Full Breakdown
New Era Begins for Strictly Come Dancing with Fresh Hosts and Dancers
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Launch of the 2026 Season with a New Hosting Trio
On September 19, the BBC aired the pre-recorded launch show of *Strictly Come Dancing* 2026. Fifteen celebrities learned the identities of their professional partners, and the programme introduced a new presenting team—Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe—who replace long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. The show also added five new professional dancers to the roster.
Background & Context: Host Transition and Expanded Dance Line-up
The change in presenters follows the departure of Daly and Winkleman after several seasons. Emma Willis, a former *The Voice UK* host, joins comedian Josh Widdicombe and former *Dancing with the Stars* judge Johannes Radebe. Their first on-screen appearance was on September 17 on *The One Show*, where they outlined what viewers could expect from the revamped launch.
In addition to the new hosts, the series welcomed professional dancers Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Karmalita, expanding the pool of talent available for celebrity pairings.
Timeline
- September 17 – Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe appear on *The One Show* to preview the upcoming launch.
- September 19 – Launch show airs; celebrities meet their professional partners; new hosts debut.
- September 26 (scheduled) – First live show, where all pairs perform for the judges Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas.
Data & Statistics
- 15 celebrities announced for the 2026 series, including Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
- 5 new professional dancers added to the existing roster.
- The launch episode aired at 7:25 pm on BBC One.
Official Statements & Responses
Judge Craig Revel Horwood praised the new presenters during a BBC Breakfast interview, highlighting Willis’s interview style, Widdicombe’s comedic role and Radebe’s dance expertise. He advised the trio to “be themselves” and noted the chemistry developed over a month of rehearsals.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Loving working with the new hosts, I think they're absolutely great! Emma Willis, absolutely brilliant. She's fantastic in the way that she listens, reacts, and really goes for those fantastic interviews.” — Saturday's BBC Breakfast. He
- “Josh is almost like a very comedy side-kick, he's hilarious.” — Craig, judge
- “The question everybody is wondering about is what are you doing exactly? How does it work? What are the three of you doing on it?” — Images Alex
What’s Next
The first live competition episode is slated for September 26. All celebrity-professional pairs will perform, and judges will begin scoring performances that determine who stays in the competition.