Strictly’s Johannes ‘drops huge hint he clashed with past dance partners’ after exit

is waltzing back onto the ballroom dance floor this year with , following his success with Annabel Croft. However, the dancer faced disappointment when he and Ellie Taylor were eliminated early from the competition in 2022.

And while the pair struck up a close bond during their time in the competition together, Johannes has hinted at past struggles with celebrity partners in a revealing interview while appearing on It Takes Two.

The professional dancer, from South Africa, is known for his close bond with comedian Ellie. However, body language expert Judi James noted Johannes’ subtle hints about previous conflicts with celebrities from past seasons.

Since joining the show in 2018, Johannes has been paired with Catherine Tyldesley, Caroline Quentin and John Whaite, and while he didn’t specify who he was referring to, he suggested there had been issues in previous series. Judi analysed his clues, suggesting that the glitz and glamour of the glitterball may hide a different reality behind the scenes.

Strictly’s golden rule is that professional dancers always speak highly of their celebrity partners, regardless of any diva-like behaviour they may have endured. Anton Du Beke was the first to break this rule, humorously recalling difficulties with past celebrity partners.

Even the most patient and kind-hearted professional dancer has shown a hint of his frustration with a subtle body language gesture to the camera, suggesting he’s faced some challenges himself.

There’s no doubt that Johannes and Ellie have developed a strong and affectionate friendship this season. Even as Ellie shed ‘happy tears’ over her departure, Johannes was there with a sparkly box of tissues, even offering to wipe them away himself.

He told Janette that his highlight of the season ‘would be her’, and his own tears seemed genuine as he looked up and to his left to prevent them from falling, unlike those who fake tears by looking down to induce them.

However, Johannes’s ‘tell’ came when he said, ‘Not once have I had to chat to my therapist’, a veiled dig at previous partners.

Despite his emotional display, Johannes then made a humorous tie-sign gesture directly to the cameras and viewers at home, rolling his eyes and pursing his lips before offering a small, knowing smile, suggesting he could reveal more but chose not to. Ellie burst into laughter, indicating she knew who he was referring to, and the camera quickly cut to Janette’s face and away from Johannes.

Johannes’s pleasant demeanour should hopefully spare him from being paired with the most challenging celebrity contestants in future seasons, unlike poor Anton.

He had a chance of winning with Ellie but he must be allowed to stay at that level or higher and his hint-dropping could be a pre-emptive strike against getting paired with the ones with the big names but smallest amounts of talent on future shows.