STRICTLY star Johannes Radebe has revealed his family were unable to attend the opening night of his new show after visa issues.
Radebe said his mother, Jacobeth, and siblings missed out on his big night at the iconic London Palladium - but he hoped they'd make it to an upcoming date on his tour House of JoJo.
It comes as Rishi Sunak introduced tougher visa rules in his five-step plan to curb immigration.
The TV star, whose family supported his ballroom dreams despite their poverty in Zamdela, South Africa, told the audience: "I was hoping that they were going to be here this evening, but [they can't] because of visa issues."
Choking up, he continued: "Don't even start.
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"But it's fine, she'll make it to Liverpool."
In between dances, Strictly pro Johannes was praised by his former celebrity partner Annabel Croft, who has joined his tour line-up.
Addressing him on stage Annabel, who starred in the 2023 series with Johannes, said: "Thank you so much for the honour to dance with your here at the Palladium.
"This is beyond anybody's dream, but to dance with you Johannes has been extraordinary.
"You gave me the most wonderful joyful, and most healing experience on Strictly. And I can't thank you enough for that.
"You are such a special person, you sprinkle your magic everywhere, and I'm so thrilled to see it."
Johannes and Annabel, 57, supported each other last year as they both struggled to live through their grief.
The professional dancer was coming to terms with the death of a family member when he was partnered with Annabel, who had not long lost her husband.
Johannes' cousin had taken his own life and the funeral was just two weeks ahead of Strictly training.
Speaking on the Table Manners podcast, Johannes spoke about his fury at the producers for the crude pairing.
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"I mean, a lot of people say, Oh Johannes, you helped Annabelle but no, Annabelle helped me," he said.
He continued: "When they (first) said I'm dancing with her, I was like, What are they trying to achieve?
"And I say that because two weeks before I started, I buried my cousin who committed suicide.
"You know, I wasn't as excited as I normally would be, because I was like, this is supposed to be the most exciting period, I've just come back off a very successful tour. But I had to then go home (South Africa)," he continued.
"I could have stayed out there for longer but after we buried him, I had to fly back to the UK and do my audiobook," he said.
"That was hard, and when Strictly started, I was just like, Okay, just felt like I was going through the motions."
"And yeah, they said we think that you're the person to partner, this woman. I just said to myself, they're reaching. I remember calling my agent," he explained.
"I was like, I don't know what's going to happen. Maybe we should say that I shouldn't get a partner this year because I just really need some time out."
However, despite being concerned about how Annabel's heartache would affect his own, the pair became best pals during the process.
Annabel's husband Mel Coleman tragically passed away from cancer the same year that she joined strictly.
Johannes moved to Britain in 2018, after doing two seasons of Strictly Come Dancing South Africa.
