The new hosting team for Strictly Come Dancing, comprising Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe, has stated that they will not adhere to strictly defined roles. This approach aims to break away from the previous format where Tess Daly hosted the dancefloor introductions and Claudia Winkleman managed the post-dance interviews from the "Clauditorium."
Willis clarified their approach in a podcast interview, stating that "No one's replacing anybody - at the minute it's all very kind of open." This collaborative method has been likened by Widdicombe to "Total Football," where all players are capable of taking on any position. Radebe echoed this sentiment, describing their dynamic as being "like Total Football" and that they "are going to be moving everywhere."
Reports of Radebe having a "roving reporter" role have also been dismissed. "There's definitely no backstage roving reporter, which is what has been reported quite a bit," Willis stated.
Radebe, who has prior experience as a professional dancer on the show, expressed his enthusiasm for the new presenting role. He mentioned his intention to engage in "a little bit of prying and finding out the truth," leveraging his existing familiarity with the cast and crew. Despite his excitement, Radebe admitted to experiencing a "little bit of a tinge" of FOMO, or fear of missing out, at seeing the professional dancers in rehearsals.
The decision to bring the three presenters together was described by Willis as a "wild card decision" by the producers, which caught them all by surprise. The audition process involved a "chemistry test" to assess their group dynamic. Willis recalled the producers explaining that the trio represented a significant departure from the norm, stating, "This is the last one and this is a wild card. We're just like, 'What happens if we do three?'" They were further informed that the experimental nature of the arrangement meant there was no predefined script, and the team would develop their approach collaboratively. "It's so much of a wild card, we don't really have a script for you either. So we're going to sit down, get it up on the screen and we'll have a little tinker all together," she added.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman concluded their tenure as hosts at the end of the 2025 series. IMAGE2: Johannes Radebe, Josh Widdicombe and Emma Willis smiling together in smart, presenting clothes "Strictly Come Dancing"