Strictly Come Dancing professional Johannes Radebe has described working with new co-hosts Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe as 'eye-opening'. The dancer, who joined the BBC show in 2018, will be part of a new hosting trio alongside Emma and Josh, taking over from Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
Speaking on Monday's episode of Morning Live, Johannes told hosts Gethin Jones and Holly Hamilton: 'It's a trio of fabulous people and I think we all give the main character energy in our respective fields. If you've met Josh and Emma, they're just the most wonderful people.'
The star admitted that during chemistry tests for the role, he initially felt unsure of himself but was put at ease by his new colleagues. 'It was absolutely wonderful and eye-opening. As you can imagine I was like “what am I doing here”. But I think it was seeing Emma and Josh and having to emulate the setup of how the show works,' he explained.
Johannes added: 'We stood in our respected spaces and we did our thing. The only thing I took away from that experience from that room was the laughter - there was a lot of laughter that happened in that room.' He thanked Emma and Josh for making him feel comfortable, noting that Emma was 'very generous'.
The new hosting team will debut when Strictly returns in September, alongside new professional dancers and the familiar judging panel. Johannes previously said of his new role: 'To be returning to Strictly Come Dancing in this new role is beyond anything I ever imagined. This show has always stood for joy, heart, and togetherness, and I feel deeply honoured to now help carry that magic forward.'
