Strictly Come Dancing star Montell Douglas gushes over 'man I never knew I needed'

Strictly Come Dancing's Montell Douglas has opened up about the new man in her life, whom she "never knew" she needed.

In the latest issue of Closer, Montell gushed about her Strictly partner, Johannes Radebe, a South African dancer who secured his first dance partner on the BBC show in the form of Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley in 2019.

In 2022, he partnered up with actor Ellie Taylor, exiting the contest in week 10, before working with tennis star Annabel Croft in 2023, and now with Montell, a Gladiator and former Olympian, for the 2024 season.

It would appear that Montell is pleased with her dance partner, describing the new friendship as "lovely".

Montell said: "He's the man I never knew I needed in my life! It's been lovely; the friendship we have and the banter, it helps in the training room when we're laughing at each other, at ourselves.

"When things aren't clicking and you feel frustrated, we just have a laugh. I feel really honoured and grateful; every moment I'm just like, 'OK, this is the best feeling'. "

Last weekend, Montell ended up in the dreaded dance-off against Wynne Evans, despite landing a respectable score of 35 and securing fourth position.

Taking to the floor to perform a Salsa to Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way', Montell managed to fend off her Strictly rival, who was eventually voted off.

However, the mere fact that Montell was even in the dance-off prompted viewers to share their frustrations. One said: "Montell is a fabulous dancer. She should never be in any dance-off."

Meanwhile, another weighed in: "It might not have been Montell's strongest dance, but her and Johannes absolutely do not deserve to be in the dance off."

In week nine of the show, which was broadcast from the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, the pros danced to a medley of tracks by the Pet Shop Boys, who performed live.

After Montell performed her routine, Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse dubbed her "the biggest showgirl" and called her performance "fantastic", yet fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood was not as complimentary.

He said her torso was "disengaged", while a specific turn looked "ugly". But It would be reality star Pete Wicks who landed bottom of the leaderboard, following his performance to I’m Too Sexy by Right Said Fred.