Emma Willis has expressed her concern about the high expectations surrounding her new role as host of Strictly Come Dancing, admitting that she worries the bar has been set too high for the chemistry among the new presenting team.
New Hosts for BBC's Flagship Dance Show
The TV star is set to front the BBC ballroom competition alongside comedian Josh Widdicombe and former professional dancer Johannes Radebe. The trio were confirmed as the new hosts in May, following the departure of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly after the 2025 series.
Speaking on BBC Radio 2, Emma and Josh discussed their upcoming roles. Emma confessed: “Do you know what worries me? A few things I've read recently is that people go, well, people are going, 'The chemistry was off the charts.' I'm like, don't set it that far, the bar that high, because then we've got nowhere to go! Yeah, go, 'They all got on really well.' Start there.”
Excitement and Nerves Ahead of the Series
Despite her worries, Emma remains enthusiastic about the opportunity. “But what fun we're going to have,” she added. Josh responded: “I know, I'm so excited. I know this sounds weird, because obviously it is a bit huge, and you know it's huge, but you don't realise how huge it is. So you haven't even been on it yet, and that's all the people in the street talk to you about.”
Emma admitted to feeling terrified when approached by fans. “Yeah, I keep going, 'Yeah, thanks' and they're like, 'Are you excited?' I'm like, 'I'm terrified',” she said.
Departure of Winkleman and Daly
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced their departure from the show in October 2025, stating it felt “like the right time” to move on. In a joint statement shared on Instagram, they said: “We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time.”
They added: “We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show. They’re the most brilliant team and we’ll miss them every day.”
Confirmed Contestants for 2026 Series
So far, four celebrities have been confirmed for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing. Celebrity hair stylist Chris Appleton, EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem, and former Love Islander Dani Dyer have all signed up to compete.
Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One.
