New Strictly Hosts Debut as Winkleman Shows Support

Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe, and Josh Widdicombe have officially debuted as the new hosting trio for Strictly Come Dancing, marking a new era for the BBC dance competition. The new season launched on September 19 with a prerecorded episode that introduced the hosts and revealed the celebrity and professional dancer pairings for the 2026 series. The launch episode featured a format twist, with the celebrity contestants meeting their professional dance partners live on the floor. The trio expressed their excitement, with Willis stating it was their "genuine honour" to be there. Radebe, a former professional dancer on the show, said he never imagined they would be hosting together, while Widdicombe described the feeling as overwhelming but exciting. The new hosts are replacing long-standing presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, who stepped down after the previous series. Winkleman has publicly shown support for her successor. After Willis shared photos from the launch show on Instagram, including one of her in a shimmering pink dress, Winkleman commented "knockout" with heart emojis.