The BBC has announced that Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe will take over as presenters of Strictly Come Dancing for its 2026 series. The trio will replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who departed the show earlier this year.
Radebe, who has been a professional dancer on the show for seven series, will step into a presenting role alongside Willis, known for hosting The Voice and Big Brother, and comedian Widdicombe, who competed in the 2024 Christmas special. BBC Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips praised their chemistry, calling the appointment a “Strictly first” with three hosts.
The new presenters expressed their excitement in statements. Widdicombe jokingly referenced his penguin costume from the Christmas special, while Radebe spoke of carrying forward the show’s “magic”. Willis said she looked forward to weekends with her co-hosts and the judges.
The change in presenters follows a period of controversy for Strictly Come Dancing, including an investigation into alleged cocaine use, two arrests on suspicion of rape (one not charged due to insufficient evidence), and vote-rigging allegations from contestant Thomas Skinner, which the BBC denies.
Daly and Winkleman, who jointly hosted since 2014 and both received MBEs in 2025, bowed out after the Christmas Day special. Winkleman has since launched a new chatshow, while Daly recently announced her separation from husband Vernon Kay.
