Arlene Phillips, a former judge on the BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing," has voiced reservations about the show's new hosting lineup and the recent additions to its professional dancers. Phillips described the decision to bring in a trio of presenters as an "interesting choice" and expressed curiosity about how the dynamic will work.
It was announced in May that Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe would be taking over hosting duties following the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Phillips, who served as a judge from 2004 to 2008, questioned the necessity of a three-person hosting team. "I wonder sometimes about three and I want to know what the magic is about three because sometimes people say three's a crowd," she said during an appearance on Good Morning Britain. "Who is going to do what? I have no idea."
Phillips also raised concerns that professional dancer Johannes Radebe might not be dancing under the new format. "All I want to do with Johannes is watch him dance. I mean just incredible," she stated, adding that she was unsure how the changes would unfold.
New Professional Dancers and Audience Strategy
The show also recently revealed five new professional dancers: Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby, and Mark Karmalita. Phillips expressed hesitation regarding the professional dancers' backgrounds, particularly their status as "influencers."
"The new pros, as long as they can dance," Phillips commented. "I mean, most of them are sort of influencers and they talk an awful lot. As long as those pros can dance."
Reports suggest that the show's producers are prioritizing dancers with a significant online following, particularly on platforms like TikTok, in an effort to attract a younger audience. This strategy may have contributed to the departures of some long-serving professional dancers. For instance, Nadiya Bychkova, who has 19,000 followers on TikTok, was reportedly let go, while Dianne Buswell, with 966,000 followers, retained her position. Similarly, Karen Hauer, a long-serving dancer with 9,000 followers, was not among the returning professionals, whereas newcomer Alexis Warr, who has 190,000 followers, secured a spot.
A source indicated that "Strictly is always looking for ways to increase its audience in terms of volume, but also in terms of attracting new, young viewers." The source added that "Social media is a massive part of broadening that appeal, and TikTok is the perfect medium for a show where music and dance is at the forefront."
Meanwhile, Josh Widdicombe has shared his excitement about his new role. He described himself as "the runt of the litter" compared to his co-hosts Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe, noting his height difference with Radebe, who is 6'2", and Willis, who he expects to wear heels. He humorously anticipated potential costume choices for a Halloween special, suggesting he might dress as Damon Albarn.