New 'Strictly Come Dancing' Hosts Face Scrutiny After Awkward Live Show Moments

The latest live show of Strictly Come Dancing saw its new hosting trio, comprised of Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe, and Josh Widdicombe, come under viewer scrutiny. Comedian Josh Widdicombe, in particular, experienced an awkward start, missing his cue twice during live segments, which raised questions about the new presenting dynamic.

Widdicombe, 43, shared presenting duties on the dance floor with Emma Willis, 50, while Radebe interviewed contestants from the auditorium. This setup, taking over from long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman who departed after the 2025 series, has generated mixed reactions from the audience.

One notable incident occurred after Love Island's Cach Mercer finished his dance. Radebe asked Willis and Widdicombe, "Who's dancing now?" The camera cut to the dance floor, but Widdicombe stood silently for several seconds before realizing it was his turn to speak, prompting Willis to look over at him awkwardly.

This pattern repeated later in the show during another link, leading viewers to comment on social media platform X. "Josh has missed his cue at least twice now #Strictly," one user posted, while another questioned, "Why does Josh keep missing his cue? #Strictly."

Beyond the hosting challenges, judge Motsi Mabuse, 45, also had a playful exchange with Widdicombe. After Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, 48, and her professional partner Julian Caillon received feedback, Mabuse agreed with judge Craig Revel Horwood's comments. Revel Horwood humorously suggested they could "move on to Shirley [Ballas] then!" Widdicombe then jokingly called out "Shirley!" in an attempt to skip Mabuse's feedback. Mabuse responded cheekily, "Well I have to do my job too!" before turning to Widdicombe and asking, "Well are we going to be friends or enemies, you choose now!"

Despite the initial stumbles, Widdicombe also earned praise for a "change partners" joke, a nod to the show's new format for announcing pairings. This moment brought laughter from viewers.

However, many viewers felt that three hosts were not necessary, with some suggesting Widdicombe might be better suited to Radebe's role in the auditorium, where he could engage in more comedic interactions. "For me the problem is that three hosts just aren't needed. He's just standing there awkwardly next to Emma without much to do," one viewer commented on X.

The first live show featured performances from all celebrity contestants. The scores from this week will be combined with those from the following week before the first elimination takes place next Sunday.

Among the early performances, Will Best and Dianne Buswell received 18 points for their Samba, while skeleton racer Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita earned 22 for their Jive. Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon scored 15 for their Quickstep. Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał were awarded 20 for their Paso Doble, and former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr received 15 for their Cha Cha. House of the Dragon actress Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu achieved 26 for their Quickstep. EastEnders star Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola garnered 27 for their Cha Cha. Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden scored 16 for their Tango, and Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec received 15 for their Cha Cha. Love Island's Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby scored 20 for their Quickstep. Dog trainer Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley earned 24 for their Cha Cha, and actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu received 21 for their Tango. Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin achieved 22 for their Samba. Sports YouTuber John Nellis and Katya Jones topped the leaderboard with 31 points for their dance, and Australian singer Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington closed the show with 29 points for their Samba.

This season's lineup, previously described as "the worst ever," has included a focus on social media influencers and reality stars to attract younger viewers. However, the core demographic of Strictly Come Dancing remains older viewers, with approximately 60 percent of the audience aged 55 and above.