Alex Jones has spoken out in defence of Strictly Come Dancing presenters Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, telling critics to "lay off" and give the new hosting duo a chance to settle into the role.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the One Show host, who had been tipped for the presenting job, said she still enjoys watching the show despite not getting the role. "Of course, it would have been absolutely brilliant to do it. The chips fell as they fell and I still enjoy [watching] it," she said.
Jones Calls for Patience with New Presenters
Reflecting on the scrutiny faced by Josh and Johannes, Jones said: "People need to lay off and just give everybody a chance. It's a huge job to take on; there's a lot of pressure on the presenters, and I wish people would give them a bit of a chance to settle. Everything needs a bit of time to bed in."
She noted an improvement in the second week of the competition, adding: "I thought this week's [show, week two of the competition] was actually tons better than the week before. Emma [Willis], obviously, is brilliant – she's been doing it for years."
Craig Revel Horwood Backs the Hosts
Jones also acknowledged the challenge facing the newcomers: "Josh and Johannes are new [to live broadcasting], and it's a big skill to learn. To be honest, Strictly is so big, I don't think it matters who presents it." She added: "If you're fans of the show and the format, you will like it anyway. I wish them all the best because we – as a family – love it, and I would hate if it wasn't there."
Judge Craig Revel Horwood has also come to the presenters' defence, slamming the criticism as "disgusting". He said: "I think the hosts are wonderful. I love Emma - love, love, love her. Josh is hilarious." Horwood predicted Josh would "come into his own" and praised Johannes as a "breath of fresh air", noting his technical dance knowledge: "I love JoJo. He is the first person ever that we've had presenting who actually knows what he's talking about dance-wise, which I think is great, because he can actually talk technically about it."
