Strictly Come Dancing New Hosts Explain How Trio Format Will Work
- Strictly Come Dancing hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe have confirmed that their brand-new presenting trio will operate without fixed roles or scripts on the upcoming...
- The BBC announced the three-person presenting team earlier this year following the departure of Daly and Winkleman at the end of 2025.
- The trio also used the podcast appearance to put an end to persistent fan speculation regarding individual job descriptions.
Strictly Come Dancing hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe have confirmed that their brand-new presenting trio will operate without fixed roles or scripts on the upcoming series. According to the BBC series’ new hosting lineup, speaking with Richard Osman on the podcast The Rest Is Entertainment, the format will break from the long-standing tradition established by former hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Strictly Come Dancing Trio Format Confirmed
The BBC announced the three-person presenting team earlier this year following the departure of Daly and Winkleman at the end of 2025. With no prior blueprint for a three-host dynamic on the dance competition, Willis revealed that producers initially treated the concept as a wild card without a script. According to Willis, production teams are currently holding testing days to let everyone figure out the chemistry together. When describing how the trio will share screen time, Widdicombe compared the new approach to team tactics in sports. As Widdicombe stated on the podcast, it is going to be like total football, with the hosts moving everywhere across the production.
It’s going to like total football, Richard. We’re going to be moving everywhere.
Josh Widdicombe
Addressing Roving Reporter and Professional Dancer Rumors
The trio also used the podcast appearance to put an end to persistent fan speculation regarding individual job descriptions. Willis explicitly denied reports that Radebe would serve as a backstage roving reporter for the new season. Radebe’s dual positioning as both a main host and a professional dancer had sparked widespread confusion among viewers when the lineup was first revealed. Addressing his future on the dancefloor during an appearance on Willis’s BBC Radio 2 show earlier in the year, Radebe confirmed he is not hanging up his dancing shoes. As Radebe explained to listeners, he will still participate in routines and perform hip movements because dancing is his life.
Listen, I’m not hanging [up] my dancing shoes yet. I’m not. I will definitely be throwing some shapes and moving my hips. I can’t [not]. That’s my life.
Johannes Radebe
Launch Details and Background
The new hosting team was initially confirmed in May, prompting public statements of excitement from all three members. Willis noted at the time that stepping into the ballroom was something she could not quite comprehend, while Widdicombe described himself as giddy with excitement. Radebe stated that taking on the new role was beyond anything he ever imagined. Strictly Come Dancing is scheduled to launch on Saturday 19 September at 7:25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Listeners can access full episodes of the discussion on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast.
