Strictly's Johannes Radebe reveals why he could not celebrate winning latest dance-off

The pro-dancer and Gladiators star Montell Douglas beat Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin to stay in the competition - which made them sad.

Johannes Radebe and Montell Douglas were saved in the latest Strictly dance off. (BBC)
Johannes Radebe and Montell Douglas were saved in the latest Strictly dance off. (BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe says he was unable to celebrate winning the latest dance-off with Montell Douglas.

The Gladiators star and her professional partner were saved by the judges after landing in the bottom two against Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin during Icons Week. But the pair admitted their victory was bittersweet as it was so sad to see their rivals go home, who they believed did not deserve to leave so soon.

Strictly Come Dancing Icons Week saw Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe face Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin in the bottom two. (BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing Icons Week saw Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe face Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin in the bottom two. (BBC)

Radebe and Douglas appeared on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two on Tuesday, 5 November, to chat to host Fleur East about staying in the competition. Quek and Kuzmin became the sixth couple to be voted off Strictly 2024 in Icons Week on Saturday, 2 November.

The pair scored 29 with their Icons Week American smooth to Taylor Swift’s Love Story. Pete Wicks and his partner Jowita Przystal escaped the bottom two, despite scoring just 22 with their performance to Another One Bites The Dust by Queen on Saturday.

Douglas told East on the BBC Two show: "We were so gutted to be in the bottom two. It was a really sad moment, thinking that that could be the last time that we get to dance with each other and it starts to hit home. You're like, 'No, I don't want it to end yet!'

It was an emotional goodbye on Strictly. (BBC)
It was an emotional goodbye on Strictly. (BBC)

"You just never know, isn't it? And I think that's how you should treat. And I said to Montel walking into this position first up, I said, 'Baby, take it week by week and give it your all every single week because you just never know.'

"Maybe people thought we were safe. You know, people at home said, 'Oh, no, they're safe because they were so high on the leader board.' And then, obviously, you know, those were at the bottom were, like, voted for because they needed saving. I get that, absolutely. But it is wild.

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing

"And I think that is a thing, when when they saved us, we couldn't celebrate in that moment because I know Montel was just like 'Nikita and Sam!' Because I do believe that Nikita and Sam had come a long way in this competition as well, and they're the most improved contestants. And it was sad. It was really, really sad."

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Strictly Come Dancing's Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola will be dancing to M People's Proud. (BBC)

Miranda star Sarah Hadland revealed how she came up with the idea for her Heather Small-inspired positive affirmation skit in the hit sitcom. The actor is perhaps best known for playing Miranda Hart's best friend Stevie in the comedy, who would famously brandish a cardboard cutout of M People's Heather Small on a stick and sing "What have you done today to make you feel proud?"

This week Hadland and her pro partner Vito Coppola will dance the American Smooth to Proud by Heather Small.

Hadland explained: "When I very first met Miranda when I auditioned to be on Miranda, they sent us away for a couple of days with a camcorder to just build a bit of a rapport and see what happened. And I was just wandering around, and as I do, I sort of suddenly sang 'What have you done today?' Just like I do suddenly random sing bits of songs, and she wrote it down and went,' Oh, I think we should make that a thing.' And that's how it began."

She added: "And also I was explaining to Vito that they play it at the Olympics. They play it at the end of the marathon, which, of course, I've run twice. And they play it at the end. And the first time I did it, I thought, 'Oh, how did they know they're playing it for me?' And then, obviously I realise they do it every year!"

Strictly: It Takes Two airs on BBC Two at 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One at 6.35pm on Saturday.