Johannes Radebe will return to Strictly Come Dancing this year, but apparently, he’ll be dancing to a new tune as the pro takes on hosting duties.
Fans of the long-running BBC series have been on tenterhooks since co-hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down at the end of 2025.
The question of who will take over has been on everyone’s lips, with Emma Willis reportedly the frontrunner after proving herself a ‘safe pair of hands’.
Nearly every major name in presenting has been rumoured for the role, from Alison Hammond and Rylan Clark, to former It Takes Two host Zoe Ball and even comedian Josh Widdecombe.
However, it seems fan favourite Johannes, 39, has stunned producers in chemistry tests where he did ‘incredibly well’.
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Some were worried he’d left the show for good after reports of a professional dancer mass cull in March and his big move to the West End.
A source told The Sun: ‘Everyone involved in the auditions – including the celebs – are saying the job is going to JoJo.
‘During the chemistry tests, he was paired up with every other celeb and did incredibly well.’
Johannes seemed to confirm he was returning to Strictly after his run in Kinky Boots, although fans had assumed this would be on the dancefloor not as a host.
He told the i paper he didn’t have time for a love life as he ‘lives at the Coliseum while in Kinky Boots,’ adding: ‘When that finishes, Strictly will come around again.’
Strictly has had major overhauls since wrapping last season, with pros like Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, and Karen Hauer all exiting.
Johannes’ future was uncertain, but fans were fairly sure he’d return after making history in 2021 with John Whaite when they became the first ever all-male competitive dancing couple.
It’s rumoured that replacing Tess and Claudia might also allow the BBC to shake up the format slightly, with the suggestion that Johannes could be a ‘roving reporter’.
The Sun’s insider continued: ‘They all think he would be the perfect partner for Emma. He has been announced as one of the returning professional dancers but that doesn’t mean bosses aren’t going to promote him.’
However, some weren’t sure of the new hosting duties for the dancer with Claire Duffett on X declaring it was ‘a waste of his skills’.
‘I love Johannes, but he is not good enough to be a tv presenter,’ Cathal Haughey added.
Ness agreed: ‘Nah, he’s a dancer, and a good one. Leave the presenting to someone else.’
A source previously revealed to the publication that former Big Brother host Emma, 50, was the favourite to take over hosting.
‘She’s incredibly popular with the public too and will suit the role down to a tee. She was absolutely thrilled to have been offered the job,’ they said.
Claiming she plans to accept the offer, the source concluded: ‘Strictly is one of the biggest shows on television and to be trusted with the new era is something Emma feels incredibly proud and humbled by.’
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.’
It Takes Two star Zoe confirmed on Monday that she hadn’t landed the job, explaining she is still ‘working through the seven stages of grief and rejection’.
While on her Dig It podcast she told Jo Whiley she ‘didn’t get it’ but was ‘thrilled’ for the new hosts if [it’s] who I think has got it’.
The 55-year-old radio icon added: ‘I was so chuffed to even be in the mix. There were some pretty amazing people who didn’t even make it into the mix.
‘So I made it in the mix, and I had a really fun time having one last little play at a show that I love and adore. And I’m so thrilled for the gang that has got it.
‘I think there’s been so many eyes on this whole process, everyone’s quite relieved now that a decision has been made and the right decision has been made.’
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