Johannes Radebe revealed he has felt more comfortable speaking with his mum Jacobeth about his sexuality since being in Strictly’s first male same-sex pairing with John Whaite, during an appearance on This Morning on Friday.
The ballroom professional, 34, who identifies as gay, confessed he had never addressed the subject with the 62-year-old due to her ‘conservative’ views.
He began: ‘What has happened between John and I last year really changed my relationship with my mother – for the first time, we can speak about my sexuality openly.
Congrats: Johannes Radebe has felt more comfortable speaking with his mum Jacobeth about his sexuality since being in Strictly’s first male same-sex pairing with John Whaite
‘There was no problem but it was something that we never addressed, it was something we never spoke about.
The South Africa native continued: ‘You know with African people, very conservative, and I respect that still, but it is nice the way it is now.’
The TV personality went on to announce his plans to buy his mum a home, although did not specify where, before recounting the moment he broke the life-changing news to her.
He gushed: ‘I pinch myself every morning, this cannot be real.
Family: The ballroom professional, 34, who identifies as gay, confessed he had never addressed the subject with the 62-year-old due to her ‘conservative’ views
Iconic: The double-act made Strictly history with their pairing (pictured in December 2021)
‘To be able to share it with my mama who has obviously had to sit through my life with me going, “I’ll make it one day,” it’s nice to share this moment and I said finally I will be able to buy her a home.’
It comes after Johanne’s on-screen partner John tested positive for Covid, telling fans in an Instagram video: ‘Hi everyone, a little bit of bad news I’m afraid.’
The Bake Off star, 32, shared the news on Saturday and explained he ‘won’t be able to perform today in Glasgow’ but insisted: ‘I feel fine.’
John was referring to the Glasgow leg of Strictly Come Dancing’s live tour. He has been travelling the UK as part of the star-studded show.
Happy: He began during Friday’s This Morning: ‘What has happened between John and I last year really changed my relationship with my mother – for the first time, we can speak about my sexuality openly’
Candid: ‘There was no problem but it was something that we never addressed, it was something we never spoke about’
John addressed his 309,000 followers from his hotel room and could be seen laying shirtless in bed.
Wearing a baseball cap and chain necklace, John began: ‘Hi everyone, a little bit of bad news I’m afraid. A lateral flow this morning has come back positive, so I now have to sit here in captivity until the results of a PCR comes back.’
He continued: ‘I’m hoping they come back negative because I feel fine. I’m triple-jabbed, I had coronavirus in summer, I’m hoping it’s just a false positive.
‘But that does mean of course that I won’t be able to perform today or tonight in Glasgow.’
Tragic: It comes after Johanne’s on-screen partner John (left) tested positive for Covid, telling fans in an Instagram video: ‘Hi everyone, a little bit of bad news I’m afraid (pictured in January 2022)
The star went on: ‘So I am very sorry if anyone was hoping to see me shaking my thing on the dancefloor today, I won’t be there shaking it.
‘I’ll be in my hotel room, probably still shaking it. But that isn’t something I wish the world could see, because it isn’t pretty when you’re not in sparkles and sequins.’
John concluded: ‘Anyway, I’m sorry I can’t be there. I hope you enjoy the show nonetheless and good luck to all my friends who are in the show today, I’m sorry I’m letting you all down.’
The pair made the final but lost out to deaf soap star Rose Ayling-Ellis and her professional partner, Giovanni Pernice.
They’re also joined on the road by Max George and professional dancer Katya Jones as well as Rose and Giovanni, from the 2021 series.
Other dance couples on the bill from this year’s show include Sara Davies and Aljaz Skorjanec, Tilly Ramsay and Nikita Kuzmin and Rhys Stephenson and Nancy Xu.
AJ Odudu was forced to pull out of the tour after she continues to recover from the injury which meant her early exit from the series. Her professional partner Kai Widdrington has instead been paired with 2020 star Maisie Smith.
Strictly’s professional dancers Amy Dowden, Neil Jones, Luba Mushtuk and Jowita Przystal also perform with the couples in over 33 sequin-spangled shows.
Beaming: The pair made the final but lost out to deaf soap star Rose Ayling-Ellis and her professional partner, Giovanni Pernice (pictured in December 2021)
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