Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new presenters of Strictly Come Dancing. They will begin hosting the BBC dancing competition when it returns this autumn for its 24th series.
“Emma, Johannes and Josh’s chemistry is undeniable. There’s been so much speculation and hype, so I’m relieved we can share the news with the public at last!” said Kate Phillips, BBC’s Chief Content Officer.
“I’d like to thank all the brilliant people we saw before making this tough decision. But the most beloved ballroom in the UK always leads the way, and in a Strictly first we have chosen three outstanding hosts to take up the mantle.”
Radebe has featured as one of Strictly’s professional dancers for the previous seven series. Willis has presented numerous competition shows, including The Voice and Big Brother. As well as being a professional comedian, Widdicombe participated in the 2024 Christmas special of the dance competition.
“Dancing the Charleston dressed as a penguin for the 2024 Christmas Special of Strictly remains my career high point,” said Widdecombe. “So I am giddy with excitement, honoured and a little overawed to be given the chance to step into the biggest shoes in television … I’ll dust off the penguin costume.”
Radebe said: “This show has always stood for joy, heart and togetherness, and I feel deeply honoured to now help carry that magic forward. I’m ready – sequins, nerves and all ... please bear with me.”
Willis said: “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!”
The trio’s appointment follows the shock announcement of the departure of previous hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. It seemingly took the BBC by surprise, with a joint Instagram post from the pair coming hours before the broadcaster put out a press release. The duo had jointly hosted the show since 2014 and both received MBEs for services to broadcasting in June 2025.
The change in presenting lineup follows years of controversy for Strictly Come Dancing. Ahead of its most recent series, it was reported in August 2025 that the BBC had launched an investigation into alleged cocaine use by two of the show’s stars. This was followed by two arrests on the suspicion of rape, one of an unnamed man in his 30s, who was also detained on a separate alleged offence of non-consensual intimate image abuse – although the BBC stated that the person in question was not involved in the 2025 series. The second, who was arrested in October, did not end up facing criminal charges due to insufficient evidence.
The first contestant to leave the 2025 series, Thomas Skinner, also accused the show of vote rigging. He announced on social media that following his exit, he was sent an “anonymous email claiming to be from a BBC exec with stats” that showed he had “received far more votes than it appeared” – which the BBC denies. It was widely reported in December 2025 that Skinner intended to sue the BBC, but the broadcaster said at the time that it was not aware of any legal complaint over the matter.
The 2025 Christmas Day special of Strictly Come Dancing marked Winkleman and Daly’s final show. Subsequently, Winkleman went on to host a new chatshow, The Claudia Winkleman Show. Produced by the company behind The Graham Norton Show, it featured celebrity interviews in front of a live studio audience. Last week, Daly announced that she was splitting from her husband of 22 years, Vernon Kay.
