Strictly favourite tipped to replace Tess and Claudia and host 2026 season alongside Emma Willis

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With rumors swirling about who will take over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on Strictly Come Dancing, another well-known personality is reportedly being considered as a potential host.

After news that Emma Willis might host the show, sources now suggest that Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe could join her as a presenter.

Radebe is confirmed to be returning as a professional dancer, and it’s likely he’ll be paired with a celebrity contestant when the show begins later this year.

According to The Sun, he made a strong impression during auditions and chemistry tests. Sources say producers are now deciding if he’ll be a co-host alongside Willis, or if he’ll work as a reporter traveling to different locations.

So, I was checking in on news about Strictly Come Dancing, and a BBC rep told TopMob that they’ll be letting us know about the plans for the 2026 season when they’re ready. Basically, they’re not spilling the beans just yet, but it is happening!

Johannes Radebe started appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 and began dancing with celebrities the next year. While he hasn’t won the competition yet, he came in second place in 2021 with John Whaite from The Great British Bake Off, marking the first time a male same-sex couple competed on the show.

There’s been a lot of recent news, including the announcement that Zoe Ball has withdrawn her candidacy for the presenter role.

Sophie Ball shared on the Dig It podcast with Jo Whiley that she didn’t get a job she’d applied for. She explained she’s processed the disappointment, saying she’d gone through all the stages of grief and acceptance over the past few days.

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So, it turns out that actress Ball was one of the people who did those early chemistry read tests for the role, which we’d all been hearing about. She was the first to actually confirm she’d done them, but unfortunately, she’s no longer being considered for the part. A bit of a bummer, honestly!

I wasn’t chosen as the new host, but if my guess is right about who did get the job, then everything is going to be great. Our new hosts will be fantastic.

I’m really happy for them, and I hope we can discuss their situation more fully in the future.

Reports surfaced earlier this week that Emma Willis would be a new host on Strictly Come Dancing, but both the BBC and Willis herself haven’t confirmed the news.

Willis has previously avoided directly answering questions about potentially hosting ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. When asked about the rumors on ‘This Morning’ by Rylan Clark, she simply said, “No!”

Strictly Come Dancing 2026 begins on BBC One and iPlayer later this year.

Don’t miss Strictly Come Dancing! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

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 degree in Journalism.

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2026-05-13 14:07