Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse has called for Johannes Radebe to handle contestant interviews on his own, after she and her husband complained there was too much talking between the hosts and couples.
The BBC introduced three new presenters for the current series following the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman last year. Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have since stepped into the presenting roles, with the revamped line-up receiving a mixed response from viewers.
Too Much Talking on the Show
The competition is now in its sixth week, with 11 couples remaining in the running for the Glitterball Trophy. Following last weekend's episode, Oti, who appeared on the show from 2015 to 2021, and her husband, fellow dancer Marius Iepure, shared their thoughts on the latest instalment during her podcast, The Fifth Judge.
Marius complained there was "too much talking" between the hosts and couples. "Unfortunately the mistakes [that some couples made] I think were a little bit holding back and some of the songs, but the judges were brilliant, the presenters were brilliant, I think it was a good show," he said. "A little bit too much comment, too many questions, too much 'let's talk about [this], it was a little bit much," he added.
Johannes Radebe Praised for His Approach
Oti chimed in: "There was a lot of talking. I think the judges get to talk way too long for me. I'm like somebody needs to be like, 'Guys, you get one minute to talk now, you don't get three' I don't understand why [it's so long], I don't remember if Tess [Daly] did this."
She continued: "But [Emma] and Josh ask questions, so that's two questions they're asking the celeb and the pro and then they go up and then Jojo asks two questions. So I don't understand why that whole section is just not Jojo because he's doing a great job. He can ask all four questions by himself, that's his job. He could ask those, yeah I just felt like, 'Oh it's just so much'."
Both Oti and Marius felt Johannes was well suited to the role, given his experience as a professional dancer and his understanding of the pressures contestants face throughout the competition. Oti praised her former colleague's "sweet and endearing" approach to interviewing the couples, highlighting his ability to lift their spirits after potentially tough feedback from the judges.
Judges' Opening Performance Under Scrutiny
The presenting format was not the only element of the show to come under scrutiny during their discussion. Marius also called for the judges' opening performance to be "binned". The routine sees Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood perform a short number after being introduced at the start of the programme, before taking their places on the panel.
Oti, who now serves as a judge on RTÉ's Dancing with the Stars, offered a different perspective on the segment, describing the opportunity to perform in this way as "a privilege". She added that her commitments on the Irish version of the show did not allow for a similar routine.
Strictly Come Dancing: Halloween Special airs tonight at 6.30pm on BBC One.
