Strictly Come Dancing returned with a new presenting line-up for the first time in over a decade, and the change has divided viewers. Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe took over hosting duties from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who left at the end of the last series. The first live show aired on Saturday night, with the trio welcoming a host of celebrities to the ballroom.
New Hosts Face Mixed Reaction
Among the celebrities making their debut were EastEnders icon Lacey Turner, Love Island winner Dani Dyer and Emmerdale star Lawrence Robb. However, much of the attention was on the new presenters, who have big shoes to fill following the exits of Tess and Claudia.
Viewer reception was divided. One unimpressed fan said: "Having three hosts doesn’t work," as another agreed: "Three hosts are too much." A third fan commented: "I love strictly but this trio of hosts just isn’t working for me."
Fans Praise and Criticise the Trio
A fourth fan said: "These transitions between JoJo and the other hosts are so clunky and stilted, it’s probably the reason the show is running to 2.5 hours." Another comment read: "Okay, I don’t want to be a hater but three hosts is just not working. Not at all."
Not everyone agreed, though. A fan said: "There seems to be as many posts about the hosts as there are about the dancing. If it bugs you that much then just switch off." Another posted: "Am I the only one who thinks the hosts are doing great and are in the right places?" A final comment read: "Getting more used to the hosts now icl."
Hosts Announced in May
The BBC announced the new presenters in an Instagram post uploaded in May, where all three appeared. “Quiet please, Strictly host reveal 2026, please take your positions,” a voiceover said. Emma, who previously fronted Big Brother, sat down first before being joined on a stool by Johannes. As they posed for photos in front of a purple backdrop, Emma called Josh over, teasing: “What are you doing over there? We can’t do it without you.” In the caption, they said: "It's official...September 2026".
Emma and Josh had both become frontrunners for the role in the days before the big reveal, with Josh being quizzed about it on Good Morning Britain just hours before the announcement. Josh coyly refused to answer but said he would "love to do it". In response to getting the role, Emma said: “It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Strictly – I’ve cheered and danced along from my sofa for years – so to be stepping into the Strictly ballroom is something I can’t quite comprehend.
“It’s impossible to fill the shoes that Tess and Claudia have left behind – two wonderful, iconic women who have been the beating heart of Strictly for so long. I can only hope that we are able to help to steer the ship as beautifully as they have, into this new chapter. I can’t wait to spend my weekends with Josh and Jojo, the incredible dancers and the judges. Fingers crossed for a 10 from them.”
Influencer John Nellis and professional partner Katya Jones topped the leaderboard on the first live show.
