Emma Willis has disclosed the encouraging words Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman shared with her upon discovering she would be one of the new presenters of Strictly Come Dancing. Tess, 57, and Claudia, 54, stepped down from the BBC show at the conclusion of the 2025 series after co-hosting together for 11 years.
Emma Willis Recalls Support from Tess and Claudia
Emma, 50, will present the upcoming series alongside comedian Josh Widdicombe and former Strictly professional Johannes Radebe. The former Big Brother presenter revealed she received a brief but heartfelt message from the departing duo. She told The Sun: 'We’ve had a little back and forth, yes, and they were lovely. They just said, "Congrats, well done, you’ll smash it." And I was like, "S**t!"'
Emma noted that the pair offered no specific advice, only kind words. 'No tips. Just lots of kind words,' she added.
Emma Acknowledges the Challenge of Replacing Iconic Duo
After being announced as a presenter, Emma admitted it would be 'impossible' to replace Tess and Claudia but expressed hope that the new trio could 'steer the ship as beautifully as they have'. She said: 'It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Strictly – I’ve cheered and danced along from my sofa for years - so to be stepping into the Strictly ballroom is something I can’t quite comprehend.'
She continued: 'It’s impossible to fill the shoes that Tess and Claudia have left behind - two wonderful, iconic women who have been the beating heart of Strictly for so long. I can only hope that we are able to help to steer the ship as beautifully as they have, into this new chapter. I can’t wait to spend my weekends with Josh and Jojo, the incredible dancers and the judges. Fingers crossed for a 10 from them!'
New Presenters Express Excitement and Nerves
Emma and Josh discussed their new roles on BBC Radio 2 last month, with the Love is Blind host admitting she is 'terrified'. Josh quipped: 'I'm so excited. I know this sounds weird, because obviously it is a bit huge, and you know it's huge, but you don't realise how huge it is. So you haven't even been on it yet, and that's all the people in the street talk to you about.'
Emma confessed: 'Yeah, I keep going, "Yeah, thanks" and they're like, "Are you excited?" I'm like, "I'm terrified."'
Celebrities Confirmed for 2026 Series
Four celebrities have been confirmed for the upcoming 2026 series: celebrity hair stylist Chris Appleton, EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, Australian singer Delta Goodrem, and Love Island winner Dani Dyer.
