Tess Daly Offers Support to New Strictly Come Dancing Hosts and Cast
Longtime presenter Tess Daly shared her well wishes for the new hosting team and the latest celebrity contestants as the popular show kicked off its new season.
Tess Daly has publicly backed the new lineup of Strictly Come Dancing, which premiered with a fresh hosting trio and five new professional dancers on Saturday night. Daly, who departed the show last year after a 21-year tenure alongside co-host Claudia Winkleman, took to Instagram to express her enthusiasm.
Her post featured an image of the new hosts, Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe, alongside the professional dancers and the 15 celebrity contestants. Daly captioned the image, "@bbcstrictly Class of 26! So excited for tonight! And to finally be able to watch Strictly in flat shoes."
The new presenting team made their debut alongside returning judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke. Josh Widdicombe shared his anticipation, stating, "It's a little bit overwhelming to be here but we are so excited... We cannot wait to spend the next 13 weeks with all of you," added Emma Willis.
Initial viewer reactions to the new hosting arrangement were mixed. While many praised Emma Willis, calling her "the goddess of British TV," others expressed confusion about the decision to have three presenters. Social media commentary included sentiments such as "i love emma, jojo and josh but it feels so odd without tess and claude, this is gonna take some getting used to," and "I can’t understand why we need 3 presenters???'"
Emma Willis marked her first show with an emotional Instagram post, writing, "Week one… I guess it’s officially happening then. Dress on, game face ready and fully prepared for the glitter to take over… Strictly, let’s be having you✨."
The show's new hosting format is described as fluid, with no direct replacements for Winkleman and Daly. Instead, Willis, Widdicombe, and Radebe are expected to rotate through various presenting combinations. The launch episode, pre-recorded the previous week, saw the celebrities paired with their professional dance partners, setting the stage for the competition for the Glitterball trophy over the next 13 weeks.