BBC finally confirms trio of Strictly Come Dancing hosts who are replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman after 11 years

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Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe will be the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down.

In October 2025, Daly and Winkleman announced they were stepping down as hosts of the BBC’s popular entertainment show, explaining they felt it was the right moment to move on.

Tess has been the host of Strictly Come Dancing since it began in 2004. Claudia joined her in 2014, having previously hosted the companion show, It Takes Two, since 2010. She became a full weekend host after Bruce Forsyth left the show.

Since the news broke, everyone’s been speculating about who would take over, and now the BBC has officially announced the new cast members.

Now we know a trio is taking over.

According to Kate Phillips, the BBC’s Chief Content Officer, the chemistry between Emma, Johannes, and Josh was clear, and the BBC is happy to finally confirm them as hosts. Phillips acknowledged the difficult decision-making process and thanked everyone who auditioned. In a first for Strictly Come Dancing, three hosts have been chosen to lead the show. She’s confident that, alongside the show’s talented team, judges, and professional dancers, this new hosting trio will deliver a fantastic and memorable series this autumn on the BBC.

Emma Willis shared her excitement about joining Strictly Come Dancing, saying she’s been a long-time fan and can hardly believe she’ll actually be in the ballroom after watching and enjoying the show from home for years.

Tess and Claudia were truly special, and irreplaceable, having been the heart of Strictly for years. We can only hope to continue their amazing work and guide the show forward with the same grace and skill as they did.

I’m really excited to spend my weekends with Josh, Jojo, and the judges – they’re all amazing dancers! I’m hoping they’ll give me a perfect score of 10!

Johannes Radebe is thrilled to be back on Strictly Come Dancing, but this time as a judge! He never dreamed he’d be in this position and feels incredibly proud to contribute to the show’s spirit of joy, warmth, and community.

Being able to do this with the amazing Emma Willis and the incredibly talented Josh Widdicombe makes it all the more exciting. I’m prepared – glitter, nerves and everything! – so please be patient with me. Best, Jojo.

Josh Widdicombe says performing the Charleston as a penguin on the 2024 Strictly Christmas special was the peak of his career. He’s thrilled, humbled, and a bit intimidated to now be taking on such a huge role in television.

Okay, so I’m seriously excited about ‘Emma.’ and ‘Jojo Rabbit’ – they’re both just fantastic! I’m already planning my weekends around rewatching them. And you know what? I think it’s time to break out my old penguin costume. It’s been a while!

Later this year, the couple will make their debut on the Strictly dance floor, and then participate in the yearly Christmas special.

The lineup of celebrities for the next season of Strictly Come Dancing hasn’t been announced yet, but we anticipate it will be revealed sometime in the summer of 2026.

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Strictly Come Dancing is available to watch on catch-up on BBC iPlayer.

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Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah writes about entertainment for TopMob, covering everything from popular TV shows and reality competitions to important documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, where she focused on reality TV and celebrity news. She has a journalism degree.

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2026-05-19 17:34