14 August 2023 , 08:07
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A Strictly Come Dancing star has admitted he split from his fiancé after 'falling in love' with his professional partner on the show.
Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite, 34, made history in 2021 when he and Johannes Radebe, 36, became the first same-sex couple to take to the dance floor. John has now revealed he developed feelings for the South African while on Strictly, saying he and his partner of 15 years, Paul Atkins, "spent time apart" after the series ended.
Opening up about his experience, he said: "I fell in love with him [Johannes]. I can't speak for him – because I'm not allowed to, legally – but it felt like there was love there. We had such similar stories growing up; the homophobia, the bullying, coming out, coming to terms with our sexuality, as any queer kid would." John then stated: "I still love Johannes. Of course I do."
John Whaite made history in 2021 when he and Johannes Radebe became the first same-sex couple to take to the dance floor (BBC/Guy Levy)
The Great British Bake off star revealed he called it quits with his fiancé after 'falling in love' with Johannes (BBC)After he left the show, John said he spent "some time apart" from Paul, who moved back in with his parents while John "sat on the patio, drinking bottle after bottle of sauvignon blanc", reports The Times.
However, the couple patched up their differences and are now engaged, with the baker sharing: "I look at Paul and what he’s put up with over the years and how he’s nurtured me and stood by me, and who would throw that away? I couldn’t."
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John revealed he and Johannes still keep in touch, but insisted he would "cut all contact" if it became "tricky" for Paul. Concluding he loves his fiancé "to bits", he conceded he has to be 'mindful there are more than just his feelings to consider in the relationship".
John said he would 'cut all contact' with Johannes if it became 'tricky' for Paul (INSTAGRAM)Many couples have fallen victim to the so-called 'Strictly curse' over the years as celebrities spend several weeks with their professional partner in the studio and on the dance floor.
Over the course of 20 series of the BBC favourite, 14 couples have split up after strutting their stuff on the show. After winning the Glitterball in 2018, journalist Stacey Dooley split from her long-term boyfriend of five years, Sam Tucknott, just months after the show finished. She and Strictly pro Kevin Clifton are still going strong and became proud parents to daughter Minnie in January.
Maenwhile, Katya Jones was married to fellow dancer Neil Jones before she was seen snogging her dance partner Seann Walsh, who was at the time dating actress Rebecca Humphries. Although Seann and Katya apologised and said it was a “drunken mistake”, the comedian was publicly dumped by Rebecca on social media and Katya and Neil parted ways in 2019.