Johannes Radebe brings a stronger South African presence to Strictly's new era

Johannes Radebe's move from the Strictly Come Dancing floor to its presenting team is about to become much more visible to South African viewers.

The 24th season of the BBC entertainment format reaches BBC BRIT on DStv Channel 120 on Sunday, 27 September at 19:00 SAST, with the Free State-born dancer now part of the programme's first three-person hosting team alongside Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe.

A stronger South African presence

Radebe's appointment itself was announced in May, but the South African broadcast brings a new local angle: he is not the only South African presence in the refreshed series. Judge Motsi Mabuse remains on the panel, while Latin dancer Lethabo Monametsi joins the professional line-up.

That makes the new season unusually South African for one of British television's most established entertainment franchises.

Radebe, who grew up in Zamdela near Sasolburg, joined the UK edition of Strictly as a professional dancer in 2018 after building his career through dance teaching, competitive Latin dancing and performance work. He has since expanded beyond the ballroom, including theatre work as Lola in Kinky Boots.

From the floor to the presenting desk

His new job changes his position in the programme without ending his connection to dance. The BBC announced Radebe, Willis and Widdicombe as the successors to long-time presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, creating a three-host arrangement for the first time in the show's history.

For South African audiences, the shift also puts a locally born performer at the centre of the format rather than only on its competition floor.

BBC Studios Africa has leaned into that connection ahead of the local premiere. Pierre Cloete, Vice President for Africa at BBC Studios, highlighted Radebe, Mabuse and Monametsi as an additional reason for South African viewers to follow the new season.

Monametsi joins the professional line-up

Monametsi's arrival adds another layer to that story. The South African Latin champion discovered dance through South Africa's own version of Strictly Come Dancing before going on to win Dance Yo Dumo and establish an international career. She is one of five new professional dancers joining the 2026 line-up.

Radebe has also indicated that his new presenting role will not mean abandoning performance. Although he is no longer competing with a celebrity partner, he has said he intends to keep dancing as part of the wider Strictly universe.

When to watch

The 2026 season therefore lands in South Africa as more than a routine international television return. It places three South African dance figures across presenting, judging and the professional cast of a major global entertainment format.

Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC BRIT, DStv Channel 120, from Sunday, 27 September at 19:00 SAST.