HE rose from humble origins in South Africa and endured years of homophobic bullying in school before becoming a Strictly Come Dancing favourite.

5

Johannes Radebe rose from humble origins in South AfricaCredit: BBC

5

He endured years of homophobic bullying in school before becoming a Strictly Come Dancing favouriteCredit: Getty

5

Johannes reached the final with chef John Whaite in 2021Credit: Getty

5

John and Johannes lost out to ex-EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni PerniceCredit: Splash
The South African pro was persuaded to stay on the show this year despite a busy schedule that saw him making his biopic and touring the nation with musical Kinky Boots.

I exclusively revealed two years ago how Johannes’ life story, based on his autobiography, Jojo: Finally Home, was under way.

This week, he said: “It’s a ‘pinch me’ moment.

“The beginning stages are happening now and BBC Films have just jumped on board too.

“It simply means that my people, who helped me get where I am, are worthy and they can dream because I know where they come from.

“There are a lack of role models and they feel like they can’t achieve anything but I hope this is like a beacon of light for them to say all of you contributed to me and my success is your success.”

Johannes joined Strictly in 2018.

In 2021 he reached the final with chef John Whaite, where they lost out to ex-EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice.

Strictly’s Johannes Radebe heartbroken as family are BANNED from entering country and miss his big opening night of show

NEW TAKE ON PUB BOMBING

THE team behind BBC’s Line Of Duty are planning a drama about the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings.

Simon Heath, who heads up World Productions, believes it’s time viewers learnt more about the 21 victims of the IRA attack.

Six men from Northern Ireland served 16 years in prison after being wrongly convicted for the bombing in 1975.

They became known as the Birmingham Six.

The new drama will focus on the lives of the victims and their loved ones who have campaigned for justice.

Brummie Simon said: “Everyone knows about the Birmingham Six, but the families of the 21 victims still don’t know who planted the bombs.

“They don’t get the publicity they deserve. But there’s a script and we’re going to try.

“I just want to support the city.

“I don’t think it has had a fair crack of the whip.”

LARRY LAMB says his turn as Mick Shipman in Gavin & Stacey: The Finale will likely be his last on the box.

The actor said he would consider taking on small stage parts “to keep my face in” but insisted that he’s happy to let others perform the “bigger roles” and head into retirement.

NATURE’S CALLING DOUGIE

SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters ended up being far more than just another TV job for Dougie Poynter.

The ITV series, which starts tonight at 9pm, follows celebs as they take to treacherous waters off Bimini in the Bahamas.

Facing the beasts has changed the McFly and I’m A Celeb winner forever.

He said: “I came back and it hit me so hard that I’m not still out there doing it. I think I want to do nature stuff for the rest of my life, in any sort of capacity.

“Any trip I do or TV show, I hope it has a nature element in it, because that’s what I’m happy doing.

“I feel connected to what we actually are, just creatures of Earth, without sounding cheesy.

“I’m sharing the planet with all these other things that are way more fascinating than myself.”

CILLIAN’S DREAM

CILLIAN MURPHY swapped the brutality of Peaky Blinders for a children’s animation, so his kids have the chance to enjoy his work.

The actor, best known as Tommy Shelby in the gritty saga, lends his voice to play Dad in Kensuke’s Kingdom.

Cillian said: “I had read Kensuke’s Kingdom to my boys when they were little and they were enthralled by it.

“I wanted to be involved in the film version so they could see it, and also because I don’t really make that many films for kids.”

An adaptation of Michael Morpugo’s book, follows a young boy who is shipwrecked on a remote island after falling overboard during a family sailing trip.

He discovers he’s not alone when he encounters Kensuke, a former Japanese soldier who has lived there since World War Two.

It lands on the BBC next month.

LONG-RUNNING Aussie soap Neighbours filmed its last ever scenes on Friday after being scrapped for a second time.

Amazon Freevee picked up the teatime favourite from Channel 5 but weren’t happy with its ratings.

The closing chapter will air in December.