Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe gained weight since landing new job on show
Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe is fronting the BBC show alongside Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe after eight years as a pro on the programme.
Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe has gained weight since landing the show's hotly contested host role.
The 39-year-old star is fronting the BBC Latin and Ballroom dance competition alongside Emma Willis, 50, and Josh Widdicombe, 43, after eight years as a pro on the programme, and Johannes has seen a change in his physique since switching jobs.
He told the new issue of Radio Times magazine: "Strictly is gruelling and demanding.
"By the time you reach week nine, you are in the best shape of your life. You have the best body.
"I've already put on a few pounds! If anyone had any idea of what it takes to do Strictly..."
The choreographer, who "won't be dancing as much this series", is a beloved star of Strictly Come Dancing.
Emma said: "Try walking around with Jojo. We get stopped at every pace.
"It's like walking around with Brad Pitt."
Emma and Johannes had met previously as they were partnered up when she tried out to compete on Strictly Come Dancing.
In 2022, the former Big Brother host and her 43-year-old husband, Busted member Matt Willis, went in for a day's test dancing in the hope of competing against one another.
Emma had been desperate to compete for years but added to The Sunday Times Style magazine: "We could never make the timings work, and I didn’t even know if I could dance."
She added: "So when I went in for the chemistry audition, and he walked into the room, it was like, oh my God, because you had absolutely no idea who was going to be there."
Emma had never met Josh until the chemistry audition, and they posed for a picture so they could look back one day on how close they had come to getting the hosting jobs.
She recalled: "Josh said, 'This is bonkers. We’ve got to take a picture so in future, when it doesn’t happen, we can go, 'Remember?'
"I’m so glad he took that picture."
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday (19.09.26) when Emma, Josh and Johannes introduce the 2026 contestants to their professional partners on the launch show.
Taking part are EastEnders icon Lacey Turner, 38, Neighbours alum Delta Goodrem, 41, Love Island alums Cach Mercer, 25, and 30-year-old Dani Dyer - who withdrew last year due to an ankle injury - and 43-year-old celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton.
Big Brother host Will Best, 41, Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, 48, Babs actress Jaime Winstone, 41, football player-turned-pundit Shaun Wright-Phillips, 44, and House of the Dragon's Bethany Antonia, 28, are also taking to the dance floor.
Completing the line-up are dog trainer Graeme Hall, 60, Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, 34, Olympic skeleton gold medallist Tabby Stoecker, 25, YouTube star John Nellis, 33, and 64-year-old Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters.
The live competition format kicks off the following week, Saturday, September 26.
However, the first results show, and elimination will not air until Sunday, October 4, and it has been confirmed that the winners of this year's Glitterball Trophy will be revealed on Saturday, December 19.
