Strictly's Johannes Radebe Praised by Viewers for Presenting Improvements

Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe received widespread praise from viewers for a noticeable improvement in his presenting skills during the show's second week. Fans on social media platform X noted that Radebe, 39, appeared to have heeded feedback from the previous week.

Last week, viewers observed that Radebe began speaking while couples were still ascending the stairs to the 'Clauditorium' amidst audience applause, making it difficult to hear the proceedings. However, during the second live show, which featured a Movie Week theme, Radebe waited for the applause to subside before delivering his segments. This adjustment was met with positive reactions from viewers who commented on the apparent improvement.

Online comments included observations such as "Nice to see they’ve not had JoJo talk over the cheers while the couple was making their way upstairs. That’s an improvement I guess. It feels like they’re listening." Another user noted, "JoJo 100% waiting for the pros to get upstairs before saying ANYTHING this week." Many echoed sentiments like "Now that’s better! JoJo waiting until couples are up before talking. Much better than last week." The general consensus was that Radebe seemed calmer, less nervous, and allowed guests more room to speak.

Despite the positive feedback on Radebe's individual performance, some viewers expressed frustration that show producers did not alter the overall trio presenting format, which had also drawn criticism in the first week. New hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe opened the second week with the same arrangement: Willis and Widdicombe on the floor, and Radebe in the 'Clauditorium'. This continued format led some viewers to question why producers had not implemented changes based on public comments.

In the first live show, the presenting roles had seen Emma Willis taking Tess Daly's usual position on the dance floor, while Radebe was in the 'Clauditorium'. Josh Widdicombe, positioned next to Willis, was intended to add commentary but was perceived by some viewers as a 'spare part'. This arrangement coincided with a decline in viewership for the first live show compared to the pre-recorded launch episode, a first in seven years. Viewers had complained about missed cues and fumbled lines, with many questioning the decision to hire three presenters for what had traditionally been a two-person role.

Week two saw celebrities perform routines from various films. Australian singer Delta Goodrem and her partner Kai Widdrington topped the leaderboard with a combined score of 59 points from week one and week two performances. The leaderboard for week two was as follows: Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington (59 points), Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley (55), Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola (55), John Nellis and Katya Jones (54), Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu (53), Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita (50), Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby (49), Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin (45), Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu (42), Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr (40), Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał (39), Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon (39), Will Best and Dianne Buswell (37), Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden (33), and Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec (30).