their way to the semi-final.
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Reflecting on their time on the show, Johannes concluded: “A lot of people say, ‘Oh Johannes, you helped Annabel’, but no, Annabel helped me."
Annabel’s husband died in May 2023, just 16 weeks after he was diagnosed with stage three cancer.
She signed up to Strictly less than six months after his death, saying that it “came at the right time”.
When she was announced as a contestant, Annabel told Chris Evans on his Virgin Radio show: “My husband used to love watching Johannes [Radebe]. I just think he’s so amazing, that would be a dream to dance with him...
"It has just come at the right time for me, and I hope I get rid of any stresses and just go out there and enjoy it.”