Emma Willis Responds to 'Strictly' Criticism Amid Ratings Slump
The presenter shared a cryptic quote on Instagram after the first live show of the season saw a significant drop in viewership.
Emma Willis has addressed criticism surrounding the latest season of "Strictly Come Dancing" with a cryptic social media post following a notable decline in viewership for the show's first live episode. The new presenting team, including Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and professional dancer Johannes Radebe, has faced viewer scrutiny since taking over hosting duties.
The opening live show on Saturday attracted 4.8 million viewers, a considerable decrease from the 6.2 million who tuned in for the equivalent episode last year. The BBC noted that the show remained the most-watched program of the night, with a peak of 5 million viewers, and that overnight ratings do not capture the full picture in an on-demand viewing landscape.
This season's initial live show viewership is the lowest since 2019, trailing behind the pre-recorded launch show's peak of 5.8 million viewers. While the launch show saw a slight increase in peak viewership compared to the previous year, its average viewership of 5.3 million was down from 5.4 million in 2025. This figure remains below pre-scandal audience numbers, which once saw the "Strictly" launch peak at 6.7 million viewers and average 6.3 million in 2023.
Willis, who has largely avoided direct criticism for her performance, shared an Instagram post on Tuesday featuring a quote about facing judgment: "You'll get judged either way, so may as well pick the fun option." The post was met with supportive comments from fans and colleagues, including Radebe.
The new hosting arrangement has generated mixed reactions. Widdicombe, positioned on the dance floor with Willis while Radebe interviewed contestants from the auditorium, was described by some viewers as a "spare part" and noted for missing cues. Comments on social media platforms suggested that three hosts might be excessive and that Widdicombe could be better utilized in a role involving more comedic interaction.
Despite the challenges, Widdicombe did elicit laughter from the audience with a "change partners" joke, a playful nod to the show's new format for pairing contestants. The current scoring from the first week will be combined with next week's results to determine the first elimination of the season, scheduled for next Sunday.