Strictly Come Dancing host lineup claims push the BBC to break silence
Tabloid reports claimed bosses wanted to replace Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe after just one series, prompting an official response from the network.
The BBC is shutting down reports that producers want to replace the new Strictly Come Dancing presenting team of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe after just one series.
Responding on Sunday, October 25, to tabloid claims that television executives are plotting an imminent overhaul of the ballroom lineup for next year, a BBC spokesperson told outlets including Metro and the Daily Mirror that the rumors are “pure and utter speculation.”
What the claims alleged
The denial followed reports alleging that network executives had grown dissatisfied with the new three-person presenting dynamic. Longtime hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down together at the end of the 2025 series after more than a decade sharing the ballroom floor.
The BBC announced on May 19 that Willis, Widdicombe and former professional dancer Radebe would take over for series 24 in 2026. The new format placed Willis and Widdicombe ringside by the dance floor, while Radebe took over the upstairs interview space to debrief celebrity contestants right after their routines.
Reports published on Sunday by The Mail on Sunday and the Daily Mirror claimed that senior figures were already looking to make changes for 2027. One anonymous source claimed to the Daily Mirror that “It isn’t working,” adding, “Senior BBC bosses have started canvassing opinions from industry figures about what to do next year.”
Another anonymous source told the newspaper that “It should be slicker, in the view of many at the top of the BBC, so there are changes afoot.” An unnamed production insider also told The Mail on Sunday: “Emma is a very experienced presenter but Josh looks like he’s hanging around her like an uncool boy at school and she doesn’t want him near her. That might be funny in other shows, but this is Strictly, the biggest show on Saturday-night television”
Support from inside the ballroom
Despite the tabloid speculation, members of the Strictly team have publicly praised the new lineup. Head judge Shirley Ballas defended Widdicombe while speaking on the red carpet at the Pride of Britain Awards on October 19.
“I have a changing room just down from Josh. He is humorous. He is a gentleman. He is kind and I think he’s brilliant at his job,” Ballas told the Press Association, adding that the new hosting group makes the show feel fresh.
Willis’s husband, musician Matt Willis, also spoke out during an appearance on ITV’s This Morning on October 8. He explained that she ignores online commentary and thoroughly enjoys working alongside Widdicombe and Radebe every weekend.
Former professional dancers on the series have shared varying views on how quickly the trio would settle in. James Jordan argued in an interview with WhichBingo, reported by TV Guide on October 21, that while he felt the three-host setup lacked natural spontaneity, the broadcaster would stick by them: “I think the BBC will, because they won’t want to admit that they’ve got it wrong. It’s almost like they need to give them another year just to admit it.”
Meanwhile, former professional Ian Waite told Best Betting Bonuses and the Daily Express on October 24 that while viewers were initially surprised by having three presenters, the group has steadily found their footing as the weeks have gone on, predicting Widdicombe will stay in his role for 2027.
What comes next
Live broadcasts for series 24 began airing on BBC One on September 26, following a launch show on September 19. The BBC has confirmed that any talk of behind-the-scenes restructuring remains entirely unfounded as the live competition continues toward its December finale.
