Johannes Radebe has been left gutted after his family were banned from entering the United Kingdom. The Strictly Come Dancing professional has opened up about his close family members being unable to attend his opening tour night.
He revealed during the opening night of his show that his family’s trip to the UK had been delayed due to “visa issues.” According to The Sun, he emotionally told the audience: “I was hoping that they were going to be here this evening, but [they can’t] because of visa issues.”
It is also reported that he hopes that his mother Jacobeth and his siblings would be able to attend a later show on his tour, House of JoJo, once their Visas are approved.
Johannes has previously mentioned his struggles growing up in South Africa. In his memoir, he detailed how he faced prejudice for choosing to follow his dreams.
Whilst getting emotional on stage, he continued: “Don’t even start. But it’s fine, she’ll make it to Liverpool.”
His Strictly celebrity partner, Annabel Croft, also attended the performance at the London Palladium as a guest and praised him during his opening solo show. She said: “Thank you so much for the honour to dance with your here at the Palladium.”
The pair previously bonded over their grief whilst competiting on the BBC dance competition. Annabel was previously married to Mel Coleman for 36 years before he sadly died in May last year.
Meanwhile, Johannes was struggling after he lost his cousin to suicide prior to the 2023 series. Annabel later shared that she was “sinking” before she signed up for Strictly Come Dancing and that it had since become her “saviour.”
Speaking to The Sun, she admitted: “It’s very healing. It has been my saviour. I would be sinking or crawling under a rock at home. I’m not quite sure where I would be mentally if I hadn’t had this to be focusing on and giving me a purpose to get out of bed.”
Mel, who was aged 60, when he died in May last year, was a professional yachtsman and investment banker who married Annabel in 1993. The couple share three children; Amber Rose, Lily and Charlie.
