Emma Willis Praised by 'Strictly' Fans as Co-Host Josh Widdicombe Criticized

Emma Willis has received widespread praise from fans for her performance as a host on the latest season of "Strictly Come Dancing," following the first live show. Viewers took to social media to commend Willis, with many stating she was "carrying the show," while her co-host, Josh Widdicombe, faced criticism and was described by some as a "spare part."

Willis, who took over hosting duties alongside Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe after the departure of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman at the end of the 2025 series, expressed her enjoyment of the debut. "Week one, done. I've never had so much fun! What a way to kick things off @bbcstrictly," she posted on Instagram. She celebrated the successful opening night with her husband, Matt Willis, sharing photos of a backstage embrace and a relaxed moment with pizza.

Fans lauded Willis's performance, commenting "Classy, stunning and doing a fantastic job" and "You looked amazing and you were perfect for this role." Others noted her natural presence, with one fan writing, "You was fantastic Emma what a presenter you are carrying the show."

The hosting arrangement saw Willis and Widdicombe present from the dancefloor, a position previously held by Tess Daly, while Radebe interviewed contestants from the auditorium, similar to Claudia Winkleman's role. However, this setup did not resonate with all viewers, who felt Widdicombe was overshadowed by the more experienced Willis.

Despite the criticism, Widdicombe did manage to earn some positive remarks for a "change partners" joke, a playful nod to the new format used to announce the celebrity pairings in the launch show. He, along with Willis, Radebe, and judge Craig Revel Horwood, participated in a skit that left viewers amused.

The first live show featured performances from all celebrity contestants. Will Best and Dianne Buswell opened the show with a Samba, receiving a total score of 18. Skeleton racer Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita followed with a Jive, scoring 22. Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon performed a Quickstep, earning 15 points, while Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał danced the Paso Doble for a score of 20.

Former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr performed the Cha Cha, scoring 15. Actress Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu impressed with a Quickstep, earning 26 points. EastEnders actress Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola received a standing ovation for their Cha Cha, scoring 27. Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden danced the Tango, receiving 16 points. Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec performed the Cha Cha, scoring 15, and Love Island star Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby danced the Quickstep for 20 points.

Dog trainer Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley performed the Cha Cha, scoring 24, while actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu danced the Tango for 21 points. Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin's Samba earned them 22 points. Sports YouTuber John Nellis and Katya Jones closed the show with a Foxtrot, topping the leaderboard with 31 points. Australian singer Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington performed a Samba, scoring 29.

No eliminations occurred in the first week; scores from the initial show will be combined with the following week's results before the first elimination takes place next Sunday. The celebrity lineup had previously been met with mixed reactions, with some viewers unfamiliar with many of the contestants. Producers reportedly focused on individuals with large social media followings to attract younger demographics, a strategy also employed by the US show "Dancing With The Stars."