Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe has revealed he almost quit the show after he was paired with Annabel Croft during last year’s series.
The professional dancer and tennis champion made it to the semi-final after becoming the firm favorite of both the public and the judges.
However, Johannes was originally unhappy with the producers’ choice of partner, as while Annabel was coming to terms with the death of her husband Mel, Johannes was also dealing with his own grief.
Speaking on the Table Manners podcast, Johannes, who recently announced his memoir will be made into a film, revealed that two weeks before the start of Strictly he buried his cousin after he took his own life.
When he was Annabel’s partner, Johannes confessed that at first he felt confused by the producers’ decision and even considered the idea of asking not to have a partner that year.
Strictly star Johannes Radebe, 36, has revealed he almost LEFT the show after being paired with Annabel Croft, 57.
Johannes was originally unhappy with the producers’ partnership choice, as while Annabel was coming to terms with the death of her husband Mel, Johannes was also dealing with his own grief after his cousin took his own life before Strictly began. .
He explained: ‘When they told me I was dancing with her, I thought: What are they trying to achieve? And I say this because two weeks before starting I buried my cousin who committed suicide.
“I didn’t feel anything, I wasn’t as excited as I normally would be, because I thought, this is supposed to be the most exciting period, I just came back from a very successful tour.” But then I had to go back home (South Africa).
He continued: “I could have stayed there longer, but after we buried him I had to fly back to the UK and do my audiobook.”
“That was difficult, and when Strictly started I thought, ‘Okay, I felt like I was going through the motions.’
‘So you can imagine when the partners said, I was like “okay, cool.” I really wanted to deal with it, but you never allow yourself the time to deal with whatever you’re going through in your life.
‘And yes, they said we think you’re the right person to partner with this woman. I told myself, they are coming. I remember calling my agent and thinking, I don’t know what’s going to happen. Maybe we should say that I shouldn’t get a partner this year because I really need some time off.’
However, despite being concerned about how Annabel’s pain would affect his own, the pair became best friends in the process.
“I mean, a lot of people say, ‘Oh, Johannes, you helped Annabel,’ but no, Annabel helped me,” he said.
He explained: ‘When they told me I was dancing with her, I thought: What are they trying to achieve? And I say this because two weeks before starting I buried my cousin who committed suicide.’
Speaking of their steadfast friendship, he added: “I mean, a lot of people say, ‘Oh, Johannes, you helped Annabel,’ but no, Annabel helped me.”
Annabel’s husband, Mel Coleman, died in May from bowel cancer just 16 weeks after being diagnosed and throughout the competition the athlete paid tribute to how much Johannes had helped her.
After her exit from the show, she said her dance partner gave her a reason to get out of bed as she wrote an emotional post on Instagram.
Annabel’s husband, Mel Coleman, died in May of bowel cancer just 16 weeks after he was diagnosed and throughout the competition the athlete paid tribute to how much Johannes had helped her.
After her exit from the show, she said her dance partner gave her a reason to get out of bed as she wrote an emotional post on Instagram.
She wrote: “There are A LOT of things I have to say, so here’s a reflection from Part 1 on Saturday… What an amazing semi-final and congratulations to the 3 finalists – they are very talented and deserve their place in what’s happening “. It will be a wonderful final…
‘Dancing salsa on Saturday night and being thrown around like a rag doll was not something I will ever forget. I spent half the dance hysterical, after skidding on the floor and landing on my back, legs out of control in the air ha ha ha…
‘Thank goodness for super strong Johannes, who was able to lift me up and onto my feet, just in time, to keep up the pace and continue partying. Wonderful!…
‘The last video was taken in rehearsals when I was practicing the sky entry, however seconds before dancing live, the mechanics broke, so the confetti was launched from a stationary position, rather than from the air. ..
‘It was all SO much fun and I honestly can’t stop laughing when I think about this dance. It has been one of my favorites in this series and a big thank you to the choreographers, I have loved working with you.”