14 August 2023 , 15:14
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John Whaite and his partner of 15 years split and spent some time mulling things over after his Strictly dancefloor turn, but it seems to have helped bring them even closer.
Paul Atkins and the Strictly Come Dancing star - who was paired up on last year's show with Johannes Radebe - has been open about his romance, revealing he fell “in love” with the pro dancer. John, who met fiancé Paul on Facebook in 2008, admitted that "growing apart" actually made the pair stronger.
John nearly fell victim to the so-called show "curse", after falling for Johannes after competing as the first ever male same-sex pairing. Those who have found themselves linked to the "curse" include Louise Redknapp as well as Seann Walsh and Katya Jones, with 14 splits over the course of 20 series.
John revealed that after Strictly, Paul moved back in with his parents while he sat “on the patio, drinking bottle after bottle of sauvignon blanc". But the pair got back on track and they are now preparing to get married.
John and Johannes Radebe grew close on the BBC programme (INSTAGRAM)
The contestant and Paul spent some time apart after the show (john_whaite/Instagram)The 34-year-old and his South African reached the final but were beaten by Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice. Now, the presenter has revealed how he "still loves" Johannes and how he nearly found himself on the long list of those whose love life has suffered after jumping into the sequins.
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Opening up about what happened, the reality star told The Times: "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." John said he had "so much in common" with Johannes, who joined Strictly back in 2018.
He went on: "We had such similar stories growing up - the homophobia, the bullying, coming out, coming to terms with our sexuality, as any queer kid would. I still love Johannes. Of course I do."
The Great British Bake Off star was open with his partner Paul from the beginning, saying he "deserved to understand how I was feeling". In the aftermath of the competition, his other half moved back in with his parents and John said he "sat on the patio, drinking bottle after bottle of sauvignon blanc". He and Johannes now only speak occasionally.
The heat was there for all to see on the dancefloor (BBC)John added: "I love him to bits and I worship the ground he walks on, but I have to be mindful that there's more than my own desires to consider here and if it would be tricky for Paul for me to be in contact with Johannes, then it's a sacrifice that I have to make."
Despite what happens, they are stronger than ever. It's helped by aa special rule in the bedroom which strengthens his relationship with his partner. He also revealed he expressed concerns to his boyfriend before accepting the offer to dance in a same-sex couple on the show.
During an appearance on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch earlier this year, John was debating pet peeves in relationships with host Steph McGovern and Vogue Williams, when Steph asked the chef if he liked to cuddle with Paul, who he has been engaged to since 2017.
"Who?" he quipped, before adding, "No we've just started a new rule that our phone chargers have to be at the other end of the bedroom. In the morning, you don't go to your phone, you have to cuddle each other." Admitting it wasn't working, he added: "It is slowly dying out, it's not really working."
"When I first got with Paul, we were quite intertwined and enmeshed and nowadays we've kind of grown apart more and become more independent in ourselves and I think it's kind of strengthening the relationship, I think and I hope."