BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe addresses claims he's quitting and says 'as long as'

Strictly Come Dancing enthusiasts were stunned by rumours suggesting a beloved dancer might exit the show after a six-year stint - but thankfully the star has debunked these claims as "lies" on social media. Johannes Radebe, 37, who became part of the Strictly family in 2018 and is currently teamed up with Montell Douglas on the hit BBC show, addressed the speculation with an Instagram video.

He told fans: "I'm not going nowhere. I love @bbcstrictly and I want to do this beautiful show for as long as they want me and the body will allow it. I have Kinky Boots and other work in the pipeline, yes but nothing will take me away."

In his post, Johannes is seen singing "I'm not going anywhere," before exclaiming: "It's a lie! Liza Minelli lie!" He's then joined by Montell, and as they start dancing, he yells out: "Why they tell lies about me!"

Read more Strictly Come Dancing fans threaten boycott after five dancers 'set to be axed'

Read more Strictly star Shayne Ward in huge blow ahead of live show as pro says 'tricky'

His fellow Strictly pros showed their support, with Gorka Marquez responding with a string of laughing and clapping emojis, while Carlos Gu commented: "Liza's lie, I love it!"

Reports yesterday also claimed that bosses are looking to replace five professional dancers on the show. Reports suggested that Nadiya Bychkova, 35, Neil Jones, 42, Karen Hauer, 42, Gorka Marquez, 34, and Katya Jones, 35, could all face the chop - igniting an ageism dispute.

The five dancers, who are among viewer's favourites, have competed for years on the hit BBC show. Fans were incensed with the shocking claims and said that the series 'wouldn't last much longer'.

Strictly Come Dancing has been hit with another setback as professional dancer Amy Dowden was forced to withdraw from the show due to a stress fracture in her foot. The star, who had to miss the 2023 series while undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, was paired with JLS's JB Gill, who will now continue in the competition with Lauren Oakley.

Expressing her disappointment on social media, Amy penned: "My heart is breaking right now. The past few months I finally felt like me again. Cancer was no longer the first thing I thought of when I woke up. It was choreography, music choices, which dances in which order, what we needed to work on.

"I felt free again. My goal since hearing those words you have cancer was to get back on the strictly dance floor. It's been such a challenge to get back, one I devoted 2024 too."