Strictly Come Dancing review: having three hosts isn't ah-may-zing - but it also isn't a dis-ah-ster

As steady as a rotating glitterball, chatter in the run-up to Strictly Come Dancing ordinarily revolves around not only who on earth the celebrities are, but also how the calibre of star signings seems to dip every year.

And while that is unequivocally the case for this 24th series (if you’ve heard of more than, say, five of the names taking part, give yourself a pat on the back – it really is the worst yet…) the show’s wider shake-up is far more interesting.

After Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman had their last dance, a cloak-and-dagger audition process to rival The Traitors followed with the glittery presenting baton now being passed to Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and – perhaps most eyebrow-raising – Josh Widdicombe.

When the trio were announced as taking over one of the biggest entertainment shows on television, there was widespread surprise. Not just because frontrunners such as Zoe Ball and Rylan had missed out on the gig, or because it seemed to be a somewhat left-field combination (especially given only one of them is actually a seasoned live TV presenter).

No, what was most surprising was for the first time the show was now going to have three presenters; arguably the biggest change to the format in the show’s history.

Questions had swirled as to how a third presenter in that mix was going to work. The notion that Radebe was to have a sort of ‘roving reporter’ backstage role had been dismissed, but perhaps that wouldn’t have been such a bad idea…

Because instead the set-up could best be described as… fluid. The three switched in and out the roles as if it were musical chairs. Sometimes Willis was on the dancefloor solo. Sometimes Radebe and Widdicombe were upstairs. Sometimes Willis joined them. Sometimes Radebe was on the dancefloor by himself. Sometimes Widdicombe was.

It had the feel of the producers having their glitterball and eating it. It was almost like we were getting to watch rushes from the hosts’ chemistry tests (which they spoke about at length on The Rest is Entertainment podcast) where they swapped presenting positions by way of audition. But on screen, it felt like a lack of conviction in casting for who would be best positioned where.

Yet, for viewers at least, it seemed obvious. When Radebe and Widdicombe were paired speaking to the celebs and pro dancers in the auditorium-formerly-known-as-the-Clauditorium, they had a touch of the deer-in-the-headlights about them and, at times, the fact they are both novice presenters was palpable. Often whenever an autocue was involved.

It was as though show bosses couldn’t decide between giving Jojo or Josh the job, and so decided to plump for both. But it smacked of neither of them being deemed strong enough to handle the gig on their own.

Conversely, whether off-script or reading an autocue, Willis was – thank goodness – smooth as silk. Unsurprising, perhaps, given her decades of experience in live TV (Big Brother, The Voice UK, This Morning). She made what is a deceptively tricky job look absolutely effortless. It was as if she’d already been on the Strictly dancefloor for years.

As a trio, they weren’t ah-may-zing…but they also weren’t a dis-ah-ster.

Sometimes having new presenters can rejuvenate a show. Sometimes they….can’t. Other high-profile entertainment programmes (Top Gear, The Great British Bake Off) have gone through seismic changes in presenter with mixed success. These are also shows that had the benefit of being pre-recorded which allowed for, if necessary, a sympathetic edit.

And, for one week at least, Willis, Radebe and Widdicombe had this reprieve. Strictly’s launch show had been filmed more than a week before it aired, and even then, on occasion it appeared clunky.

But next week, Strictly goes live. And then there really will be nowhere to hide.

Add Strictly Come Dancing to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.