Strictly Hosts Keep New Trio Format After Viewer Backlash

BBC's Strictly Come Dancing is continuing with new presenters Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe after the trio faced criticism from viewers during the show's early live episodes. The hosts replaced Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman for the 24th series, with producers choosing to keep the format unchanged.

According to reports from the Standard and The Mirror, viewers reacted strongly to the new presenting arrangement, while ratings for the first live results show fell to 4.5 million viewers compared with 6.2 million the previous year.

Sources told the Standard that producers planned to give audiences time to adjust to the new lineup. The format places Willis and Widdicombe on the ballroom floor while Radebe works in the upstairs area, similar to the previous split hosting roles.

"The public needs a bit of time to get used to them and they need a bit of space to bed in. This will happen in the coming weeks," a source told The Mirror.

The same source added that reactions had become more positive after the first live show. "Already there was a much more positive reaction this weekend than after the first live show. We’re British and we’re not very good at change - but this formula is here to stay so everyone needs to get used to it," the source told The Mirror.

Willis previously said during rehearsals that the presenters had explored different ways of working together. "We’re working around what feels good and how it's going to work - we’re kind of having a nice play," Willis said.

Former Strictly professional dancer Ola Jordan commented on the early reception, saying Willis had made a strong impression while the other presenters were still adapting.

"It's just so fresh at the moment. I think Emma is amazing and I would like her to talk more. I would like her to take over more. The other two, obviously, I think they're still finding their feet," Jordan said.

Jordan also discussed Widdicombe's performance as a host and said the comedian was still adjusting to the role.

"I think maybe Josh Widdicombe is really nervous still, so I think we're not getting that comedy as we would like to. I think he needs to maybe warm up a bit more and maybe he's just really nervous," Jordan said.

Widdicombe later addressed the pressure of joining the BBC show during an appearance on It Takes Two. He described the experience as difficult, particularly during the first elimination.

"Week two felt like, 'oh this is just what we do now'. Week one was nicer for the dancers because - I know this sounds weird - but when I took the Strictly job, I didn't realise how difficult elimination was going to be. The emotions of it, it's so intense and you feel terrible.

Do you know what, being upstairs with Jojo, talking to the couples that got through, what a sweet gig that is. Poor old Emma downstairs! It's really sad," Widdicombe said.

Despite the challenges, Widdicombe said he was enjoying his new role and the public reaction around the programme.

"I'm enjoying myself, I'm having a lovely time. I think just how many people in Waitrose keep coming up to me to talk to me about it. It's wild.

You can't go to the supermarket without people coming up to you to offer their opinions on Strictly. They're all good, just to be clear. But I had a 70-year-old woman swear at me!

She dropped a four-letter word I was not impressed with. She was so angry about who her favourite ones were!" Widdicombe said.

Strictly Come Dancing returned for its third week with the remaining 14 couples continuing their performances on BBC One.