12.3 C
London
Thursday, May 21, 2026

Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe new Strictly hosts

They’re the most sought-after jobs in television, with every top presenter in the country vying for the roles.

And now the BBC has confirmed that Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe are the brand-new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.

The unlikely trio will take over from outgoing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman after they stepped down at the end of last year, following a rigorous audition process.

The news was confirmed on Strictly’s official Instagram page, with the trio coming together.

The caption read: ‘It’s official….September 2026.’

In the video, Emma and Johannes kissed each other on the cheek as they sat on stools, before Josh was invited over to join them.

Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe confirmed as new Strictly Come Dancing hosts as they replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on BBC show

Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe confirmed as new Strictly Come Dancing hosts as they replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on BBC show

The news was confirmed on Strictly’s official Instagram page, with the trio coming together

The news was confirmed on Strictly’s official Instagram page, with the trio coming together

Emma, 50, was the first of the trio to be signed by BBC bosses after a shortlist of presenters underwent chemistry reads and screen tests over the course of the last few weeks.

Last week, Josh, 43, emerged as the shock favourite to host the BBC dance show alongside Emma after impressing bosses.

No stranger to the show, Josh appeared on the 2024 Christmas Special dressed as a penguin, where he danced alongside professional Karen Hauer, who won’t be returning for the upcoming series.

Johannes, 39, one of Strictly’s most beloved professional dancers, who has been part of the show since 2018, will take on presenting duties for the first time.

Partnered with Alex Kingston last year, Johannes will not have a celebrity partner this year as he takes on the role of a roving reporter, although he will be participating in group dances.

The South African dancer quickly became a fan favourite due to his flamboyant routines and outgoing personality and is currently starring in Kinky Boots on the West End stage.

Certainly a breakout star of the show, he has appeared in an episode of Doctor Who and has competed on Celebrity MasterChef.

In 2023, he published his memoir Jojo: Finally Home, which became a bestseller.

Josh and Johannes mark the first males to front the programme since Bruce Forsyth, which could prove some big shoes to fill.

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly stepped down from their roles on Strictly back in October 2025 after 11 years on the show together

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly stepped down from their roles on Strictly back in October 2025 after 11 years on the show together

Sir Bruce – who died in 2017 – starred alongside Tess until his retirement in 2013, when Claudia then took over.

Josh has appeared as a co-host on The Last Leg alongside Alex Brooker and Adam Hills since 2012.

Bosses will be hoping Josh will serve as a replacement for Claudia’s comedic energy and help put contestants at ease, while Emma will steer the show.

Emma started her career as an MTV presenter in 2002 and in 2007 she landed a role on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! NOW! – a spin-off of the main ITV realty show.

But it wasn’t until 2013, when she landed the role as the host of Big Brother on Channel 5 and The Voice UK on the BBC, that she became a household name.

She fronted Big Brother until 2018 and moved over to ITV with The Voice, which she still presents, over a decade later.

She met Busted singer Matt Willis during her stint at MTV and the pair soon become one of the showbiz scene’s most high-profile couples.

They married in 2008 at Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire and a year later had their daughter Isabelle, 16. They went on to have son Ace, 14, and Trixie, 10.

They have even presented together in the past – appearing on ITV2’s I’m a Celebrity spin-off and hosting Netflix’s UK version of Love is Blind.

The Beeb have recently given an insight into what fans can expect for the 24th series of the much-loved programme.

The likes of Dianne Buswell, 37, Nancy Xu, 34, Vito Coppola, 33, Julian Caillon, 30, Carlos Gu, 33, Lauren Oakley, 35, Amy Dowden, 35, Katya Jones, 36, Neil Jones, 44, Nikita Kuzmin, 28, Jowita Przystał, 31, Aljaž Škorjanec, 36, Alexis Warr, 25, and Kai, 30, will be returning to the dance floor this year.

They will be joined by some new professional dancers who are yet to be announced.

Karen Hauer, 43, Gorka Marquez, 35, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, and Luba Mushtuk, 36, were all given the boot.

The celebrities will be judged by Shirley Ballas, 65, Craig Revel Horwood, 61, Motsi Mabuse, 45, and Anton du Beke, 59.

Hot this week

Diana’s ex-hairdresser condemns ‘evil’ comments about Kate’s hair

Princess Diana's former hairdresser has condemned 'nasty' comments made about the Princess of Wales 's hair - as she stepped out with her newly blonde tresses.

Experts reveal how many tins of tuna is safe to eat a week

The NHS advises people to eat at least two portions of fish a week, yet a recent investigation revealed toxic metals, including mercury, could be lurking in cans of tinned tuna sold in the UK.

The unusual breakfast request Princess Lilibet asks Meghan Markle for

Meghan Markle revealed her children's favourite meals and that she 'doesn't like baking' on the second season of her lifestyle show With Love, Meghan.

Some people DO see ghosts – and medics say there’s an explanation

An astonishing third of people in the UK and almost half of Americans say they believe in ghosts, spirits and other types of paranormal activity.

The best places to live in Britain’s idyllic national parks

Many of us toy with the idea of moving somewhere close to nature, with a friendly community, where the pace of life is more civilised. But where to find such a place? A national park could be the answer.

Meet the five-year-old who’s destined for stardom

On Wednesday night, viewers tuned into Channel 5's controversial drama, Under Suspicion: Kate McCann, which dramatises the case of Madeleine McCann.

Shirley Ballas reveals why the new presenters got Strictly gig

Emma Willis, 50, Josh Widdicombe, 43, and professional dancer Johannes Radebe, 39, will take over from outgoing hosts Tess Daly , 57, and Claudia Winkleman, 54.

Girl, 15, is ‘bundled into van by random knifeman and held for hours’

The 15-year-old said she was threatened with a knife during a seven-hour kidnapping which took place when she was walking in Bowdon, a village in Altrincham, on Monday evening.

Moment ‘Rolex ripper’ asks for a light then takes off with £18k watch

Ali Sharif, 33, and accomplice Mohamed Benioua, 30, targeted wealthy Dimitrios Triadis outside Mister Nice in Mayfair in October 2023.

Trump and Netanyahu clash in ‘dramatic’ secret phone call

Netanyahu increasingly doubts that further negotiations with Tehran will produce a peace deal and wants to resume military strikes.

William gets hands on the silverware as he celebrates Villa’s triumph

The Prince of Wales, one of the club's most high-profile supporters, was seen punching the air after Villa surged to victory at Besiktas Park, on a night that delivered their first major trophy in 30 years.

Family rallies around Kai Trump amid mom Vanessa’s shock cancer news

Family members gathered to support Kai Trump, the president's eldest grandchild, amid her mother's sudden breast cancer diagnosis.

Matthew Perry’s heartbroken mom recalls seeing son in the morgue

Matthew Perry's mother painted a heartbreaking picture of the day she saw her son's dead body in the morgue as she assailed his former assistant ahead of his sentencing hearing.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img