Matt Willis Defends Wife Emma Amid 'Strictly' Hosting Criticism

Matt Willis has spoken out in defense of his wife, Emma Willis, who recently took on the hosting duties for the popular BBC show "Strictly Come Dancing." Amidst criticism of the new hosting lineup, which also includes Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, Willis described the unexpected job offer as a "curveball" but asserted that his wife is "perfect" for the role.

"Strictly was a curveball," Matt Willis told The Telegraph. "Taking the biggest job on TV was not on our bingo card for 2026, but I'm so proud of her. And if anyone can do it, it's her. I'm stoked for her, she's perfect for it, and loves the show so much."

The new hosting arrangement, with Widdicombe and Emma on the dancefloor and Radebe interviewing contestants from the auditorium, has not resonated well with viewers. Social media commentary suggested Widdicombe appeared as a "spare part" next to Emma, and he reportedly missed his cue twice during the first live show. Ratings for the opening live episode of the current series saw a notable decrease, with 4.8 million viewers tuning in, a decline from the 6.2 million who watched the first live show of the previous year.

Emma Willis appeared to address the criticism indirectly on Tuesday by sharing an inspiring quote on social media: "You'll get judged either way, so may as well pick the fun option." Her post received supportive comments, including a heart emoji from co-host Johannes Radebe.

This dip in viewership for the first live show continues a trend, as the pre-recorded launch show, which peaked at 5.8 million viewers, averaged 5.3 million, slightly down from the previous year's average of 5.4 million. While the peak figure showed a marginal increase, it remains considerably lower than audience numbers recorded before the show faced controversies regarding the treatment of contestants and backstage culture. Prior to these issues, the "Strictly" launch shows in 2023 peaked at 6.7 million viewers and averaged 6.3 million.