Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has defended the three new presenters chosen to succeed recently departed hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
Earlier this week, it was announced that comedian Josh Widdicombe, broadcaster Emma Willis, and pro dancer Johannes Radebe will be presenting the forthcoming series as a trio.
Speaking to Metro, Ballas, who has served as the series’ lead judge since 2017, said: “I think it was a surprise to everybody that it was three [presenters] and not two, so now it’s where they fit and what those little changes are.
“Of course, everybody loves JoJo [Radebe],” she continued. “He’s just a well-loved figure. He’s been in [the UK tour of the stage musical] Kinky Boots; he’s a professional dancer, but more than that, it’s half his character. He wears his heart on his sleeve, so it’s an absolute delight that we got him.”
With the show transitioning from a presenting duo to a trio, the exact setup of the presenting duties remains to be seen.
“Is he gonna be backstage? Is he a main presenter? Is he in the Clauditorium?” Ballas asked.
“I’m not overly familiar with Josh Widdicombe,” she added. ‘I did meet him yesterday at [the ITV morning chat show] Good Morning Britain. Charming chap, so I’ve been online and studied him a bit more, and he’s funny, funny, funny, funny.”
This will not be the first time that Strictly has been presented by three personalities.
Winkleman first joined the show, in 2010, having previously hosted the Strictly companion series It Takes Two. From 2010 to 2013, she formed a trio alongside Daly and Bruce Forsyth.
Forsyth left the show ahead of its 12th series in 2014, and died three years later at the age of 89.
When it comes to Willis, Ballas told the publication: “What can we say about Emma? She’s just a doll. I did [the ITV reality series] Cooking with the Stars with her, and I told her, ‘I’m so scared about cooking because I’m a terrible cook,’ and she looked at me and said, ‘Think about those people on Strictly, Shirley. You can do it. I believe in you!’
“That was my first interaction with Emma. So I sent her a message yesterday, and she replied.”
Ballas averred that the BBC had got the decision around the new presenting team “right”.
“I think the BBC has really got this right,” she said, remarking that the show had been given a “facelift”.
“I’m due one of them next year, but anyway… a facelift for Strictly! I think you’re gonna find it highly entertaining.”
Winkleman and Daly’s exit followed a string of high-profile controversies for the popular dance competition, some of which involved alleged mistreatment of contestants by pro dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima.
Several pro dancers have also left the series ahead of the new run, with replacements set to be announced in the coming weeks.
Strictly returns to BBC One later this year, with a start date yet to be confirmed.
