Strictly Come Dancing's return has put the BBC's new hosting trio under a microscope, with viewers sharing honest thoughts about Josh Widdecombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe. While the first live show contained some blunders, the hosts are slowly getting into the swing of things.
Johannes Takes Over Claudia's Role
Week two's Movie Week showed clear improvements, but one aspect of Johannes' skills stood out and needs to be nipped in the bud quickly. The professional dancer-turned-host is clearly Claudia Winkleman's replacement, as he remained in the Clauditorium for most of the episode, welcoming the contestants after their performances.
This was a great move by BBC bosses, as the South African native is close friends with the other pros and would likely bring out a different perspective during the balcony debrief. However, Johannes hasn't quite grasped the emotional aspect of being in the Clauditorium yet.
Emotional Moment Highlights Imbalance
During Saturday's episode, pro Katya Jones surprised her partner John Nellis with a visit from his parents during a break from rehearsals. With emotions still running high from their foxtrot, Johannes appeared wooden as he asked the YouTuber to reflect on the visit.
After the 33-year-old confessed, "I needed to lock in, I was nearly welling up at the top of those stairs," Johannes responded: "I hear you," before moving on to Katya with questions about the routine, which highlighted the stark imbalance in his hosting. His elation instantly picked up when he asked about the lifts during the performance.
This was when the pro referenced her friendship, responding: "Jojo, you've known for long enough to know, I think taking risks is really important. At the end of the day, everyone is watching at home, they want to be entertained. Taking risks, it pays off sometimes, but they will have fun anyway."
Comparison to Claudia's Approach
The hosting imbalance was evident throughout the show, with Johannes coming across as awkward and wooden when addressing the emotional aspect of each performance. Even if the former pro assured John that he did well after admitting he was "welling up," the transition to discussing technique would've been smoother.
This was something Claudia excelled in, which was evident last year when Carlos Gu broke down after his performance with Karen Carney, and she thoroughly comforted him. For the BBC to avoid another blunder, Johannes needs to tap into his emotional side and be on the same level as the contestants when they get emotional, as much as he matches their excitement to talk about the technique.
