Jojo: Finally Home - My Inspirational Memoir - THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER (2023)

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In 2022, he choreographed the West End-themed Rusical on RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs the World. [8] Series Radebe was born in Zamdela. [3] He is gay and has spoken out about the homophobic bullying he received as a child. [4] He and his sister attended a dance school in their local area. [5] At the age of 11, he was offered dance training in Gauteng province, and he attended secondary school in the Johannesburg suburb of Ennerdale. [3] Career [ edit ]

Strictly is generally such a love-in, but inevitably Radebe encounters trolls. Especially after he performed one routine in three-inch heels: “I had to stop social media,” he says. “What took me by surprise was it was messages from mums.” Telling him he shouldn’t be dancing with a man? “Saying it’s disgusting. And you can imagine what makes me sad – they have kids.” You mean, what if their child also wants to wear a sequinned tailcoat one day? Radebe laughs. “Of course it’s amplified by social media. If those women were standing in front of you, would they say those things to your face? I choose to respond to them in my actions,” he says. “Freedom Unleashed is my response. There’s no shame here. The world will adjust.” There was also a stunning Argentine Tango with dancer Ben Rutter, which was a real highlight of the evening. Read more: Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe: 'I could relocate to Birmingham - I'm looking for a mortgage'

Johannes Radebe’s House of Jojo 2024 UK tour dates:

Radebe also takes the mic and proves a charming MC, telling his story from post-apartheid Zamdela to 2020s London, thanking many of the people who helped get him here, and appealing for freedom for everyone to be able to be who they are, not just pointing out there are 70 countries in the world where homosexuality is still illegal, but then sweeping on stage in an outfit of gold shimmer with a flowing train made of flags from those countries. The politics is heartfelt, the delivery inspired. As the performance closed, we were all on our feet. I glanced around the auditorium and couldn't see a single person still seated. The applause was deafening and went on for longer than I've ever heard at a theatre show. I was grinning ear to ear (as was Mum). We left that night, arm in arm, chatting about our favourite bits (all of it, if we're honest) and how we'd see the entire performance again in a heartbeat. While I live in Birmingham, Mum lives down in Gloucestershire, not far from Swindon in Wiltshire where the next performance is showing on Wednesday, April 13. Now there's an idea... For series 19, he was partnered with chef, John Whaite. They are the first male same-sex pairing in the history of the UK format. The couple reached the final, where they finished as Runners-Up to winners Rose Ayling-Ellis, and her partner Giovanni Pernice.

In between sets he would break to chat to the audience, often interrupted by screams of 'we love you!' from enthusiastic fans - which he adored. He seemed overwhelmed and emotional throughout the show, which was really sweet to see. You can easily tell Johannes is completely genuine. Jojo: Finally Home is his never-before-told story, where he shares the experiences and challenges he's faced - from growing up in Zamdela, a township in South Africa, as a young boy with a passion for dance (and playing with Barbies), to becoming the star he is today. Dance transformed Jojo's future, giving him a tool to express himself - but as you will learn, this was not always easy. In person, Radebe has bright smiling eyes and his magnanimous warmth is contagious. Comedian Ellie Taylor, his most recent Strictly partner, tells me that “the absolute delight he takes in movement and the sheer happiness you can see it brings him is so obvious it’s impossible not to share in that”. Taylor brims with praise for Radebe, for everything from his sense of style (“He turns up dressed like an absolute king every day even if he’s just sitting in a taxi and going to rehearsals”) to his sweet nature and dedication. “His talent and his hard work are endless.”

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I hope this book spreads joy and brings a message of hope to anyone who reads it. May it leave you with many experiences and feeling exhilarated at the end. Let it activate the spirit of empathy, love and compassion towards one another. Love Jojo.” Finally Home is his never-before-told story, where he shares the experiences and challenges he's faced - from growing up in Zamdela, a township in South Africa, as a young boy with a passion for dance (and playing with Barbies), to becoming the star he is today. Dance transformed Jojo's future, giving him a tool to express himself - but as you will learn, this was not always easy. That aside we find out about his upbringing and the challenges he faced especially with his sexuality and his liking as a child for Barbie dolls and it started his love of fashion and expressing himself. Throughout the highs and lows and being bullied for being different, I am glad that his mother and sister have always championed him. With sheer hard work that often meant being away from home with very little to survive and through blood, sweat and tears he is the person he is today without having to hide.