Strictly Come Dancing host Josh Widdicombe has suffered another devastating blow just days after making his live TV debut, as an Express reader poll revealed 45% of voters want him removed from the show.
On Saturday night (September 26), Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe took to the BBC ballroom for the first live show of the series. Viewers were torn by the show's new setup, with many calling for executives to make further format changes.
Viewer poll results
From a pool of 2,981 votes, 45% of readers would like comedian Josh to step back from the show, with Johannes Radebe coming in at a close second, receiving 36% of votes. In third position, 12% of readers voted for all three presenters to be replaced; however, 7% of voters wanted the presenting line-up to remain the same. The host with the fewest votes was Emma Willis, who received only 19 of nearly 3,000 votes, accounting for less than 1%.
It comes after the 43-year-old comic broke his silence following the backlash to his hosting debut on Monday (September 28). Taking to his Instagram Story, he shared his fellow cast members showering him with support in a telling post.
Support from cast members
Originally posted by professional dancer Lauren Oakley, she gushed: "We couldn't be in safer hands than with these beautiful people. Strictly is about family, uplifting others, and creating a safe space for celebrity contestants to be vulnerable and do something so outside of their comfort zone."
Lauren's post continued: "This trio have been so warm and welcoming, and they felt like family from the minute they stepped into the studio, and we love having them with us. Professional, funny, kind and fantastic at what they do. I couldn't feel more lucky to be sharing the screen and our Saturday nights with them."
The touching message was accompanied by a photograph of Emma, Josh and Johannes, with Josh re-sharing it alongside three red hearts, evidently grateful for the backing.
Mixed fan reactions
This follows concerns raised by Strictly enthusiasts regarding the new presenting arrangement, with some suggesting it "doesn't work". The incoming hosts replaced Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, with producers hoping the trio would prove successful.
Yet, while audiences appear impressed with Emma, some remain unconvinced about her fellow presenters. One remarked: "Okay, I don't want to be a hater, but three hosts is just not working. Not at all." Another commented: "I normally enjoy Strictly, but not this year. The presenters just don't gel."
Meanwhile, others believe the arrangement simply requires minor adjustments. A separate social media user observed: "Josh Widdicombe could have easily taken over the Claudia Winkleman role." Someone else responded: "Emma is brilliant. Josh should be upstairs." One more also contributed: "But surely it's about the dancing? That's great, give these presenters a chance for heaven's sake."
You can watch Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday evenings on BBC One, or catch up on iPlayer.
