Devastated Strictly fans ‘switching off’ as it’s revealed fan favourite pro ‘is set to quit’
FANS of Strictly Come Dancing are in bits after learning that a particular professional won’t be coming back next year.
Viewers are up in arms over news that the talented dancer is leaving the BBC One show.
South African star Johannes Radebe, who joined in 2018, will perform in Kinky Boots The Musical in 2025.
From January to July he will be one of the lead characters in the tour written by pop legend Cyndi Lauper.
The 37-year-old is also having his life story turned into a movie.
The Sun exclusively revealed last year that he was making a movie based on his autobiography, Jojo: Finally Home, based on his rags to riches story.
Devastated fans commented on social media: “Oh, that would be such a loss for Strictly!”
A second complained: “Can this day get any worse?”
A third penned: “Aw I’m gutted! It makes sense though because Johannes is a SUPERSTAR!”
A fourth agreed: “Will miss Jojo a lot though! I would really love to see Jojo lift the glitterball trophy with Montell before he parts.”
“I hate today forever,” vented a viewer. “But he’s the best thing about the whole show!” agreed another. “Absolutely heartbroken,” sobbed a fan. “I just fell to my knees,” a bereft person added.
He will perform over 200 shows in 25 different cities across the UK and Ireland. The star will dazzle across the stage from Dublin to Plymouth and Brighton to Edinburgh.
That means Johannes is already missing the official Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour which also kicks off in January with most of the pros taking part.
A new generation of Strictly pros are set to take over from veterans in the next series.
The Beeb wants to lose up to five of its most established dancers, including Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones, Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez and Katya Jones.
A Strictly insider told The Sun previously: “Johannes is hugely loved on the show and there isn’t an atom of bad feeling about him leaving.
“Both he and the show’s bosses realise he is overwhelmed with work as a result of his soaring popularity and wish him all the best.
“But nobody can ever get so big that they continually take up too much limelight – the star of the show must always be the show itself.”