Now heading into the Strictly Come Dancing 2021 final<\/a>, which will take place today (18th December), John has opened up about the amazing support from the public.<\/p>\n Asked what the reception has been like from fans, he told press including RadioTimes.com<\/a>: \u201cIt\u2019s been incredible, really incredible. The amount of people who have messaged saying things like their kids can grow up in a world where two men or two women can dance together is mega.<\/p>\n \u201cOlder members of the LGBTQ+ community have been so grateful that they\u2019ve paved the way for this to happen. Kids can now grow up without being ashamed.<\/p>\n \u201cMy friend who\u2019s a teacher actually messaged me this morning saying that two of the lads in the playground were kissing and no one batted an eyelid like it was normal. It\u2019s just normalised to humanity. It\u2019s saying to the world how great and diverse the spectrum of humanity is and that\u2019s all it\u2019s about.\u201d<\/p>\n John\u2019s Strictly Come Dancing<\/a> professional dance partner Johannes Radebe<\/a> has also received some amazing feedback \u2013 from his mum, who he says his relationship has improved with following the partnership.<\/p>\n He revealed: \u201cMy mum\u2019s relationship with me has improved and it is improved because of this partnership, and for that, I\u2019ve won!\u201d<\/p>\n Talking about the moment he was first coupled with John, he said: \u201cWhen I told her about the partnership, she said, \u2018Oh, you\u2019re dancing with a man?\u2019 and I said, \u2018Yes, mummy, I\u2019m dancing with a man and his name is John!\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAnd there was an awkward silence, and I think like everybody else she also waited to see how it was going to play out because she\u2019s such a traditionalist. And then I remember our first Tango, she called me and she was like, \u2018Oh that was good!\u2019 So yeah, it\u2019s been special!\u201d<\/p> John added: \u201cWe\u2019ve had so many messages like that. We had a video message from a man last week and on the building site at five o\u2019clock in the morning and he was like, \u2018I\u2019m a straight man, but what you\u2019ve done is blooming brilliant lads!\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we\u2019ve had so many people say, \u2018I was doubtful at first of this partnership, but watching your dance, we can see it\u2019s about the dance.\u2019 And that\u2019s what it\u2019s about \u2013 for 90 seconds we just dedicate ourselves to each other, and the world sees it for what it is, which is art!\u201d<\/p>\n The Strictly Come Dancing 2021 final is on Saturday 18th September. Check out more of our Entertainment<\/a>\u00a0coverage or visit our\u00a0TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0to see what\u2019s on tonight.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n![\""Strictly\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/John-Whaite-Strictly-585a563.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"John-Whaite-Strictly\"\\"\/")
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