New 'Strictly Come Dancing' Hosts Debut Amid Fan Debate

The latest season of "Strictly Come Dancing" premiered Saturday night, introducing a new trio of hosts—Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe, and Josh Widdicombe—alongside a format shakeup and 15 celebrity contestants.

Willis, Radebe, and Widdicombe step into the hosting roles previously held by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who departed the BBC show after the 2025 series. The new presenters joined the dance floor for the first time, alongside returning judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke.

"It's a little bit overwhelming to be here but we are so excited," said Josh Widdicombe upon their debut. Emma Willis added, "We cannot wait to spend the next 13 weeks with all of you."

Despite the excitement, the new hosting arrangement drew immediate reactions on social media. Viewers on X commented on the departure of Daly and Winkleman, with one user stating, "i love emma, jojo and josh but it feels so odd without tess and claude, this is gonna take some getting used to." Others questioned the necessity of three hosts, with comments like "I can’t understand why we need 3 presenters??" and "Why does it need 3 presenters? It just doesn't work." Some viewers expressed support for Willis, noting, "3 hosts are different but I love emma willis so happy she’s part of this," while others were less convinced about Widdicombe, with one post reading, "Emma and Johannes have got this but Josh just does not fit #Strictly."

The launch show, pre-recorded the week prior, featured the 15 celebrities discovering their professional dance partners. The new hosting format was described by the presenters as fluid, with no direct replacements for Daly and Winkleman. Instead, Willis, Radebe, and Widdicombe experimented with various combinations during the premiere episode.

Another significant change this season involved the celebrity contestants being divided into groups of five for three specially choreographed routines to reveal their partners.

Earlier in the week, Widdicombe shared that filming the launch show had left him feeling unwell. The comedian, speaking on his podcast "Parenting Hell," described experiencing stomach issues and exhaustion after the September 9 filming date. "I'm not very well. I don't want to go too graphic, but I've got stomach problems," he said, adding, "I'm not stressed, I'm tired."

The first live show of "Strictly Come Dancing" Series 24 is scheduled for Saturday, September 26.