UMVA has learned that Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, alongside Emma Willis, are set to take on the hosting duties of Strictly Come Dancing, marking a new era for the beloved show.
The trio was recently introduced on Emma Willis' Radio 2 show, where they participated in a quick-fire quiz, giving fans their first glimpse into their hosting dynamic. During the radio interaction, Josh Widdicombe humbly described their role, saying, "I think our job, we’re not the experts Emma, we’re the man and woman in the street."
This new lineup replaces Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who bid farewell to the show last year. The announcement has sparked mixed reactions from fans, with some expressing their disappointment and others eagerly anticipating the fresh hosting lineup.
On Instagram, fans shared their thoughts, with Deborah writing, "No!! I’ll give it a go but I don’t think I’ll be watching Strictly very much at all now. What a shame," while Nez expressed hope that they might be proven wrong. Another viewer commented, "So sorry to say, but I’m already over this. I mean Strictly had a good run, but maybe it is time…"
However, not all fans were negative, with some defending the new hosts and suggesting that their abilities shouldn’t be judged until the show airs later this year. "So much negativity!" wrote Gillian. "I’m looking forward to it. Emma is a brilliant presenter! Why does everyone start commenting before they’ve given it a chance!"
Interestingly, Josh Widdicombe initially had reservations about taking on the role, revealing on his podcast, Parenting Hell, that he considered turning it down. He confessed, "I think this is a fair thing to say. Obviously when this opportunity came up initially to just have the meeting, I thought I really liked my life. Would I want to throw it into flux?"
Despite his initial doubts, Widdicombe seems enthusiastic about his new role, stating, "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."
Strictly Come Dancing is set to return later this year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with fans eagerly awaiting the new season and the on-screen chemistry between Widdicombe, Radebe, and Willis.
