John Whaite reveals he & fiancé took a break after he fell in love with ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ partner
Strictly Come Dancing was featuring its first-ever gay male couple.In its 19th season, the U.K. series—which directly inspired Dancing With The Stars—made history by enlisting former The Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite to compete with out professional dancer Johannes Radebe.The pair was a force to be reckoned with, turning out countless memorable dance routines (we’re still drying our tears from their performance to Adele’s “Hometown Glory”).
And though they ultimately placed second—behind Eastenders‘ Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice—they had won over fans of the show.But what we saw on the dance floor?
Oh, honey, that was only half the story.Speaking with The Times in support of his new memoir, Dancing On Eggshells: Kitchen, Ballroom & The Messy Inbetween, Waithe opens up about the intense connection he had with Strictly‘s Radebe, revealing there was far more going on there than just in-sync dance steps:“I fell in love with him,” Whaite shares. “I can’t speak for him—because I’m not allowed to, legally—but it felt like there was love there.”Of course, rehearsals for the show meant the two spent a lot of quality time together, and there are very few disciplines where professional partners have to get as intimate as they do in ballroom dance.
But the baker also feels he and Radebe come from similar backgrounds, and sensed a “a beautiful symmetry” in their lives.A former Great British Baking Show winner is earning praise for his turn on the UK’s version of Dancing With The Stars.Now, this wouldn’t be the first time reality TV contestants fell for each other—U.S.
