Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse has responded to viewer feedback after a poll showed that 75 percent of fans do not find the show's new skits funny. The former Strictly professional and her husband Marius Iepure asked their YouTube audience about the comedic segments featuring new hosts Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe, and the results were decisive.
Viewers vote against the skits
During last weekend's Halloween Special, Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe took part in several comedic skits throughout the episode. These included the presenters trying to scare judge Craig Revel Horwood, a trick-or-treating sketch, and the contestants replicating Johannes' signature "Emma and Joshy" handover.
On The Fifth Judge vodcast, Oti and Marius asked viewers: "Do all the skits work for you? Do you like the jokes? Do you like when the judges are involved? Do you like when the pros are reading the social stuff, and they're doing the 'Emma and Joshy' thing? Are you laughing?"
After the vote, Oti revealed that 75 percent said "no, they do not work, they do not find them funny", while 25 percent said "yes, they are hilarious".
Oti and Marius weigh in
Oti remarked in response: "Well, that's very telling! It says that people, at this point, just want to get on with the dancing."
She added that Marius thinks "it's a completely different show", explaining that parts of the Halloween Special seemed like "a comedy show that I didn't ask for". Marius admitted he "laughed a little bit" at the trick-or-treating skit but felt that it "was so long".
One viewer, named Kate, commented: "I don't tend to laugh, but I think it's part of the charm."
Mixed reviews for new hosts
Oti suggested that if BBC producers added the skits to fill time, they could potentially "cut the show shorter" instead, or include the Results Show as part of Saturday night's episode rather than airing it separately on Sundays, declaring: "That would be a great change."
Emma, Josh and Johannes stepped in to replace long-standing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who announced their decision to leave the BBC show last year. Emma has been praised by the majority of Strictly fans for her professionalism, but Josh and Johannes have so far received mixed reviews.
Radio Times TV and podcast editor Caroline Frost stated: "I think it's fair to say there were some bumps in the road in the first couple of episodes, but they do appear to be very slowly relaxing into their new roles."
