He has secured one of the most sought-after roles on television, but Josh Widdicombe chose a surprisingly low-key way to mark his appointment as the new host of Strictly Come Dancing. On Tuesday, the BBC confirmed that the comedian would join Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who departed the show last year.
A Humble Celebration
Josh took to Instagram on Tuesday to share how he celebrated the announcement: enjoying fish and chips in the rain with his wife Rose Hanson and their two children, Pearl, nine, and Cassius, five. Posting a snapshot of the meal, he captioned it: 'Celebrating in style (and in the rain).'
Following the BBC's confirmation of the new hosting lineup, numerous former stars and professional dancers offered their congratulations. Among them was Karen Hauer, Josh's former dance partner from the 2024 Christmas Special, who was let go from the professional lineup last month. She commented: 'Now THAT is a lineup, can't wait to watch! PS: Glad to see that penguin suit didn't put you off Josh.'
Official Announcement
The news was confirmed on Strictly's official Instagram page, featuring the trio together. The caption read: 'It's official….September 2026.' In the accompanying video, Emma and Johannes kissed each other on the cheek while seated on stools, before Josh was invited to join them.
Emma Willis expressed her excitement: '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.' She added: '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!'
Josh Widdicombe, a devoted fan who competed in the 2024 Christmas special, said he was 'giddy with excitement' to become a presenter. 'Dancing the Charleston dressed as a penguin for the 2024 Christmas Special of Strictly remains my career high point, so I am giddy with excitement, honoured and a little overawed to be given the chance to step into the biggest shoes in television,' he remarked. 'I adore Emma and Jojo and can't wait to spend my weekends with them. I'll dust off the penguin costume.'
Johannes Radebe described the opportunity as 'beyond anything I ever imagined.' He noted that the show 'has always stood for joy, heart, and togetherness,' and he feels 'deeply honoured to now help carry that magic forward.' He added: 'To do it alongside the formidable Emma Willis and the utterly brilliant Josh Widdicombe makes it even more special. I'm ready-sequins, nerves, and all...please bear with me.'
Behind the Scenes
Emma was the first of the trio to be signed by BBC bosses after a shortlist of presenters underwent chemistry reads and screen tests over recent weeks. Last week, Josh emerged as the surprise favourite to host alongside Emma after impressing executives. Johannes, one of Strictly's most beloved professional dancers since 2018, will take on presenting duties for the first time. Partnered with Alex Kingston last year, Johannes will not have a celebrity partner this year as he assumes the role of a roving reporter, though he will participate in group dances.
The South African dancer quickly became a fan favourite due to his flamboyant routines and outgoing personality. He is currently starring in Kinky Boots on the West End, has appeared in Doctor Who, and competed on Celebrity MasterChef. In 2023, he published his memoir Jojo: Finally Home, which became a bestseller.
A number of high-profile names were in contention for the roles, including Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, and Angela Scanlon. Zoe, a BBC stalwart for over 30 years, recently spoke of her 'grief' at not landing the role after auditioning. 'I didn't get it, but it's okay,' she said on the Dig It podcast with Jo Whiley. 'I have worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection over the last couple of days. No, I didn't get it. But I tell you what, if [it's] who I think has got it, we're in safe hands and our new hosts are going to be fabulous. I'm so thrilled for them, and hopefully at a later date we'll be able to talk about them in more detail.'
Josh and Johannes mark the first male hosts of the programme since Bruce Forsyth, who died in 2017. Sir Bruce co-hosted with Tess until his retirement in 2013, when Claudia took over. Josh has co-hosted The Last Leg alongside Alex Brooker and Adam Hills since 2012. Bosses hope Josh will replicate Claudia's comedic energy and help put contestants at ease, while Emma will steer the show.
Emma began her career as an MTV presenter in 2002 and landed a role on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! in 2007. She became a household name in 2013 when she hosted Big Brother on Channel 5 and The Voice UK on the BBC. She fronted Big Brother until 2018 and continues to present The Voice on ITV. She married Busted singer Matt Willis in 2008 at Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire, and they have three children: Isabelle, 16, Ace, 14, and Trixie, 10. The couple has presented together on ITV2's I'm a Celebrity spin-off and hosted Netflix's UK version of Love is Blind.
Upcoming Series
The BBC has offered a glimpse of what fans can expect for the 24th series. Returning professional dancers include Dianne Buswell, Nancy Xu, Vito Coppola, Julian Caillon, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Amy Dowden, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystał, Aljaž Škorjanec, Alexis Warr, and Kai Widdrington. New professional dancers are yet to be announced. Axed from the lineup are Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Luba Mushtuk. The judging panel remains unchanged: Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton du Beke.
