Strictly presenter Emma Willis addresses divisive response to new Josh Widdicombe and Johannes complaints

New Strictly host Emma Willis might be getting widely praised for her new role, but she’s addressed the lukewarm response to her co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe in a cryptic Instagram post

Presenter Willis made her Strictly live show debut alongside the pair on Saturday (26 September), stating the following day: “I’ve never had so much fun.”

However, she appeared to reference the complaints levied against the usage of Widdcombe and Radebe on Tuesday while sharing a selection of backstage photos – one of which included a portrait emblazoned with the phrase: “You’ll get judged either way, so may as well pick the fun option.”

The new era of Strictly experienced teething issues as it tried to work out how to organise its leading trio.

In the episode, Willis and Widdicombe were paired by the main stage, near the judges, where Tess Daly was originally positioned, and Radebe led the post-performance interviews with the contestants in the segment that was fronted for years by Claudia Winkleman.

While Willis put in a standout performance, her double act with Widdicombe felt awkward, while Radebe was tasked with emulating what Winkleman used to do. Former BBC host Richard Osman, speaking on his podcast The Rest is Entertainment, suggested Widdicombe would be better placed in that section, as a comedian, while Radebe could put his dancing experience to use by speaking to the performers in a reporter role backstage.

“The Johannes thing is interesting because at the moment he’s doing exactly what Claudia did, which is you throw to Johannes, the producers have given him two talking points: ‘Here’s the thing from the VT, here’s what the judges said – just raise those things with the celebrity and their partner,’” Osman said.

“The reason it became that is because that’s the thing Claudia is very good at. ‘Give me a few bits of vanilla content’ – Claudia is very, very good at turning that into something. Now that’s not what Johannes can do – it’s not who he is. He’s a trained dancer; he brings something else. So you have to work out what it is that Johannes does instead.”

Judge Motsi Mabuse has been left frustrated by the criticism, warning people that one day TV hosts could be taken over by AI, so viewers should be grateful for “imperfectly human” presenters.

”While people type away, tearing apart real human beings on television, real emotions!!!!!!!” she wrote on Threads.

“AI is getting better at replacing them. One day, we might not even know the difference. And maybe then we’ll miss the days when television was still beautifully, imperfectly human.”

Social media star John Nellis and professional partner Katya Jones topped the leaderboard with 31 points for their foxtrot, receiving high praise from judges Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Craig Revel Horwood.

The contestants most in danger of elimination this weekend include Gavin & Stacey actor Melanie Walters, former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, who received 15 points each.

Last week, Widdicombe said he was “terrified” about the first live show, but praised Willis and Radebe.

“We feel like a team where there’s no ego. That there’s no one wanting to put themselves out front more than the others. That we feel like we’ve all got our different personalities and they gel together.

He continued: “Emma and Johannes are just so generous, sweet and funny – they make working on Strictly feel even more exciting and joyous to me.”

Following the pre-recorded launch show, former host Claudia Winkleman praised Willis, branding her a “knockout”.

Tess Daly and Winkleman quit the series in October 2025. While they did not disclose their reason for stepping down at the time, Winkleman revealed months later that it had nothing to do with the scandals that rocked the show in recent years, but instead stemmed from their mutual feeling that the show needed some new faces.