Strictly Come Dancing Unveils New Hosts Amidst Host Nerves and a Shake-Up
Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe take on hosting duties as the show prepares for its 24th series with a new strategic casting approach.
Strictly Come Dancing has released a first look at its new hosting team and judging panel ahead of the upcoming launch show. Presenters Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and professional dancer Johannes Radebe appeared on The One Show to discuss their feelings about taking on the new roles.
Comedian Josh Widdicombe admitted to feeling nervous, describing himself as "a ball of fear" before the show airs. Radebe expressed "fomo" (fear of missing out) regarding not dancing this season. Willis shared that she has been practicing routines at home with her husband, Matt Willis, and seeking guidance from Radebe.
The new presenters will also participate in an ensemble dance routine during the launch show. Willis detailed a special group dance for the contestants, involving multiple pairings and swift partner changes within each dance. "There's much more movement, they've never done it before," she explained, describing three groups of five couples performing distinct routines where partners switch every few seconds.
The 24th series of Strictly Come Dancing marks a significant shake-up, with the departure of long-time hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. Willis, Widdicombe, and Radebe were announced as their replacements in May.
This year's celebrity lineup includes figures from various fields, such as Love Island winner Dani Dyer, EastEnders star Lacey Turner, Gavin and Stacey actress Melanie Walters, Australian singer Delta Goodrem, Big Brother host Will Best, and celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton. Also joining are actress Jaime Winstone, former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, Olympians Dame Sarah Storey and Tabby Stoecker, House of the Dragon star Bethany Antonia, dog behaviorist Graeme Hall, Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, and YouTuber John Nellis.
Reports suggest that nine of the 15 celebrity contestants have prior dance or performance experience, a point of criticism for some viewers. Among them, Emmerdale star Lawrence Robb trained at The Dance School of Scotland and in the West End, while Love Island winner Cach Mercer was a professional dancer specializing in Hip-hop and Afrobeats. Dani Dyer has called herself a "qualified dancer" and attended a stage school for 12 years. EastEnders' Lacey Turner and singer Delta Goodrem also have past dance and performing arts training, as does Jaime Winstone who completed a BTEC in Performing Arts. Bethany Antonia studied musical theatre at the BOA Creative, Digital and Performing Arts Academy.
Sources indicate that the BBC's casting strategy for this series involves targeting celebrities with significant social media followings to attract a younger demographic, mirroring a successful approach by its U.S. counterpart, Dancing With The Stars. Celebrities like Chris Appleton, with 4 million Instagram followers, and John Nellis, a sports YouTuber with 15.7 million subscribers, fit this strategy. Even professional dancers with larger online followings have reportedly been prioritized over those with smaller followings.
The show's professional dancer lineup has also seen changes, with reports of dancers like Neil Jones missing out on celebrity partners. This year, five new professional dancers have been recruited, some with substantial TikTok followings.
The first look image released shows the new hosts alongside the returning judging panel, which includes Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke. Despite speculation, head judge Shirley Ballas remains with the show.
Strictly Come Dancing is set to premiere on Saturday, September 19th, at 7:25 p.m. on BBC One.