Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe and Montell Douglas(Image: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing's Montell Douglas on how bond with Johannes has evolved after show

by · Wales Online

Strictly Come Dancing's Montell Douglas has opened up about her off-screen relationships with her partners Johannes Radebe and Kai Widdrington following her stint on the Strictly Live Tour. The Gladiators star finished in sixth place with professional dancer Johannes, but went on to perform in the tour with Kai as Johannes had other commitments.

Montell spoke exclusively to Wales Online about how she paid tribute to Johannes for bringing out her confidence. She revealed she was meeting up with him the day after the interview, explaining: "I haven't seen him since the finale of the show.

"I love connections, he loves connections and to have that organic connection, it was very natural. It felt like family very quickly, it didn't feel like a student teacher relationship.

"It was like brother and sister, we could have the banter." The Olympian said how she was able to see things she was missing herself in Johannes, adding: "We have a certain amount of similarities but there are certain things that he has learnt and I have learnt separately and they come together and then we fill in the gaps.

"Because I'm super independent and self-sufficient, whereas he has to nurture and grow someone. With me, it was more he can basically drop me off at nursery and leave me to play with my friends and I won't panic," she quipped.

Montell Douglas with Johannes Radebe on Strictly(Image: (Image: BBC))

"I genuinely feel like that's where we bounced off each other, we could give each other what we needed when we needed it.

"Also the sign of a great friendship is he definitely helped me, because in the studio he would always give me a 10.

"He would go at certain points 'There is your 10 right there', because it becomes less about perfection and more about you just doing your best and going through this process."

The star admitted she lacked self-belief and Johannes helped her understand she deserved praise, adding: "I have always struggled with entitlement because I was taught to work hard to earn everything.

"He would always say to me 'You deserve this' and that's really helped with my confidence in going through life."

Montell and Kai Widdrington on the Strictly Tour(Image: Getty Images)

On the difference in her bond with her second dance partner, Kai, Montell said it was an easy transition with Kai and Johannes already being very close.

She explained: "It was great because before we had even got paired [Kai] was helping with choreo, he was the person we could go to and lean on.

"He's just a gentleman, he's a very different energy, the perfect person to have on tour. He's so relaxed and chilled, we have got a very similar temperament.

"We have a lot of fun, we joke around and bounce off each other - it was definitely what I needed knowing Jojo wasn't going to be there."

She explained how Kai was still "very nurturing", adding: "He still checks on me, making sure I'm OK, it was nice to still have that and feel like you're not on your own."

Passionate about learning new skills, Montell Douglas is supporting the Skills for Life campaign from the Department for Education.

Together, they’re on a mission to help adults across the country make some brain gains in 2025.

To find out more about the free and flexible learning opportunities in your local area search ‘Skills for Life’.