Strictly star Johannes Radebe admitted he’s been a ‘blubbering mess’ for the last three dance-offs, as he revealed he’s ‘never pushed anyone harder’ than Montell Douglas.
The professional dancer, 37, appeared on Wednesday’s episode of Loose Women alongside his celeb partner and former Gladiator, 38.
Montell has only just made it to the quarter finals after ending up in the dance-off last weekend with Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas – with her and Johannes being saved by the judges.
Panellist Christine Lampard asked the duo: ‘How do you feel now with the whole dreaded dance-off experience? How do you approach it now? I think weirdly you don’t want to be there but it slightly helps for the next time?’
Montell admitted: ‘It does get easier but I think mindset for sure comes in straight away. He always jokes that I’m coaching through the dance-offs like come on we’ve got this, we can do this.’
Jumping in, Johannes candidly confessed: ‘I’m gonna be honest I have been a blubbering mess for the past three dance-off’s and this woman here has been like “It’s not over!”
Strictly star Johannes Radebe admitted he’s been a ‘blubbering mess’ for the last three dance-offs, as he revealed he’s ‘never pushed anyone harder’ than Montell Douglas
Montell has only just made it to the quarter finals after ending up in the dance off last weekend with Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas – with her and Johannes being saved by the judges
He heartwarmingly added that being in the bottom two makes her feel like he’s ‘let her down’.
‘This is not my first rodeo,’ the dancer explained, ‘I’ve never pushed somebody like I’ve pushed Montell. But it’s not that, it’s how she’s pushed me as a trainer. I find myself going (breathing heavily) and she’s going: “Again!’
He gushed: ‘I’ve never had that but that is why I believe that I’ve got a champion in my hands so that is lovely.’
During her appearance on the ITV show, the Team GB athlete also lifted the lid on her hidden health condition that regularly leaves her in ‘agonising pain’.
Montell suffers from dysmenorrhoea – extremely heavy and painful periods which have previously left her hospitalised.
She explained to the panel: ‘It’s really difficult because it’s something that especially more recently I have spoken about it more, because like many others, it was always just normal for me.
‘I remember being on the track doubled up in pain and just thinking that it was normal that I just had to carry on.
‘It was only when someone was like “No, it’s not, you know you can say” that I sought advice and started speaking about it.’
She added: ‘It’s something that you’re challenged with and a bit like this [Strictly]. I’ve got to deal with these heels and I’ve got to deal with that but it is tough when you’re learning things that are brand new and you’ve got other stuff going on and the focus is slightly different.’
Jumping in, Johannes candidly confessed: ‘I’m gonna be honest I have been a blubbering mess for the past three dance-off’s and this woman here has been like “It’s not over!”‘
He heartwarmingly added that being in the bottom two makes her feel like he’s ‘let her down’
During her appearance on the ITV show, the Team GB athlete also lifted the lid on her hidden health condition that regularly leaves her in ‘agonising pain’
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Montell previously suffered with a bad flare up ahead of the first Strictly live show earlier this year.
She admitted that being hospitalised for the condition a few years ago was a ‘wake-up call’ as she almost ‘pᴀssed out’ due to the ‘intense’ cramp pain.
‘That hospitalisation for me was a kind of wake-up call. My body just started convulsing, and I was almost pᴀssing out, because the pain was so intense’, she told The Irish News.
‘I was overheating because of the hormones – my body couldn’t control its temperature, and that in turn made me dehydrated.
‘The pain was in waves, coming in like contractions.’
Montell was prescribed strong painkillers to help manage the symptoms. They need to be taken before the excruciating period pains kick in, which can be difficult to predict.
She continued: ‘I’m going to be really honest about it as I think it’s something we really need to talk about more the agonising pain… not many people and not all women will experience the same thing.
‘It’s so disruptive and it’s very emotionally draining, not to mention physically draining.’
After she had contraceptive implants put in, and said they’ve made a big difference to the severity of her period pain.
Montell suffers from dysmenorrhoea – extremely heavy and painful periods which have previously left her hospitalised
She admitted that being hospitalised for the condition a few years ago was a ‘wake-up call’ as she almost ‘pᴀssed out’ due to the ‘intense’ cramp pain
Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for painful menstrual cramps, usually felt in the lower abdomen.
It can range from dull aches to intense pain that’s hard to relieve.
In the most recent dance-off Jamie and Michelle performed their Foxtrot but the judges decided that Montell and Johannes’s Quickstep was better.
All four judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas chose to save the Gladiators star, after she found herself in the bottom for a third time.
Earlier this month Montell, Miranda actress Sarah Hadland and singer Shayne Ward have all now been confirmed for the Strictly tour in 2025.
The celebrity contestants who appeared on this year’s 20th anniversary series of the show will be donning their dancing shoes once again as they take the show around the country from January 17 to February 9.
Meanwhile It Takes Two’s Janette Manrara is also returning to host the tour once again.
The Strictly quarter finals on Saturday night will star Chris McCausland, JB Gill, Montell,, Pete Wicks, Sarah Hadland and Tasha Ghouri.