Strictly Come Dancing's Emma Willis reveals unexpected role for new hosts in launch show

Emma Willis has revealed a "terrifying" role for the new Strictly Come Dancing hosts. In May, Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and dancer Johannes Radebe were announced to be stepping up as the show's new hosts for its autumn release.

Strictly was previously hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, who confirmed their exits in October 2025.

But it isn't just a brand-new all-star line-up that will have to learn some dancing, as Willis revealed that the hosts got in on the action too.

Related: Best streaming services

Appearing on The One Show alongside Widdicombe and Radebe, the broadcaster revealed that the three hosts had to perform a dance themselves, with Radebe giving them lessons to prepare for it.

"It was terrifying wasn't it?" Willis said, to which Radebe replied: "Oh it was the easy part."

Widdicombe then followed up by revealing that they "had to do this with all the judges... directly behind us as we were dancing", adding: "As we were waiting to film I felt somebody behind me and it was Shirley going 'your posture!'"

Despite how nerve-racking it was initially, Willis said they had "so much fun", as she continued: " I like to be thorough so JoJo had been teaching us one 'two three four and five six seven cha cha cha', so I was literally going around the supermarket with the trolley going 'one two three cha cha cha five six seven' and then in the garden, I made [husband] Matt learn it with me and we filmed it and I sent it to JoJo asking 'is this right, is this okay?' I just wanted to do a good job!"

Related: Strictly Come Dancing confirms new spin-off - with Dianne Buswell involved

She also teased a new format of "speed dancing" for this year's contestants, leading Radebe to quip: "I’m so glad I’ve changed roles."

Previously, all three hosts teased what Strictly fans might expect from them as hosts, with Willis saying that "it's all very kind of open".

"We're having lots of production days where we go in and we play around and we're kind of feeling each other out - well, they're feeling us out really," she said.

Strictly Come Dancing returns for its launch show on 19 September on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.

The One Show is available to watch weekdays at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Visit our Streaming Guide now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.

The new edition of Legends, a 100-page celebration of Dolly Parton's life, is here. Buy Dolly in newsagents or online.