John Whaite opens up on falling for dance partner Johannes Radebe and ‘p***ing all over’ his relationship with fiancé Paul Atkins: ‘Strictly has a magical way of revealing the truth’

John Whaite has opened up about his fall for his dance partner Johannes Radebe during his stint on Strictly Come Dancing.

The Great British Bake Off star, 34, teamed up with the professional dancer, 36, during the 2021 series and said he almost fell victim to the show’s famous curse.

They were the first ever male same-sex couple on the show and made it to the final two, before being defeated by Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice.

In a candid interview with The timesJohn shared how he “fell in love” with Johannes while engaged to his partner of 15 years, Paul Atkins.

He said the couple had “split for a while” after he revealed his feelings for the South African dancer.

Confession: In a candid interview with The Times, John shared how he “fell in love” with Johannes while engaged to his partner of 15 years, Paul Atkins (John and Paul pictured)

Relationship: The Great British Bake Off star, 34, teamed up with the professional dancer, 36, during the 2021 series and said he nearly fell victim to the show’s famous curse

In excerpts from his forthcoming memoir, Dancing on Eggshells, obtained by The sunJohn describes the depth of his feelings for Johannes.

He describes feeling a “sense of loss” after finishing Strictly because he wouldn’t see Johannes every day anymore and said he “wanted to be close to him.”

He said: ‘After that last dance, I hung up my clothes for the last time. I felt a sense of loss.

‘Not because the competition was over, I was dead tired and needed a break, but because I wouldn’t see Johannes every day.

“I watched him as he sat on the dressing room windowsill drinking a glass of champagne, still sparkling in his bright white show-dancing outfit.

“I envied the beads of sweat glistening on his beautiful skin. I wanted to be close to him… We hugged goodbye, I didn’t want to let go.”

Speaking of the infamous Strictly curse, John added, “John knew (the curse) could happen. He had seen it a thousand times over the years with his dance mates.

“When you’re physically pressed against another man for ten hours a day, things move emotionally… He was careful. Strictly has a magical way of revealing the truth.”

Falling for him: In excerpts from his forthcoming memoir, Dancing on Eggshells, obtained by The Sun, John describes the depth of his feelings for Johannes

Bond: He describes feeling a ‘sense of loss’ after Strictly finished as he wouldn’t be seeing Johannes every day anymore and said he ‘wanted to be close to him’

Discussing his relationship with his fiancee in the aftermath, he recalled, “Paul and I had to be apart for a while. I felt like I no longer knew what I wanted with my existence.

“Paul had gone back to his parents and I thought to myself, ‘What the hell are you doing?’ I fulfilled the premonition from my childhood that I would grow old alone.

“Fourteen years in a solid relationship with a man who loves me unconditionally, a man who would move the earth to make me feel safe, and I was all pissed off about it.”

However, John has said the couple managed to put the issue behind them as they didn’t want to throw away the history they had together.

MailOnline has contacted Johannes Radebe’s representatives for comment.

John previously admitted that he “still loves Johannes,” but said he believes regular contact would be disrespectful to his partner.

He said, ‘I still love him, of course I do. I can’t speak for him – because I’m not legally allowed to – but it felt like there was love.

“We had such similar stories growing up — the homophobia, the bullying, the coming out, coming to terms with our sexuality — like any queer kid would.”

Tested: John and Paul ‘spent some time apart’ after he revealed his feelings towards the South African dancer, but have managed to put the issue behind them

Complicated: John previously admitted he ‘still loves John’ but said he believes regular contact would be disrespectful to his partner

John confessed that although he and Johannes still speak occasionally, he would be willing to end their friendship if Paul started to struggle.

He said, “I love him dearly and I adore the ground he walks on, but I have to bear in mind that there is more to this than just my own desires and whether it would be difficult for Paul to interact with Johannes, then it is a sacrifice I must make.’

In addition to the revelations about Johannes, John shared how he was not always faithful to Paul after he won Bake Off in 2012 and was catapulted to fame.

He said there was “drunken fondling and experimentation with various soap stars and celebrities” at the time – while he had been with Paul for five years.

John added that he was “testing the limits of their relationship after he got a little carried away with everything.”

He said the fame was unexpected and saw him showered with “free gifts, champagne baskets, dining out, vacations, red carpets, parties and a six-figure book deal.”

After rekindling their romance, John shared an amorous post dedicated to Paul last summer, detailing their “complicated” relationship.

The caption read: “Relationships are complicated—the relationships we have with ourselves, and the relationships we share with others.

Infidelity: In addition to the revelations about Johannes, John shared how he wasn’t always faithful to Paul after winning Bake Off in 2012 and being catapulted to fame

Caught up: John added that he was “testing the limits” of their relationship after he got “somewhat carried away with everything”

It is not a blissful amalgamation of freedoms, but rather an intricate exchange of experiences, both joyful and painful.

“We learn more about ourselves daily, if not hourly, and those lessons help us grow.”

John continued, “After fourteen years, I am blessed to have this man in my life, and how we define what we have is ours alone.

“So enjoy the work we both share publicly, but please respect that we all have a sacred and precious right to privacy.”