The BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing is entering a bold new era as Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe step into the roles left vacant by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In a behind-the-scenes Instagram video, the trio admitted they were “petrified” ahead of their first official photoshoot.
Josh, 43, joked:
“It doesn’t feel real, right? I’ve just realised I’ve been booked for something with two of the most striking looking people on television, and I look like me. Absolute disaster.”
Emma, 50, described the nerves she felt stepping into the Strictly ballroom:
“I imagine it’s like walking down the stairs dancing the cha cha — everything goes to jelly. That’s how I feel thinking about what we’re about to do.”
Johannes, 39, added that the opportunity was “beyond anything I ever imagined,” praising the show’s values of joy, heart, and togetherness and saying he was “deeply honoured to help carry that magic forward.”
All three hosts will guide the next season while also bringing their own personality and flair to the show. Emma, the first to be signed by BBC bosses, admitted she has been a fan for years:
“It’s no secret I’ve cheered and danced along from my sofa — stepping into the Strictly ballroom is something I can’t quite comprehend. It’s impossible to fill the shoes Tess and Claudia left behind.”
Josh, a former contestant on the 2024 Christmas Special, described the moment he learned he had landed the job as “the most exciting thing in my life that I’ve ever kept to myself.” Meanwhile, Johannes will also serve as a roving reporter while participating in group dances, marking his first presenting role on the series.
The announcement comes after a rigorous audition process, which saw high-profile contenders such as Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, and Angela Scanlon competing for the coveted roles. Despite the nerves, the new hosting trio are ready to bring energy, humour, and heart to the ballroom, promising fans a fresh yet familiar Strictly experience.
